Newcastle fans will put up with anything – well almost anything – as long as the players in those black and white shirts give everything they have during a game.
But as we all know too many times this season they have simply not turned up for the games and we have lost the game – often early in the first half.
Saturday was another case in point and as these games get more and more important – our last win was way back on February 6th when we took West Brom apart 1-0 – it just seems to be all too much for some of our players and they conceded a comical goal after just four minutes on Saturday.
The game was over right there.
Rafa Benitez – our only hope but he will leave
Just how Rafa Benitez can turn this thing around we don’t know, but I’m still willing for a complete miracle to occur in the last six games and maybe we can get five wins.
But since we have only six wins in 32 games and we have one point out of the last seven games it looks like it’s all over now for Newcastle = to quote a great Rolling Stones song.
It’s simply agony for Newcastle fans as we have to go through this pain again – and this is the fourth season this has happened since we were 5th top back in 2012.
We haven’t signed the players and we haven’t signed good enough coaches and when that happens you get what’s happened to Newcastle these last four seasons.
A relegation fighting team.
I saw a headline today saying “Is relegation the end for Newcastle United FC?”
The answer to that is no – of course not – but things have got to change big time under Mike Ashley – who has been a woeful owner of Newcastle now for coming up to nine years.
If he will not change things for the better then he has to sell up and give fans some hope again – it’s hope that we are running out of right now.
Just imagine when (if?) we are relegated and Rafa announces he will leave Newcastle in the summer – that’s a double whammy of pain right there.
We have been less than happy with the fight and courage of our players this season.
On a personal note my wife Madeline and I went to a memorial (funeral) for an English woman four hours after we lost at Southampton.
The woman is a friend of my wife’s over here and she was a stellar Real Estate agent who was larger than life and lost her five year fight with breast cancer a week ago.
The significant pain she suffered in the last several months ended right there.
Through the service as they went over her very successful life with her four grown children making speeches, I realized this woman had more courage and fight in her little finger than some of the Newcastle players have shown all season long.
They have no idea how good they have it – if they did maybe they would start to play at their very best.
And writing this blog over the last few years, as I explained in great detail to my son Neil over breakfast yesterday morning – has been nothing less than self-induced torture at times.
But I chose to do it – so I certainly cannot complain.
And now trying rather desperately to end this thing on a much more positive note – it’s all obviously going to get a lot better for Newcastle United after this season.
That’s right isn’t it?
🙂
Comments welcome.
31 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Comment #1I wonder if Rafa would have still came if he new the extent of the shower of shite that Llambeze, Churnley and Carr had assembled under the guidance of Mike law.
stuart no9
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Comment #2we are not down yet ,
3 poinrts v swansea
1 point v city
1 point v liverpool
3 points v palace
3 v villa
3 v spurs coz leicester have won the title,
14 points will be enough to keep us up
AND raffa stays .
ilovetoon8788
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:37 AM
Comment #3We have a squad totally unbalanced. Carr just went about buying players with good resale value. Thats all.
Squad building and balance was last on their list when seeing who to buy.
SPRINGY
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:43 AM
Comment #4just a win against swansea will do for now stuart,we’ve won 6 all season and only managed an unbeaten run of only 3games twice this season i believe…..so 1 game at a time which we are struggling to do as it is.
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:44 AM
Comment #5Stuart, loving your optimism.
welshgeordie9
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #6In cough cough Rafa cough cough Benitez we trust.
Ian Toon
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:51 AM
Comment #7Jail- You’re guilty of your often shallow thinking. Harry Redknapp has said that people are “far too harsh on Mike Ashley”. Ashley has spent the money but it has been spent badly. For him Carr and the players are to blame and they need to scrap for their lives.
He suggests that it’s still all to play for but its Carr that should be first for the firing squad. The chief negotiator Charnley would be next.
We are where we are and the supporters have a part to play with 4 remaining home games. Forget the agenda and get behind the team and maybe just maybe fight will ensue .
ArtyH
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:52 AM
Comment #8@ilovetoon8788, yes mate spot on. That has been the problem all along, Ashley looked at the club as a means to make money by any action possible no matter the consequences for the fans or the club. The result is what we have now, a totally unbalanced bunch of over paid nancy boys who do not give a $hyte for our beloved club. What makes it worse is they brought in the right manger at the wrong time, he should have been brought in when he became available in January. This last act is a diversion ploy by owner/management to vindicate themselves of blame, but it will not work. We as fans know and have known for years about the failed setup at the club. Its a shame as all I can see from here on in is a cataclysmic downturn in the clubs history akin to that of Leeds UTD.
DAVEMAC
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:55 AM
Comment #9Don’t know how anyone can say we will stay up we have been down from the beginning of the season due to the crap people running the club, only thing they are good at is running it into oblivion, rotten from top to bottom.
