Rafa Benitez has finished his press conference today and dare we say it – he’s as confident as ever – and thinks that in these four home games remaining, our fans can make a massive difference and we have to get as many wins as possible at home.
But the defense seems awfully inexperienced and it’s likely to be Darlow Anita Mbemba Lascelles and Dummett – with Coloccini, Janmaat and Mbabu all out injured.
Who can can play at right back apart from Anita is a good question – maybe Paul moves to right back and jack Colback comes in at left back?
Rafa Benitez at press conference today
This is some of what Rafa has said and it
“It’s really important for us to have these four home games. Our fans can make the difference.”
“I don’t see any fear in the players. I just know they’re upset and disappointed. But they’ll fight until the end – give everything”
“The only thing I am asking the players is to give everything and the fans have to know they will give their all”
“The Norwich vs Sunderland result, we can’t impact on. I am confident we can get the points to stay up. Fans can make the difference”
“We have to have confidence. It’s massive for us, crucial for us. We have to start winning games.”
We must twin this game tomorrow but without some experienced defenders in the side – it’s going to be very difficult.
Comments welcome.
22 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:31 PM
Comment #1My team to face Swansea:
—————Mitro
Aarons———————-Townsend
——–Shelvey—–de Jong
Colback———————Anita
—Dummett—Lascelles—Mbemba
—————Darlow
Lindisfarne
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:36 PM
Comment #25-4-1
Three central defenders, wing backs that could form a midfield four. Good passing players in the centre with two quick attackers in the channels, who can also pick up the knock ons from the front man.
Alternatively play Tiote as DM instead of Mitro.
barkel
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:51 PM
Comment #3personally i’d go …
Mitro
Wini SDJ Townsend
Shelvey Sissoko
Anita
Dummett Lascelles Mbemba
Darlow
Our defence is awful so I think we need to just go for it. I know Sissoko & Wini haven’t been playing well but the law o averages means they’re due a good one!
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:51 PM
Comment #4Yawn. Said the same before Southampton about knowing the players will give their all and we wass down by 5 mins and out by half-time.
Average_Contents
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:53 PM
Comment #5Not that I’m arsed because he’s a fat pitch invader (haha, pure class) but Taylor is injured I’m presuming?
What a shocker.
Should of been fcuked off long ago. He’s barely on the pitch for more than two games in a row nowadays, well for the last few seasons anyway and therefore contributes absolutely zero.
And that fcuking curly haired coward can get to fcuk too. Shirking pansy.
Injured in a warm down after a game he never even played in? Fcuking bollox.
Captain?
My arse he is. My 5yr old girl has more leadership qualities than that mute.
She actually does. Bosses me around anyway 😉
Not sure on janmaat tbh. If he’s punched the wall it tends to lean towards passion but he fails to transfer it onto the pitch.
Still, he’s the only fit, specialist rb we have so….
Drop sissoko (because he’s been shite all season) and play a midfield three of windy (again funny) tiote and shelvey.
Front three kind of, of perez or de Jong just behind cisse and mitro.
Hwtf hwtl
Fat fcuk out
Fat fcuks toads out.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:53 PM
Comment #6WestOzMag
A bit strong that general dissing of people on the blog.
As one of the good people the ones that you are referring to do not bother me in the slightest.
They have opinions and as yet that is not a crime, although the NWO are working towards this situation.
You don’t have to agree with them or even read what they write.
The main thing is that they are all long suffering Toon supporters and probably, like me, can’t vent their feelings at home so let it all out on the blog.
Think of their comments as a cathartic release so that friends and family don’t suffer.
lesh
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:54 PM
Comment #7It’d be nice if those players who’ve hidden over recent games were to spare an hour of their valuable time to actually play and help our depleted defence!
Taylor not ready to play? Ok, he’s been binned and Colo had a reaction to training? Extreme Lassitude is it Colo? Or might it be Chronic Inertia that ailing him.
When you think about Jonas, these lazy jumped-up overpaid guys should be ashamed of themselves – along with Charnley who, if he had any decency should have resigned – either of his own volition or encouraged to go by Ashley.
But if Charnley walked, who’s take the flak for Ashley?
Average_Contents
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:56 PM
Comment #8Forgot about Townsend.
