Rafa Benitez’ first priority since taking the job at Newcastle last Friday is to get our players organized, instill in them more confidence and have them playing well as a team as quickly as possible.
Given only three days with the players before Monday night’s game at Leicester the team looked good – and we were a little unlucky not to pick up a point with a fine second half display.
It’s accepted that Newcastle have been poorly managed at the higher levels for some time now – and when Rafa came in on Friday he asked the staff at the club while he was at Benton – how come the Manchester City game had not been rearranged?
A very good question.
Rafa Benitez – sorting out Newcastle – very quickly
Especially since it was going to be a really important game for us in the run-in, as we try to avoid another humiliating relegation.
Yesterday the club announced this on their web-site:
Newcastle United’s Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City will take place on Tuesday, 19th April, kicking off at 7.45pm.
The Magpies had been due to take on the reigning champions at St. James’ Park on Sunday, 28th February, but the game was postponed after City reached – and subsequently won – the Capital One Cup final against Liverpool, which took place at Wembley on the same day.
Now Manuel Pellegrini will bring his team to Tyneside in April after the new date was confirmed, with the game set to be screened live on Sky Sports.
Ticket details for this fixture will be announced in due course.
Why it hadn’t been rearranged before Rafa arrived we don’t know, because we have known since Manchester City beat Hull City 4-1 on December 1st in the quarter-finals that our game on February 28th would need to be rearranged.
Yes – Manchester City are still in the Champions League and they reached the quarter-finals by beating Dynamo Kiev 3-1 on aggregate with a 0-0 home draw last night, but there’s no excuse for not having it rearranged by March 11th, when Rafa arrived at the club.
Benitez had Newcastle rearrange that game within four days of his arrival.
That’s a small but good example of how Rafa will get this club sorted out very quickly, if we can avoid a relegation in May and he therefore stays with us.
He doesn’t dither around – he gets things done- he’s decisive.
Comments welcome.
97 comments so far
AncientC
Mar 16, 2016 at 6:55 PM
Comment #41This is going to be some game tonight.
At one end of the park, Messi, Suarez, and Neymar.
At the other, Danny Welbeck.
welshgeordie9
Mar 16, 2016 at 6:55 PM
Comment #42As Gandalf would say or should say.
YOU SHALL NOT BEAT THE SWANS
Ha ha ha
welshgeordie9
Mar 16, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Comment #43Can’t see Arsenal beating Barcelona tonight but you never know.
21st Century Schizoid Man
Mar 16, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #44I still have a notion that we may finish above Palace and that would provide much amusement to everyone and especially Catchy
GeordieTwo
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Comment #45That would be excellent Schizoid mate. I’m busy imagining it right now. Mmmmmm.
Jib
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:02 PM
Comment #46I think de Jong could be dropped into a more withdrawn central role.
A three man mid field of Cheike the enforcer Siem the provider and Jonjo a mix of the 2 , Townsend and Wijnaldum switching flanks constantly , the lone striker , whoever Rafa thinks is the best poacher , Sissoko dropped , jobs a good’un.
AncientC
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:03 PM
Comment #47The bookies are being generous with Arsenal. I know Arsenal are unlikely, but Wenger has went to Barcelona and Bayern Munich and won games before – it’s never cut and dry.
Alexis to score first and Arsenal win 3-1 is 450/1.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:07 PM
Comment #4821st century and G2
I was saying the other day, benitez aim is to hopefully catch one of the teams above us. Aumung 16th and falling just short in 17th keeps us up. Look up rather than down. I dont really care which team it is, as Pardews fortunes realistically mean fk all to us now.
Mister Tuff
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:10 PM
Comment #49Must have a new player called Cheike – never heard of him before though.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:10 PM
Comment #50Ancient
I would think that, even if Arsenal manage to nick a very unlikely win, they still won’t do enough to turn the tie around. Barca have hit top form domestically and i’d be surprised if they lose tonight, let alone the whole tie.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Comment #51Tuff
Maybe “Cheike the Enforcer” is his tag on ‘Runescape’
Jib
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:17 PM
Comment #52Ooh I missed a “c” added an “e” why don’t you accuse me of murdering a Danish tourist guide you f@cking child- minded idiot.
AncientC
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #53YouCouldn’tMakeItUp – Unless Barcelona pick up a red card, I would think it should be a very open game.
Arsenal should really be starting the game aiming to score 3 goals, so it could turn into a goal fest.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #54Jib
You murdered a Danish tour guide.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:24 PM
Comment #55Ancient
It could be a cracking game. If Arsenal do make it open,though, it could also go very wrong for them. They will deserve a lot of credit if they do try.
