Rafa Benitez made the rather strange decision of making Moussa Sissoko the Newcastle captain for the vital game yesterday when he dropped Jonjo Shelvey, but it seemed to work because Moussa had a good game for a change – and he even scored his first goal of the season and then went bonkers when he ran over to the touchline where Benitez was.
So Rafa seems to have figured out how he can get the best out of the 35 times capped French International who has had a poor season for Newcastle – so far.
Moussa Sissoko rifles the ball home for Newcastle’s second goal
This is what Rafa said in the Chronicle about Moussa:
“I am really pleased with him because since I came here, the only thing I can say is that he’s been really good in terms of his work on the pitch, the things he is trying to do in the training sessions and also the relationships he has with a lot of the players.”
“He is someone that they can see as a very influential player with a lot of our French players, and I think it is important because he is so good that he has confidence. It is a boost for him and also for the team.”
“We have a lot of players who talk French, so then you need someone like him who is a big name for them and they can see he is a good player, a great player and if he is performing and working as hard as he has been working, the others have to follow him.”
Moussa has been so disappointing this season, but if we he can come to life in the remaining five games of the season then maybe he can help us even survive in the Premier League.
It’s a fact that when Moussa plays well the team plays well and that was certainly true yesterday.
And from what Rafa is saying today it seems that Coloccini may not make it back before the end of the season with that calf injury of his, so it’s important that Moussa perform as one of our remaining senior players.
If having the captaincy is such a spur to the Frenchman then we assume Rafa will keep him on as captain – and it could be an unchanged starting line up against Manchester City on Tuesday night.
That will be a very tough game for us, but we have to try to win the game somehow – we need the points to avoid being relegated.
And we were assuming Moussa will be sold whether we go down or stay up next month, but it may be if we stay up Rafa wants to keep him in the squad.
Wonder what Rafa is doing to try to get the best out of Gini Wijnaldum, who had another quiet game yesterday?
Comments welcome.
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60 comments so far
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Comment #1Ashley Out!
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2016 at 4:45 PM
Comment #2This has to be motivational talk. Or rather to stop him from cheesing everyone off. Hes the least able ball controller we have and but for his toe poke (usually when he’s in the box he’s in the way) he should have been pulled at half time. I can only think his prolific running is unsettling for the opposition.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2016 at 4:45 PM
Comment #3So does the shite house Collocini come back in as captain maybe to risky to rock the boat at this stage.
c-dog
Apr 17, 2016 at 4:49 PM
Comment #4Coloccini over Mbemba any day. Mbemba is physically superior but mentally he is not there. He looks like a raving lunatic. Young so maybe he will develop.
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Comment #5Not that I think this defence is going to withstanding the terrors of Aguero and his pals, but I hope that the usual cronies don’t waltz back in on past reputation. Especially our bubble-bonced Bottler and the terminally hapless Taylor. Keep the four we had against swansea and yes maybe a fiery baptism but good prep for the year to come.
Belfast
Apr 17, 2016 at 5:09 PM
Comment #6Great player in his own house.
goosegog
Apr 17, 2016 at 5:32 PM
Comment #7i think sissoko had a good debut since then he has been useless,tiotte is embarresing.dejong is the only midfielder with a brain
The next Mike Williamson
Apr 17, 2016 at 5:35 PM
Comment #8janmaat has been one of our better players over two seasons, he’ll be a lot better in a team that plays wingbacks or a team that plays high up the pitch.
when sissoko plays good the team plays good. aye that’s because when he doesn’t play good we are playing with 10 men, 9 when Gini goes missing, 8 when cisse is on the pitch.
NoahJ
Apr 17, 2016 at 5:43 PM
Comment #9I actually thought he had a poor game yesterday; he took his goal well, but it was lucky to drop to him at 6 yards out
goosegog
Apr 17, 2016 at 5:43 PM
Comment #10if i threw a cushion at sissoko it would bounce about 4 foot away and janmaat is probably the worst defender ive seen at the club.anita aint the greatest but he was way better than janmaat
toon kk
Apr 17, 2016 at 5:54 PM
Comment #11We’re in for a good thumping off palace when we play them.
City will show us how to play on Tuesday night also.
