Rafa Benitez surprisingly joined the club just over four weeks ago to try to save us from relegation and he took the job because he thought it was a massive challenge and that we had some good players and he thought he could save us.
Well it’s turning out to be a massive challenge for the very experienced manager and we’re sure he expected more than one point from the first four games in charge – but that’s what’s happened and we have one point from the last 21 points played for.
Yesterday’s defeat was our 10th defeat on the trot in away games in all competitions – an embarrassing and pathetic record.
Rafa Benitez yesterday
Oh my God – what are they doing
Here’s what Rafa said after the game and you can tell the rubbish the players are producing is simply not good enough:
“I am already thinking about changing something for the next one because playing this way, we can’t get points away.”
“But we have four games at home I want to concentrate on the next one at home.” “Hopefully with the fans behind us it will be easier to do things the way we want to do it.”
“So, I think it is not the time to complain and blame each other, it is the time to realise we have to stick together.”
“We have four home games and that is the key if we want to stay in the Premier League.” “I was really disappointed and upset.”
“We started the game really poorly.” “We were talking about playing the 90 minutes with concentration and focus and not making mistakes.”
“We started the game, making a massive mistake.” “The first half was really, really poor in everything.” “You should not wait to concede goals before you react.”
“You have to take something positive but I don’t see too many positives today because the team was simply reacting in the second half.”
“We can’t start games in this way and give the other team confidence and control if you want to get points away.” “My feeling is the performances of the team away from home have not been good enough.”
“And we have to change something.”
The fact that a manager of the caliber of Rafa Benitez is struggling to get the best out of our players, doesn’t reflect very well at all on our players.
Maybe Rafa could send a message to the squad by dropping both Gini Wijnaldum and Moussa Sissoko, who have not been producing for the team much at all lately?
Our players must show more heart and less fear from now on, otherwise we will not win another game this season.
The four home games are now massive and that’s what Rafa sees as the path to possible safety – and the priority.
So hopefully we can get four sold-out crowds to these games, but our players have to show passion, drive and 100% effort in all our remaining games.
Nothing else is good enough.
Comments welcome.
136 comments so far
SPRINGY
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:38 PM
Comment #81bobby
aye it is,i have to wonder tho… if relegated,would that be the bottom of the barrel or is there further to go?
SPRINGY
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:39 PM
Comment #82bobby
if hull dont go up id like to see them go for robertson for lb
SPRINGY
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:40 PM
Comment #83id like to see newcastle go for robertson
SPRINGY
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:40 PM
Comment #84if they are promoted i doubt he’ll join
toonking
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:43 PM
Comment #85Nezza
The only fans who’ll be feel san is the likes of newcastle and villa who’s big status is getting worse and worse and arsenal who’ve toss away what will be one of the easiest chances of a title in years.
One thing is certain, the leicester city fans will be in a positive mood for years now even if relegation does happen because this is a once in a life time thing. At leicester city the pressure of getting consistant wins is tiny all they want is survival. It’ll be great to see CL coming into their stadium most will probably hope to see real mardrid drawn out of the pot because all in all it’s out of this world to just see themselve in CL football.
The club and fans will celebrate this season in joy and then return to there normalselves and take acceptance to getting just the odd victory.
They won’t do as good as they did this season but you forget those fans didn’t even expect a top 10 finish never mind PL winners.
If it were newcastle united then pressure would hit them hard but at
toonking
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:43 PM
Comment #86the only fans who’ll be feeling sad*
Bobbybee
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:47 PM
Comment #87Good shout springy, he does look useful. Those i mention are already at the club and look more than good enough to bouce back imo. We’ll get rid of those ‘too good for the Championship lmao’ and have a good core of English youngsters, willing to push on. A season in the Championship might be what they need anyway and they’ll come back better for it.
