Here´s an excellent informative tweet that lists Rafa Benitez´ first 10 games in charge at his six previous clubs and his minimum points total is 17.
With 17 points from our last 10 games we would be on 41 points and probably safe this season.
Of course those are good teams and not like Newcastle, who are currently second bottom of the Premier League.
Rafa also had a pre-season at each of those clubs before his first game, not just 3 days like at Newcastle – as he was brought in to take over from the woeful Steve McClaren, with just 10 games remaining.
So it will be a lot more difficult for him at Newcastle and we didn´t even mention some of the wimps we have in the squad.
The Leicester City game tomorrow night is starting to look huge – and we have to get off to a good start with a good result at the King Power Stadium.
Rafa Benitez in training yesterday
STATS: De eerste 10 wedstrijden van Rafa Benítez bij Real Madrid, Liverpool, Napoli, Chelsea en Valencia #NUFC pic.twitter.com/epOzcieZTu
— Forza Newcastle (@ForzaNUFCnl) March 13, 2016
83 comments so far
Ron Knee
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:09 AM
Comment #1So if he can do for us what he did for Liverpool. Second match a win!
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:10 AM
Comment #2What train of thought even considered Mclaren and how did they discuss it.
“Right we’ve identified Steve Mclaren as being the closest to Pardew as we can get, the only tricky bit is that he doesn’t want to come here and if he gets Derby promoted he says he’s definitely stopping there, some nonsense about control of transfers and being a manager. But, and this is the good bit, if he’s an abject failure, Derby will sack him and we won’t have to pay any compo, he’s desperate to manage in the PL and let’s face it, I don’t think Spurs will poach him ( chuckle chuckle) win win then lads”
Not once did they consider his failure at Derby meant he was a failure and is a failure, why would you allow that at your club.
hibbitt
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:12 AM
Comment #3that would be very nice ron
firebug666
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:15 AM
Comment #4Not sure about the game tomorrow hope for a point, but I reckon we will win the derby and Norwich games.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:16 AM
Comment #5All he has to do is equal his worst points tally and we’re safe. What a crying shame we never done this right after the Chelsea debacle.
Jib
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:16 AM
Comment #6Ian Cathro seems more involved and animated than he ever did under McClaren.
http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/coach-ian-cathro-gives-instructions-during-the-newcastle-united-at-picture-id515100624
sparky55
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:18 AM
Comment #7Jail
Nothing to do with ability…it’s always about the money. Ashley just wanted to survive in the premiership with as little associated cost as possible.
no dreaming of Europe or cups as per their pre season statement 3 years ago…it was always about the cheapest running costs they could get by with so from that perspective Maclaren fitted the bill perfectly irrespective of the fact he was always gonna be sh!te and taking us down was always on the cards
The arrogance in their thinking is astounding…they thought it would never be a problem staying up with average Head coaches in charge but they got found out and have gone a full 180 degrees to go in the exact opposite direction because they’ve all a sudden realised it ain’t quite as easy as that.
Pathetic management
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:19 AM
Comment #8We’d have beaten Stoke if we’d gone for it. I hope that’s the last we see of Tutankahim in a Toon shirt, I have never seen such a waste of space against Bournemouth running for the sake of it jumping in to thin air for crosses ten yards behind of in front of him, jumping for the sake of jumping.
Jib
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:21 AM
Comment #9Jail for Ashley
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:24 AM
Comment #10sparky,
I never understood why the only bit of honesty we had out of them was that we didn’t want to win a cup when it would have been just as easy to say we did. Mclaren wasn’t brought here for success at all but as you say to survive while the club thought they’d make a few quid on ‘astute’ purchases like Mitro and Wijnaldum.
anthc
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:26 AM
Comment #1117 points are achievable with our remaining fixtures however, it’s a big ask. I think we are getting ahead of ourselves with benitez coming in. Yes he’s a good manager but when you think we’ve took 24 points from 28 games and expect benitez to get 17pts from 10 games?
