Looks like Rafa is more or less confirmed - and according to Sky Sports Transfer Centre he is going to be the manager not head coach so great to see that we are scrapping that system. Hopefully he will keep us up though - the Bournemouth game was pretty embarrassing and the effort from the players was awful - also I don't think it's all Mcclaren's fault because Lee Charnley and Graham Carr have to take there fair share of the blame for not bothering to sign a striker or defender in the January transfer window.

Sunderland look to be improving though just not getting results! Very unlucky v Southampton the other day.

(10 Mar 2016, 5:02 pm)Tom wrote Looks like Rafa is more or less confirmed - and according to Sky Sports Transfer Centre he is going to be the manager not head coach so great to see that we are scrapping that system. Hopefully he will keep us up though - the Bournemouth game was pretty embarrassing and the effort from the players was awful - also I don't think it's all Mcclaren's fault because Lee Charnley and Graham Carr have to take there fair share of the blame for not bothering to sign a striker or defender in the January transfer window.

Sunderland look to be improving though just not getting results! Very unlucky v Southampton the other day.

If someone offered me the draw against Southampton at 3pm on Saturday, I would have taken the point, but to blow it like they did was typical Sunderland and it was 2 points lost rather than 1 good point gained as So'ton were down to 10 with Sunderland conceding in the 93rd or 94th minute

(10 Mar 2016, 5:40 pm)MrFozz wrote If someone offered me the draw against Southampton at 3pm on Saturday, I would have taken the point, but to blow it like they did was typical Sunderland and it was 2 points lost rather than 1 good point gained as So'ton were down to 10 with Sunderland conceding in the 93rd or 94th minute

Exactly especially considering their form especially of Forster. 

Seems like three of the four (villa are already doomed to be fair) teams in the bottom 4 now are going down.

Steve McClaren sacked by Newcastle with Rafa Benitez lined up as successor at St James' Park
By Sky Sports News HQ

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/1...james-park

(11 Mar 2016, 11:38 am)Michael wrote Steve McClaren sacked by Newcastle with Rafa Benitez lined up as successor at St James' Park
By Sky Sports News HQ

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/1...james-park

Is he still a director?

Bringing Benitez in I suspect means there will be no #7inarow, that appointment may just be enough to spur them on and win the fight for survival

(11 Mar 2016, 11:46 am)MrFozz wrote Is he still a director?

Bringing Benitez in I suspect means there will be no #7inarow, that appointment may just be enough to spur them on and win the fight for survival

Already is #7inarow iirc.

(11 Mar 2016, 4:22 pm)DanPicken wrote Already is #7inarow iirc.

#6inarow...

A Sun'lun Win next week will make it 7

I am not counting the pointless behind closed doors friendly at the SoL the other week

An interesting one.
The whole McClaren thing has dragged on all week but when it emerged this morning Ashley had flown back to the UK, something was going to happen.

Why Charnley hadn't achieved anything prior to today, is anyones guess.

Most of the backroom team have gone. Including Steve Black, who was part of the Keegan backroom team and who worked with the Falcons and Jonny Wilkinson at their peak.
I remember flying to Majorca on easyjet one year from Newcastle and Black accompanying Wilkinson for warm weather injury rehabilitation.

Ian Cathro is staying. Highly rated after his spell coaching in Spain?
I presume Graham Carr is staying too, despite Benitez getting a 'Manager' name badge, rather than Head Coach.

(11 Mar 2016, 6:57 pm)Andreos1 wrote An interesting one.
The whole McClaren thing has dragged on all week but when it emerged this morning Ashley had flown back to the UK, something was going to happen.

Why Charnley hadn't achieved anything prior to today, is anyones guess.

Most of the backroom team have gone. Including Steve Black, who was part of the Keegan backroom team and who worked with the Falcons and Jonny Wilkinson at their peak.
I remember flying to Majorca on easyjet one year from Newcastle and Black accompanying Wilkinson for warm weather injury rehabilitation.

Ian Cathro is staying. Highly rated after his spell coaching in Spain?
I presume Graham Carr is staying too, despite Benitez getting a 'Manager' name badge, rather than Head Coach.

D'ya know if McClaren is still on the board or has he lost that position as well?

I think Newcastle will win in the derby to, our run has to end soon.

Maybe it wasn't Steve's fault.. the players might not even play for Rafa... you never know.

(11 Mar 2016, 9:57 pm)MrFozz wrote D'ya know if McClaren is still on the board or has he lost that position as well?

As far as I know it has gone too.

Arsenal knocked out the FA cup at home to Watford. 1-2 final score.

Decent game I had thought. A nervous last 6 minutes or so for Watford as it turned out, given that Welbeck pulled one back right at the end. Arsenal also hit the post in injury time.

PSG also won Ligue 1 with 8 games to go, as they beat bottom of the league Troyes 9-0 at home. Ibrahimovic got 4.