Munster Mag
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:52 PM
Comment #88Bobby leicester are a bizarre team. A decent man u side woukd have sorted them out but i have never seen a team of such pace and aggressive pressing. In english football where first touch is terrible , they can constantly regain possession because their pace wins the ball back. Spurs are a better team imo , certainly a better footballing outfit
Jail for Ashley
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Comment #89Martoon, did I go 12th with 52 points
Bobbybee
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Comment #90I can see Mitro and Arma forming a formidable partnership next season. Mitro to rough em up and keep them occupied and Arma with his pace and finishing ability cashing in on his hard graft. I remember watching DeJong and Arma in the U21’s and De jong picking out Arma’s runs into channels perfectly. If Shelvey can do the same, Arma will score a hatful. Always liked the little and large partnership up front myself.
Munster Mag
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #91Jail, ashley may be a shlt but he as Hardy said, he has spent 120 million over the last few seasons and the team still has huge holes. I think relegation this season ( as opposed to a coup!e of years ago when we shud have gone down) is due to the poor recruitment decisions of carr and charnley at an operational level. 80 mill = 8 ten million pound players. He has to sack them but how far does his obsession with men he can trust (hence jfk) go? Will he smell the coffee? Surely he will?
Ian Toon
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #92163solano // Apr 10, 2016 at 2:59 PM
Quiz for the blind, thick-headed and those with pencils in their ears and noses ;
1) Who said in May 2015 ” The buck stops with me” ?
Was it a) Graham Carr
b) Steve McLaren
c) Kath the tea lady
d) Our Lord and Master, Michael James Wallace Ashley.
The quote was in fact ” The brew stops here” – and the correct answer is clearly :
c) Kath Cassidy the tea lady who retired after 49 years in 2015.
martoon
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #93SPRINGY @78 – No I don’t think you did because I can’t find it – don’t worry there were a couple of people predicting we’d win the league or FA cup – how wrong were they? 🙂
Mashley u Batfastard & lambiarse u Cupid stunt
Apr 10, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #94Steven Taylor should never were a Newcastle shirt again he is embarrasment to the club I can’t remember a worst player in the last 20 years a 10 man team would be just as good I think Nigel Pearson will be manager in the fizzy pop for us ??
Bobbybee
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:02 PM
Comment #95Munster, it is bizarre mate. They’re not a good side, yet to their credit they’ve somehow managed to win ugly. They’ve somehow managed to turn kick n chase into an art form and took everyone by surprise! 🙂
Ian Toon
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:03 PM
Comment #96martoon- I am an optimist by nature. But I think I had us getting a CL place. And then I woke up!!
SPRINGY
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:03 PM
Comment #97martoon
cheers for checking,i didnt think i did….i was’nt that optimistic like!lol
Munster Mag
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:04 PM
Comment #98Agree bobby a!though 442 isnt so popular now. I read somwhere that rafa invented 4231?
Ian Toon
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:07 PM
Comment #99Bobby – Success is built on a solid defence. We looked to do it differently, for seasons attempting to play a counterattacking game with a defence that has more holes than a tramps shoe.
Sliema
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:07 PM
Comment #100martoon
I think I made a prediction but I can’t remember what it was at all, do you have them collected?
Bobbybee
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #101I fancied us to win the cup, but i was looking at the team on paper. Anyhow, my tongue was firmly in my cheek as i did say i’d make predictions for a laugh. Not laughing now like. 🙂 Then again, I’m always an optimist when it comes to the Toon. You’d think at my age I’d know better! 🙂
Belfast
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:12 PM
Comment #102Definitely the poorest/luckiest team that will ever win the premier league.
Well organized to be fair to them but the amount of goals they score from hopeful punts up the pitch is ridiculous.
They remind me of that awful Greek team that won the euros.