I’m still not convinced, our defence is depleted and we can’t score goals. I hope he does it however, we need to take it one game at a time as there are no easy games in the league. Anything at Leicester would be a massive result although if we show fight like norwich yesterday and sunderland last week then that would be a massive improvement.
sparky55
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:27 AM
Comment #12Jail
nothing Ashley did made and sense…only in his mind did he have the perfect cunning plan.
Doing what he’s just done is actually a big embarrassing admission as to how wrong he was.
I sincerely hope the lesson is well and truly learnt and still hope he’ll sell but doubt he will.
Ian Toon
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:29 AM
Comment #13That is not to say Benítez is free to do whatever he wants at Newcastle but that he has a standing far beyond that of his predecessors. In the past, Ashley has tended to employ head coaches with few options elsewhere: Steve McClaren, John Carver, Alan Pardew, Chris Hughton. These men have accepted the job on the conditions dictated. Newcastle need Benítez much more than Benítez needs Newcastle, and he will be at liberty to speak his mind to a much greater degree.
Should he secure Premier League survival, it is hard to imagine that Benítez will put up with any of the indignities visited upon his predecessors, especially not the minority stake in deciding new signings or the impossible relationship with the media. In fact, that might be changing already with the club now making moves to lift unconditionally their ban on this paper.
Benítez might not be able to change the conditions for the workers at Shirebrook but at least you would hope there is someone in a position of power at Newcastle, at the heart of the Ashley operation, who might be able to exert some kind of reason and, dare one say it, humanity.
Benítez has been prone to his own challenging moments in the past, but during his interim period in charge at Chelsea he demonstrated an aspect to his character that had not always been visible in the past. He felt he was being bullied by elements of the club’s support and had no choice but to stand up to them. By the sounds of it, there are no shortage of bullies at Newcastle either, and some of them might benefit from that fact being pointed out.
Benítez is after all, a coach who won trophies that have never crossed the threshold at St James’ Park in the club’s 123-year history and he walks into the club with a status that demands respect.
If he could leave Newcastle United a better place, that alone would rank among his greatest achievements.
Ian Toon
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:31 AM
Comment #14Sam Wallace – Sunday Supplement/The Times.
martoon
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:37 AM
Comment #15Ian Toon. I’m thrilled with Rafa I just hope that he doesn’t get p*ssed off with the things you mention and walk away.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Comment #16Anyone got a link to the inter5with Mclaren where he says he would have kept us up
Laurent Robert 32
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Comment #17It’s good that he’s already said he’s seen things that need to be changed. Maximising time efficiency having them in each day, great.
As I’ve said for years, the players need to be told they CAN do good things, that they CAN play a certain way and should fear nobody that they play. Only then can they find that indecision is limited, and better, calmer and more controlled ball movement can occur.
Acceptance of ‘tired’ etc on a regular basis should not be put into the players heads, and Rafa is already starting to change their mindsets to believe that they can be positive and have a real determination and drive to achieve successful goals.
It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders already, although there’s a lot of hard work to get through in the last 10 games and I’m eager to see the game tomorrow night.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Comment #18Interview? ?
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:46 AM
Comment #19I’ve spoke to loads of people over the weekend and everyone is excited not one person has denounced it as a con trick but are genuinely excited about the future if we stay up. Going to be a lot harder getting tickets now. The ground will be buzzing.
I wonder what his song will be.
” You’re not a fat Spanish waiter” ???
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:47 AM
Comment #20Does Shelvey look like he has a bit of stubble on his bonce in that photo?
Ron Knee
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:47 AM
Comment #21Jail
Is this what you mean?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/steve-mcclaren-opens-up-newcastle-7540855
JamesToon
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:48 AM
Comment #22Will be a very good atmosphere v sunderland,
however tomorrow night is a big game and the pressure is on leiecster. I reckon rafa will tell them to keep it tight and disciplined at the back and not let vardy have space in behind, then we should have pace and power for the counter attack with mitro, gini, sissoko and wijnaldum
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:51 AM
Comment #23Sounds like you are genuinely excited about all this Jail..