I’m actually looking forward to next season in the championship when hopefully we can compete.
bettyswallocks
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Comment #12There’s lots of discussion on sky now about who ‘ll be player of the season. Not as much as a mention for any of our lot!
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:02 PM
Comment #13Not even Elliot? Shame that.
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:05 PM
Comment #14Toon kk your flowery optimism is overpowering let’s have a dose of reality please 🙂
Mag52
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:10 PM
Comment #15The back four which played against Swansea should (barring injuries of course) remain in place for the rest of the season.
Janmaat, my tip as captain at the beginning of the season, has been so poor, the sooner we get shot of him the better.
Those who have more or less assumed a win for us when Palace visit,could be in for a shock. Palace, with four strikers on, coming back from a goal down at the Emirates earlier this evening, and with no relegation worries, will be a handful, I kid you not.
toon kk
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:15 PM
Comment #16Tsunki
Don’t tell me you’ve enjoyed the drabble we’ve had on show over the last two seasons?
A win yesterday doesn’t make up for our season.
I am being realistic, we wouldn’t be in this mess if the board had been more realistic to what our squad was capable of. They only get away with it because of fans willing to pay for the opportunity to watch dross.
Get real.
wolfshead@toon
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:28 PM
Comment #17its refreshing to see realism yesterday was a stay of execution rather than a reprieve
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:37 PM
Comment #18toon kk,
I find you one of the most thoroughly depressing characters to post on here.
Bambams
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:48 PM
Comment #19I don’t think Colo will play for us again.
Rafa has been saying all along that confidence was the missing ingredient. If he changes the team now all the confidence from the 3-0 will be for nothing.
Belfast
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:50 PM
Comment #20You’ve got a depressing aura toonkk. Very few inspirational quotes coming from you.
toon kk
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:52 PM
Comment #21Jail
Only because the football we’ve had to endure has been depressing.
Sorry mate but I’m not going to wrap us up in roses after our diabolical season.
I only say it how it is, not like some who think we’re capable of being in Europe.
Often the truth hurts.
wolfshead@toon
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:53 PM
Comment #22aura lol do you read tea bags as well belfast
Belfast
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:54 PM
Comment #23Yes a do, but they must be Tetley tea bags lol
wolfshead@toon
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:54 PM
Comment #24leaves* haha
toon kk
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #25Belfast
Look at the table, that’s what I call depressing, along with the quality of our football.
Great win yesterday though, I’m really pleased for Rafa he deserves a win especially for his birthday.
A good lift for everyone.
Belfast
Apr 17, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #26Bags or leaves I’m easy, must be tetley though.
Belfast
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:05 PM
Comment #27I still think we’re doomed myself. Beat Man City and I might think differently.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #28Beat MCity and I’m going to down a pint of Listerene!
toon kk
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:18 PM
Comment #29Jail
I think the whole of Newcastle got a big lift yesterday, we just need to get a good result against City to give us some hope.
Belfast
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:20 PM
Comment #30Make sure it’s the green burny one and do a couple of shots of domestos for afterwards. 🙂
Ketsbaia9
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #31If we beat City I’ll drink 50 tosses worth of semen.
Ketsbaia9
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:29 PM
Comment #32Been saving it like.
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:29 PM
Comment #33A drabble is a short work of fiction of around one hundred words in length. The purpose of the drabble is brevity, testing the author’s ability to express interesting and meaningful ideas in a confined space.
If that’s aimed at me Toon kk, that hurts I have to say.
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:31 PM
Comment #34Ketsy I think you may well have just stolen my limelight just a little bit there. A bit.
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:33 PM
Comment #35Have to say mixed feelings of hoping for a win against City now. 😐
toon kk
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:33 PM
Comment #36Kets
Get yourself down to the Dr’s mate,
Sad thoughts if your thinking about slerping semen. Ha.
Average_Contents
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:46 PM
Comment #37Dirty kets. Dirty.
Gave me a chuckle but also a little bit of sick too.
Seriously though, I’d go and see a specialist about that.
Ketsbaia9
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:46 PM
Comment #38Knowing us, we’ll probably beat Man City 5-0 and then lose the remaining 4 games.
spaghetti bandit
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:50 PM
Comment #39Kets.. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ??
beermonkey
Apr 17, 2016 at 7:59 PM
Comment #40kets
just urs or others