(13 Mar 2016, 3:27 pm)Adrian wrote Arsenal knocked out the FA cup at home to Watford. 1-2 final score.

Decent game I had thought. A nervous last 6 minutes or so for Watford as it turned out, given that Welbeck pulled one back right at the end. Arsenal also hit the post in injury time.

PSG also won Ligue 1 with 8 games to go, as they beat bottom of the league Troyes 9-0 at home. Ibrahimovic got 4.

God knows how he missed that chance in the last few minutes where there was a empty net for him! Watford deserved it overall though I feel.

Man United v West Ham hopefully will be a decent game - might put it on, I reckon West Ham will win the cup this year.

It'll be an interesting last 4 if West Ham get through. It'll be anyone's cup.

Palace, Everton, Watford and West Ham/Man Utd.

Aston Villa and Spurs also on today but for the league.

I can see Spurs winning by 4 goals, i thought they were live but it seems they aren't.

(13 Mar 2016, 3:48 pm)Michael wrote Aston Villa and Spurs also on today but for the league.

I can see Spurs winning by 4 goals, i thought they were live but it seems they aren't.

I thought it was on Sky Sports?

(13 Mar 2016, 4:36 pm)Davie wrote I thought it was on Sky Sports?

I thought they were but Boro is on sky sports 1, couple of games from Europe on are the other Sky Sports channels

BT sports has Man U v West Ham on

So my mate reckons Newcastle will get in the Champions League next season if they stop up... i mean you have Rafa but come on, be realistic!

(14 Mar 2016, 5:27 pm)Michael wrote So my mate reckons Newcastle will get in the Champions League next season if they stop up... i mean you have Rafa but come on, be realistic!

I think we'll finish quite highly. But the Championship is a much more difficult league now.

We've been better in this 25 minutes than we have been in 25+ games under Mcclaren!!

Disappointing to be behind but encouraging signs what a acrobatic goal by Okazaki though. Great game so far.

(14 Mar 2016, 8:27 pm)Tom wrote We've been better in this 25 minutes than we have been in 25+ games under Mcclaren!!

Disappointing to be behind but encouraging signs what a acrobatic goal by Okazaki though. Great game so far.

Maybe, lets judge after the game ends haha

(14 Mar 2016, 8:29 pm)Michael wrote Maybe, lets judge after the game ends haha

Hopefully we don't fall apart like we do normally going 1-0 down. Should try 3 at the back and get rid of Taylor who is shocking.

(14 Mar 2016, 8:33 pm)Tom wrote Hopefully we don't fall apart like we do normally going 1-0 down. Should try 3 at the back and get rid of Taylor who is shocking.

Don't agree with that point, he's been thrown in at the deep end, far from match fit and always shows desire.

He was fantastic tonight, threw himself in front of everything. His ball distribution was excellent, also.

(14 Mar 2016, 9:53 pm)LeeCalder wrote Don't agree with that point, he's been thrown in at the deep end, far from match fit and always shows desire.

He was fantastic tonight, threw himself in front of everything. His ball distribution was excellent, also.

He's been a liability for 10 years now though Lee. Him and Colo are the same centre half's that we won the championship with, which speaks volumes for me. They're not good enough to be a competitive premiership pairing.

If we do stay up I doubt he'll be here next year and neither will Colo. I thought Shelvey was poor tonight as well.

Kante was fantastic again has to be called up to the France squad I think. Drinkwater should be called up to England squad too but can't see it happening with Roy.

(14 Mar 2016, 10:07 pm)Tom wrote If we do stay up I doubt he'll be here next year and neither will Colo. I thought Shelvey was poor tonight as well.

Kante was fantastic again has to be called up to the France squad I think. Drinkwater should be called up to England squad too but can't see it happening with Roy.

Drinkwater was rubbish tonight but i'm expecting the same rubbish team as normal for England....

Can't wait for the derby now.. Its going to be close... I'm expecting our 6 in a row will end...

(14 Mar 2016, 10:22 pm)Michael wrote Drinkwater was rubbish tonight but i'm expecting the same rubbish team as normal for England....

Can't wait for the derby now.. Its going to be close... I'm expecting our 6 in a row will end...

Drinkwater was ok not as good a he's been all season though.

Much improved by Newcastle though. Away too which is encouraging.

Bolton Wanderers announce that Neil Lennon has left the club by mutual consent


http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/club-...08688.aspx

Oh bloody hell

Football: Ex-Sunderland player to stand trial after being charged with rape
Former Sunderland midfielder Cabral will stand trial at Newcastle Crown Court next month after being charged with two counts of rape, according to the ​Independent .

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/former-...15826.html

Toffees trip to Wearside changed.

Sunderland’s Barclays Premier League game against Everton at the Stadium of Light will now take place on Wednesday 11 May at 7.45pm.
The game, which was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday 12 March, has been changed due to Everton's involvement in the Emirates FA Cup.
Any tickets already purchased will remain valid for the new date.