As much as I dislike the mackems I watched a part of their game yesterday and have to say they at least tried played with fight, spirit and passion, whereas our performance all season has lacked all three. If we had been playing them yesterday it would have been yet another embarrassing defeat. Cant see any future for us under this regime
stuart no9
Apr 11, 2016 at 10:56 AM
Comment #10the team might have given up but me and my mate raffa havnt . its alive untill 4th place has 1 point more than us come 16.45 on the 15th may . hang on in there.
jayphoto
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:02 AM
Comment #11Think Colback coming back in will help. We need players that actually give a damn. Though not the most talented, Colback and Dummett will at least give 100%.
Happily see Janmaat never pull on a toon shirt again. Can’t defend and this season can’t attack.
I’d drop At least one of Gini and Sissoko. Neither have done anything for months and months! We seem more composed when De Jong is on the field, though I have a feeling Rafa is keeping him for the home games?
I’d line up for the rest of the season
Darlow
Mbemba Lascelles Colo Dummett
Townesend Shelvey Colback Gini
De jong
Mitrovic
Im sure sissokos power would be well suited off the bench. Can have the option of 2 up top and bring cisse on also.
Would play Mbemba right back just for remainder. Did well against Man utd there earlier in the season, we’re getting caught out because our full backs are bombing on too high. Mbemba and Dummett at full back would give us solidity and extra aerial security
hibbitt
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:10 AM
Comment #12so many on here telling us supports that go to games that we are the the problem but now all of a sudden we are the cure the answer we must get behind the team what the f##k have we been doing when the prats on here sit behind there keyboards mouthing off
jayphoto
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:12 AM
Comment #13Don’t know how anyone can blame Rafa? He’s been here 4 games, and 3 of them have been away from home. We haven’t beat the mackems in ages and we were never going to get anything at Leicester or Southampton regardless. Norwich was a cruel blow but it was a last minute goal that was actually handball…
Reason we get called deluded is constantly blaming it on the manager. He’s not the problem! I’m willing to say McClaren wasn’t the problem. And possibly even Carver and Pardew weren’t the problem! The problem is, that when you sell the club to players as a showcase to get a bigger move, invariably, the players you sign will only care about their next contract.
Its clear that Newcastle do absolutely no background checks on signings mentality and character. Thauvin a shining example of that, everyone and his dog knew that kid didn’t want to leave france, hell he told everyone that yet we shot 13m on him.
Similar Gini, the invisible man. We all wondered before xmas how we signed this guy and why no champions league side took him…. becoming quite clear now…No heart!
The club sign under developed players on the hopes that they improve and become worth double what they paid to sell for profit. I like mitrovic and Mbemba, but at their ages neither should have been signed and relied on as the only player In their position. The difference is, Norwich signed Naismith, hes not as talented as mitro, but hes 29, has experience, leadership and good character and that guy is leading Norwich to safety. Made a massive difference!
None of us have any idea what brief Charnley and Carr work to. I suspect Carr may receive incentives from certain agencies or bonuses from the club for big sales? Thing is, Ashley appointed them. They do his bidding. Its a 300m company… no way to Ashley sit in Mansfield with no iota on whats going on…
Carr and Charnley are Carver all over again… people that should be nowhere near the job they have and that will eventually be scapegoated by ashley
hibbitt
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:18 AM
Comment #14jayphoto @ 13
one the best post ever on here the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
100% agree with every word well done
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:18 AM
Comment #15Cyprus
I do sincerely apologise for previous comments made.
I just thought the constant criticism of Rafa was just a bit OTT.
We’ve had shockers like SA, AP, JC and SM, but this is a european cup winning manager with a great pedigree, who’s only been here 5 mins and is being asked to perform miracles with the absolute shower Carr has assembled.
Our problems run so deep Houdini would have had a job on.
In an ideal world Ash would sell and put us all out of this never ending misery his association with NUFC has inflicted on us.
Where do you begin with the out tray, both on and off field!
Carr
Charnley
Moncur
Beardsley
Watson
Obertan
Marveaux
Riviere
Haidara
Gouffran
Cabella
Thauvin
TAYLOR
etc, etc.
cyprus
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:20 AM
Comment #16That’s fair. My complaint against some here is that they are perfectly willing to blame Steve, AP and Carver, but will not even whisper anything about Rafa. For him, it’s just the players, Ashley, whomever, poor wonderful soul, who stooped to our level for only two mil.
I would’ve loved for him to succeed. Not just for his sake, mine too! He got quite a few things wrong, it’s not a crime to point them out.
Ed put up Carver’s little table immediately after he started coaching us…
cyprus
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:23 AM
Comment #17RH,
that’s a fair comment re Rafa and the rest. And I have been getting on his case, true, too fast. It’s disappointment more than anything. Anyway, I do like your posts.
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:25 AM
Comment #18jay
sadly JC gives just so many cheap and ultimately costly free kicks away. aggression has to be controlled and he doesn’t. similar with tiote. lack of any pace kills us too.
if i see taylor in a b&w shirt again!!!!