Super sub
barkel
Apr 15, 2016 at 2:56 PM
Comment #9That shout read more of a 3-4-3. Gini and Andy giving width up top. Anita covering in for full backs. Sissoko in the box to box role he used to play in. I’m pretty sure it’d work an absolute treat in fifa
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2016 at 3:01 PM
Comment #10Main thing for us is that we start aggressively and score in the first half ideally, and score first. Then we can win the game. Rafa may be forced to play Wiji and Sissoko and hope the crowd lift these jessies. Rafa needs to pump this side up – if we come out and play as insipidly as we did v Makems first half the Rafa can take a hike as far as i am concerned. I want him to do well. I want him to stay. But any more flat performances and he has to share the blame that international players and leaders like Wiji cannot or will not play for him. Vamos Rafa , shout at the lazy shlits.
sing in the corner
Apr 15, 2016 at 3:22 PM
Comment #11So predictable of Colo. What a sap. I don’t buy this ‘he’s had a reaction ‘ crap. Faker! He’s wimping out, probably will continue to do so. No way he was gonna face up to Man City on Tuesday either.
Rafa has to be positive in his comments, what else can he do, wave the white flag? He’s the captain of the ship and will be the last one to bail out. Some of our sorry losers went months ago.
sing in the corner
Apr 15, 2016 at 3:25 PM
Comment #12Colback must play alongside Shelvey. He’s had a complete nightmare at left back. Shelvey has had his best game when Colback did the scruffy stuff and gave him the ball.
Rotonda heights
Apr 15, 2016 at 3:45 PM
Comment #1318 responses so far ?
1 Jail for Ashley // Apr 15, 2016 at 12:57 PM
If this is true and Mashers doesn’t keep him on and gets another second rater there’ll be absolute hell on.
2 NezzaNUFC // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:00 PM
I don’t think Lee would be to happy if Rafa stays because Ashley would shiver when he checks his wages are that high and with bonuses.
But on the other hand though having Rafa rebuilding Newcastle could be what we need and if there’s anyone who can build Newcastle into a great team and club we once knew it’s Rafa.
Yes he will get criticized by fellow pundits and other manager but it’s Newcastle and we are the sleeping giants and Rafa could be the smelling salts to wake us up.
HWTL
HWTR
3 NezzaNUFC // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:02 PM
Doesn’t Rafa have good friends who are top scouts?
4 Lee Charnley Bunga Party // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:04 PM
I can just see this all end in tears the second Benitez has a promise broken or told his second and third choice players cant be signed and they have to move to the 4th choice ……
Never mind his first choice players !!
5 NezzaNUFC // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:04 PM
https://www.clubcall.com/crystal-palace/eagles-likely-to-swoop-for-newcastle-star-1806931.html?
Hmmm could there be truth in this?
I hope so!
6 NezzaNUFC // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:05 PM
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
With everything going on and Lee costing Ashley a lot of money I would expect him to be gone as soon as the season is over.
7 Whumpie // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:09 PM
My main worry is that with the Guitierrez outcome on everyone’s mind, Rafa will work out what kind of man he’s working for. The kind that has been found guilty of lying, coersion, duplicity and all manner of other things by at least three courts now. A first class sh1t.
If I were Rafa I’d run as fast as possible. I just hope he doesn’t, because we’re stuck with that 1st-class sh1t either way.
8 NezzaNUFC // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:09 PM
I can imagine Rafa turning around and saying in the press room
‘ yes I would carry on as Newcastle’s manager but only if Lee Charnley would vacate his role as MD’
Rafa prides himself with other people with extensive football knowledge and Lee has none.
9 NezzaNUFC // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:12 PM
Whumpie
Then it’s simply Rafa speaking to Ashley about this situation.
And then it’s whether Ashley will listen to either Rafa or Lee to show how much ambition is in him.
10 Lee Charnley Bunga Party // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:12 PM
@Nezza
Lee and Carr’s running of the club in the last 2 seasons has probably lost Ashley 200 million in value and also has lost his free advertising in the most watched league in the world !
Heads will certainly roll thats for sure!!
11 NezzaNUFC // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:14 PM
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aye very true mate, but I guess we will see in the coming months on what’s going to happen because no doubt the press would expect Ashley to come out again and speak.