Bobbybee
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:14 PM
Comment #103Ian, any defence might have helped mate! We’re where we are because of crap recruitment mate. Defence was clearly the priority, yet we bought more midfielders and are paying the price for Carr’s bonus payments. The fact that we’ve got 30m quids worth of wingers out on loan because they couldn’t cut it in the PL speaks volumes.
toon kk
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #104Martoon
I know you’ve thought I’ve been pessimistic all season but tbf before the season kicked off I thought we’d finish just above the drop zone, but after a few games the writing was on the wall. So I knew we’d struggle for the season and relegation loomed. No proven striker and our shoddy defence weren’t rectified so we could do nothing else but fail.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #105Munster,
Personally I think that Carrs finances should be investigated, I think he’s been on the take!
Bobbybee
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Comment #106Jail, you’ve got to assume Carr was on some kind of bonus and therefore need to question just what he’s done to earn it. I certainly want to know why his signings appear to be connected to certain agents. It definitely needs looking into and he needs to move on.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:34 PM
Comment #107Bobbybee,
Very tempting for anyone if offered 250/500K to push a deal for Riverie or Saviet through, especially when you’ve seen your first choices not get bought. How on gods earth is Riverie worth a fee never mind seven million.
Ian Toon
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:36 PM
Comment #108Chances are we are going down. But should we survive then Rafa is unlikely to see eye to eye with Carr over transfer policy and recruitment. In any event a massive overhaul and change to policy is required and a focussed big spend. Ashley could well be tempted with the prospect of increased to tv money to rid us of the wastrel Carr. But realistically there are so many reasons why Rafa is a 10 game gamble only. Why would he put his reputation at risk in the Championship? He would need to believe in Ashley going forward to contemplate a root and branch undertaking of NUFC.
Bobbybee
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:43 PM
Comment #109Jail, if it was just those two you might see why, but 30m spent on two wingers now out on loan is criminal – without mentioning the rest. 30m could’ve bought us a whole new defence…
Bobbybee
Apr 10, 2016 at 7:47 PM
Comment #110Well, as much as I’ve enjoyed this, my back is telling me enough is enough. Thanks to all for decent debate and catch ya next time around.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:01 PM
Comment #111Whether Leicester deserve it or not, I reckon we have to hope they tie it up quickly.
If Spurs are still in it with a shout last game and we need it to survive then another WH scenario aint going to happen.
If Mbabu is fit then I’d like to see him, Sterry, Lascelles and Dummet form the back line. They should have a bit more pace than .
welshgeordie9
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:02 PM
Comment #112We should get Tony Pulis in, he doesn’t take any messing from players.
welshgeordie9
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:05 PM
Comment #113Leicester do deserve the title, but they have been very luck with injuries, if they had 3 or 4 players out they would have struggled.
Yo-yo
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:12 PM
Comment #114Pulis Noooooooooooooooooo
posada
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:38 PM
Comment #115Jail for Ashley
From previous post. He has options.
We need pace in attack.
Arons,Townsend and Doumbia could provide this.
They are all fit.
Seems Rafa is considering change if this article is accurate.
Look at Vardy. Not a technically gifted player, but perhaps the quickest about at the moment. No defence can take liberties for a second. They drop off. The space that creates for your team is vital.
Teams fear pressing high in case he gets in from a quick pass. Against us they know it simply can’t happen.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:39 PM
Comment #116welsh
True, whats their secret I wonder?
Actually they just needed to have a particular player out for an extended period and they would probably have struggled.
posada
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:41 PM
Comment #117I’m sure Rafa came in thinking all he had to do was organise better and things would start to work.
Well it will take more than that.
Be brave and have a go.
The Mackem result has cheered me up no end.
This isn’t over.
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:44 PM
Comment #118It’s definitely over. Norwich vs Sunderland next weekend, they can’t both come away with 0 points, even if we somehow conjure a win.
posada
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:47 PM
Comment #119They can draw.
If nothing else lets get above the Mackems and make sure they take the drop as well.
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 10, 2016 at 8:48 PM
Comment #120Plus Rafa has shown he either doesn’t have the cajones or insight to make the changes needed.