Jib
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:52 AM
Comment #24I’ve just had another look at that graphic posted by the Dutch kid on Twitter shown at the top of the page.
60 Games 7 losses – Wow !!!!!!!
hibbitt
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:54 AM
Comment #25a point at leicester would be massive a big lift to the fans a big lift to the city onward and upward just love the buzz of rafa
toon kk
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:58 AM
Comment #26Rafa is used to quality squads when he picks up points, not our flops, we’ll still be relegated our squad has to many flaws.
Our better player’s may step up, it’s the rest, they have no extra quality to step up to.
scout
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Comment #27Toon kk
I would hate to be in a pub with you.
Jib
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Comment #28Shelvey has had href=”http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/assets/0/78/847/999/7d1f1d71-84a9-4a9d-9b29-55444cd77d85.jpg”>alopecia areata since he was a bairn . He probably shaves his nut once a day.
It’s a nervous condition it’ll probably go away when he wins a trophy – 😎
Jib
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:02 AM
Comment #29try again
Jib
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:04 AM
Comment #30It’s called alopecia areata
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:16 AM
Comment #31I thought the condition was such that his hair didn’t grow at all. Obviously not so.
Lindisfarne
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:28 AM
Comment #32We’re off to see the wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Toon.
We hear he is a whiz of a Wiz,
If ever a Wiz there was.
If ever, oh ever a Wiz there was,
The Wizard of Toon is one because
Because, because, because, because, because
Because of all the wonderful things he does
Do-do do do-do do do do-do.
We’re off to see the wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Toon.
If we believe it will be. Maybe not in the first match but miracles are already occurring.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:28 AM
Comment #33ToF,
Very, if we can stay up we’ll get to see something we never thought possible, a trophy in our lifetime and success under Ashley. He surely can’t fcuk it up this time.
martoon
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:44 AM
Comment #34Toon kk @26 – I don’t think our squad is that bad – in the right hands I think we could have been mid-table. Admittedly the defence is probably our weakest part – but as shown many times on MOTD with a bit of organisation it could be better – hopefully Rafa and his coaches will be able to improve our defence.
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:45 AM
Comment #35Jail, I reckon I’m as much of a naysayer as anyone on this blog, but I’m going along for the ride with you.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:55 AM
Comment #36ToF,
If we get those 17 points then the Wally with the brolly might have been one of the best things ever to happen to us.
SPRINGY
Mar 13, 2016 at 10:59 AM
Comment #37morning all
theres a canny article on newsnow from jamie carragher just warning toon fans that the football maybe a bit dire at first as rafa likes to tighten things up defensively first before anything else and not to expect miracles ,but he is a great manager and is very organised and the best he’s work with at setting up teams….worth a read to put level expectations….im not trying to piss on anyones chips, but like rafa said… calmness is required.
Harley
Mar 13, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Comment #38I wonder what he was seeing that made him think he could’ve kept us up. 3/4 of a season gone and in the relegation zone, playing as bad as we’ve ever played, lost the players and then ultimately the fans.
The guy is delusional. I don’t know if it’s bravado or he genuinely believes it. You have to feel for those people, like carver too. People who genuinely believe they are the bees knees but proved wrong at every turn but its just water off a ducks back and they just keep going.
I used to work with a guy like this, it was unbelievable watching and listening to him. I don’t know if it’s a gift or a curse.
toon kk
Mar 13, 2016 at 11:03 AM
Comment #39Martoon
We have a good squad, unfortunately it hasn’t a proven striker and most of all no defenders, well it doesn’t look as if we have.
But let’s hope Rafa can motivate our players to at least giving 100%.
hibbitt
Mar 13, 2016 at 11:06 AM
Comment #40Toon kk
you may be right but in Rafa we have a top coach who with just a bit of luck luck and a lot of effort we could stay up i total agree a lot of the squad just aren’t good enough but we do have players in the squad with Rafa and his coaches could improve greatly …….if we go down so be it but with Rafa a lest we will go down fighting no one will just roll over