I’m astonished that carr hasn’t been taken to task by ash. when you think of the gene pool of people ash has employed it was always ever going to end this way, ironically after finally appointing a great coach way too late!
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:29 AM
Comment #19stuart
sadly i think our fate will be long decided by then.
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:35 AM
Comment #20Ian,
I think harry is in ash’s circle so is hardly going to diss the man publically.
The thing is ash appointed carr and charnley, a glorified teaboy and an over promoted pensioner to spend the money
jayphoto
Apr 11, 2016 at 11:40 AM
Comment #21@rotunda – the fact we finally have a decent manager for 10 games only is like the final insult…
To be fair, 99% of people in football, pundits, managers etc have pulled apart the Newcastle set up for 3-4 seasons now and most called it to end like this. We are a prime example that all ability and zero heart just don’t cut it In the premier league.
I’m trying to focus on the positives… I live near Burton On Trent/Derby/Nottingham/Sheffield so some great access to away days…
Probably start the season with Arma up top… it’ll be great to see a Geordie leading the line
We’ll probably win more games next season…
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:03 PM
Comment #22The annoying thing is watching Sunderland and Norwich giving 100% and still being absolutely terrible if our players could actually put in 100% I think we would have survived no bother as we have players with better individual quality than them but its a mentality thing !
Colback in the middle , Lascalles CB, De Jong no 10 and Dummett LB all to be brought back in for Swansea that would instantly add a lot more effort and fight
Thought Anita looked decent at right back would keep him there (unless Mbabu is back fit which I dont think he is) as for all the little guys short comings he still puts in 100% and fights for the ball as Janmaat has looked a lost cause wouldn’t surprise me if he has already arranged a transfer with another team and is just playing the season out
So taking Taylor , Janmaat out straight away and then it would be between Sissoko , Wijnaldum and Perez to be benched for the other positions
jayphoto
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:06 PM
Comment #23Heard a rumour that Janmaat will be moving to Milan… not sure how true that is. Guy looks a shadow of the player from last season regardless
Scotty
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:08 PM
Comment #24I just can’t see us winning any of the 4 remaining home games. Give Doumbia a start please raffa..
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:11 PM
Comment #25@Jayphoto
To be honest I don’t think a lot of premiership teams will be in for him he doesn’t have pace and loses his composure when playing against pacy wingers and fullbacks he would be better as a wingback in a slower more technical league like Italy
Same with Sissoko he would probably look amazing playing for Milan as he would be the fastest player in the league
Tsunki
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:12 PM
Comment #26Ian – if you had a dog on a lead that was continually allowed to bit people, despite many complaints, how would you define “Shallow Thinking”? –
A/ it’s the publics’ fault for being far to accessible for biting and for not being consistently nice to the dog
B/. it’s the Dogs fault for being unruly.
C/. it’s the leads’ fault for being too long
D/ it’s the owners fault for not respecting the public, and continuing to walk an unruly mutt on an over-long lead.
I’ll leave that for you to mull over.
Tsunki
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:15 PM
Comment #27Cyprus do you really think Benitez should join the McCarvew Clan? Don’t you think any leeway should be given at all to having your boundaries clipped by an injury ravaged under-par squad that has been badly trained for two years and oh btw you have ten games to undo all that baggage?
Are you really complaining about him?
Mister Tuff
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Comment #28Interesting canine question for Alpha Dog.
Mister Tuff
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:31 PM
Comment #29I think, apart from the hierarchical structure at SJP, that there is an element of buying the wrong players at the right time. A lot just do not appear to fit in/compliment the other players – more like individuals playing for themselves.
Plus buying crocks and those of intermittent skill has led to the inevitable demise of the club.
Should there be vocal protests now showing how the fans are disgruntled with Penfold and crew or will the fans not dare to express their views as it MAY effect performances.
Not sure myself about this – buying into this last season thwarted any real protest though.
Mr Tubbs is the architect of the problems but it appears there is no way to get rid of him.
These idiots will probably be back slapping each other in view of their profit this year – but failing to take into account the loss of many millions more as a result of being relegated. As somebody said on here last week – penny wise pound foolish.
Mass clearout needed.
Ian Toon
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:34 PM
Comment #30Rotunda- Jail’s posts rarely show any insight. It goes without saying that Ashley is the architect of the disaster. My point was that now is not the time for name calling whilst we still have a chance to survive and that the charge sheet should feature Charnley, Carr and the players.
Under Ashley’s ownership we have seen a downward spiral and nothing has really changed despite record transfer expenditure. Carr and Charnley have mismanaged the transfer kitty. Ashley has learnt nothing since the Allardyce spending disaster. He really has learnt nothing except how to invest unwisely in a succession of players not equipped for the PL.
giimps
Apr 11, 2016 at 12:37 PM
Comment #31I would go for “E”
It’s the owners fault for not training the dog properly and taking the dog out knowing this.
IMHO