12 NezzaNUFC // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:19 PM
In the running of the club no doubt Ashley will hire a MD because this is out of the reach of Rafa in which he won’t have control over with it being more on the financial and contracts events rather than football itself, but he may have a say on what type of MD needs to be brought in and what kind of experience he has.
But for players and staff including scouts it’s all Rafa on that department and if given a chance and have the reins of Newcastle he could make us into a better version than Liverpool with cup success?
13 Lee Charnley Bunga Party // Apr 15, 2016 at 1:21 PM
@NezzaNUFC
Yeah just wish he would come out and say I have messed up I am now going to listen to Rafa and get the club sorted :
Charnley demoted to tea boy and to be replaced by someone who knows how to run the finances of a football club and knows how to get suitable investment in through corporate means
Shearer as club ambassador
Ginola as Director of Football
Wonga out and replaced by a reputable brand
Beardsley replaced by someone who knows how to develop young players
Carr to retire or become just a scout
Scouting system totally changed starting with looking at youngsters from Britain and abroad
– – – – – – – – – – – –
Hear, hear.
Malackay
Apr 15, 2016 at 3:55 PM
Comment #14I’ve changed my mind already about the line up for tomorrow. I’d go 4-3-3 and play Tiote Colback and Shelvey to make sure we can compete in the first half. An early goal at home in this game and we are done.
——————Darlow—————-
Anita—Lascelles—-Mbemba – Mbabu–
——–Tiote——Shelvey —–Colback—-
–Townsend— Miotrovic —— De Jong–
Gives you options of the bench to win the game if it’s tight after 70 mins:
Sissoko
Wijnaldum
Cisse
Perez
Doumbia
Aarons
Mag52
Apr 15, 2016 at 4:00 PM
Comment #15I was up there with most on here welcoming the appointment of Rafa and anticipating an improvement on the pitch over the last ten games.
I’m really hoping that Ed’s continued adoration of the man is going to prove to be more than a case of ‘the Emperors new clothes’, although another insipid performance at home to Swansea will start the alarm bells ringing big time.
Goromagpie
Apr 15, 2016 at 4:49 PM
Comment #16Team against swans
———————-darlow——————-
Mbma jaamal dummett
Towns. Wini. Shelvey. Perez. Sissoko
———————-sdj———————-
———————–mitro
3-1 win to toons
El Sleeve
Apr 15, 2016 at 4:58 PM
Comment #17i’ve just read about jonas’ case. so glad he won, but what useless and immoral SOBs we have in our club. THats no way to treat a footballer or human being,
I think on reading that i am done with NUFC until these chumps leave.
absolute disgrace
terencelim
Apr 15, 2016 at 5:01 PM
Comment #18Ashley OUT!
Ashton
Apr 15, 2016 at 5:09 PM
Comment #19Our best team for next week and the rest of the season:
——————————Darlow
Sissoko——-Mbemba———Lacselles——-Colback
—————-Tiote———————-Jonjo
Townsend————–De Jong—————–Wijnaldum
——————————Mitro
Sissoko is vital in terms of defending set pieces. Our team is full of midgets and he normally marks the tallest opposition player when defending set pieces.
And he should never play on the left. He is a right sided player and should play there.
He could be a masterstroke at RB.
Tiote is also vital. He is brave and doesn’t shy away from the ball and never gives up.
De Jong should start every game. He is our smartest player and also has the most experience attacking wise.
Wijnaldum played his best for us at LW. Against Norwich home he played there and scored 4.
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2016 at 5:39 PM
Comment #20Mag 52, another insipid performance and we will be down and Rafa can sling his hook. If he cannot get this lot up for the game, we can conclude that he is just not good with crappier teams like NUFC, and we will have missed out on an imminently suitable manager like Pearson,w ho has got leicster out of trouble, bought well, and can do a brill job in the championship. I hope Rafa does it, and hope he stays, but if he cant, its time we stopped fawning over him and realised he just aint suited to teams like us, but to better players in more successful / prestigious teams.
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2016 at 5:40 PM
Comment #21Ashton, good team layout. I agree. I have been whunginf about Sissoko on left since day one, and it has clearly been a stupid idea by Rafa.
martoon
Apr 15, 2016 at 6:10 PM
Comment #22Ashton @19 – I think I’d play Dummett at LB rather than Colback but apart from that a good team.