G
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:24 PM
Comment #56Wowzers, some retort Jib! I feel your pain though mate, its difficult on the internet when youre dyslexic.
toon kk
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:24 PM
Comment #57WWSBRD
I would like everyone else love for nine wins, but get realistic ffs.
Look at the table, who’s our proven striker who gets our goals? Even when we play well how many shots on target do we get?
Yes everyone should get behind our team but don’t expect to much that’s all I say, we simply haven’t the cutting edge to score.
Transfer Sage
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:26 PM
Comment #58What a stupid article….Rafa has no say in this. It’s down to the league to organise fixtures.
Rafa hopefully will sort the club out but this is not an example of him doing something.
The Newcastle Armchair
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:27 PM
Comment #59We need cisse back to score simple as
Jib
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:27 PM
Comment #60I extoll all posters ( you don’t have to acknowledge ) who found Mr Tuff’s remark about Ian Toon , accusing him of being one of the Royal Green Jacket soldiers who murdered poor Louise Jensen – either stupid , strange , weird , childish or a bit creepy to e-mail Ed and get the idiot censured !
G
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Comment #61@60, to be fair on this one, Ive probably typed worse things after a few drinks, yes its slightly distasteful, but not worthy of moderation imo.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Comment #62Jib
If that is,in fact, exactly what Tuff did, then it actually becomes a serious issue. Probably a legal matter. However, i am pretty sure he used words along the lines of ‘not saying he was’, so aside from being slightly tasteless, (seen worse) i doubt there will be a problem, nor a reason for censure.
Jib
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:37 PM
Comment #63YCMIU
You’ve got to admit the moron is one creepy guy.
Toon Tang
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:50 PM
Comment #64To all people pinning our survival on Papiss ‘offside’ Cisse – Is this the same papiss that couldn’t hit Vanessa Feltz arse with a banjo?
The lads got a 1 in 3 goalscoring record for us but its a bit bogus due to the 20 goals he scored in 17 games (was it) in that half season he hit the ground running.
No doubt Jibblets will hit me with some stats on all this…
Jib
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:53 PM
Comment #65Toontang
Geordie 2 could hit said Vanessa’s arse and he is sitting in Western Canada
martoon
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:57 PM
Comment #66I have to say I normally get on quite well with Tuff but I thought his comment @20 was out of order beyond a bit of banter.
martoon
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:00 PM
Comment #67Juventus 1 – 0 up at Bayern – I didn’t see that one!
Toon Tang
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:02 PM
Comment #68Jib, I have no doubts, but Cisse? Is he seriously the lad to lead us to the promised land.
Should start doumbia and just see how it goes. But obviously McClaren and now Benitez have seen something they don’t like about him and it looks to be a non-starter
Jib
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Comment #69The Arsenal players will have to be carried on to their plane back to Heathrow if the game carries on like this. Barcelona are running them ragged !
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Comment #70Jib
I dont think he is creepy or a moron. I have crossed the line myself a few times. In fact, in the real world, people rely on me for the slightly inapropriate humour. Its where i fit in with my social circle. We all make mistakes, though. I am sure it will be between Mr Tuff and Ian to sort this one out.
martoon
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Comment #71I think Arsenal are on for a hiding tonight – already 1 – 0 down!
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:09 PM
Comment #72Anyway, having to watch this in my phone so catch up later.
Jib
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:09 PM
Comment #7350,000 fans 50,000 opinions
Toon Tang
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:09 PM
Comment #74Did arsenal ever have a chance in this 2-legger hahahaa
martoon
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:11 PM
Comment #75YouCouldn’tMakeItUp @70 – I think you’re spot on – we’ve all posted things we regret later but you can’t ‘unpost’ them. I think crying to Ed is a little heavy handed – he must get sick of all the bitching.
Jib
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:18 PM
Comment #76I wonder if Jordi Alba knows Benitez ?
ShirebrookToon
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:21 PM
Comment #77Jordi Alba is a quality LB
21st Century Schizoid Man
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:21 PM
Comment #78JIB
You showing ersatz righteous indignation at Mr T and urging folk to complain to Ed about him is deffo the kettle calling the frying pan sooty erse 🙂 Nothing wrong with a bit of hypocrisy though eh ?
stuart no9
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:25 PM
Comment #79A top manager will always want to know the fixtures of his team .specially if it is a rearranged game involving relagation, The time , the date, everything , ,,why ???? coz its better than not knowing.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Mar 16, 2016 at 8:36 PM
Comment #80Half time. Respect to arsenal for giving it a go. Think its only a matter of time before Barca get a second
Martoon
Yeah its a bit much taking things to ed all the time.