Confidence is a huge thing in any sport and in football we have seen Newcastle in one of their worst performances of any season in the Premier League – apart from our relegation year of 2009.
Newcastle players have lacked confidence all season long, because we started it off with just 3 points from the first 8 games and then in the changeover of managers from Steve McClaren to Rafa Benitez earlier this year we picked up juts one point in seven games.
And it didn´t help the players earlier in the season when they would look to the touchline at the head coach, who often was holding his head in his hands in despair.
That would not have sparked any confidence among our players.
Moussa Sissoko in action against Crystal Palace
Newcastle have essentially been in the bottom four all season in the Premier League for the first time ever.
Since the seven games with just one point, we have gained 8 points from the last four games so there is hope yet, with the final two games being at Aston Villa tomorrow and then Spurs at home a week on Sunday.
This is what captain Moussa Sissoko has said today in the Chronicle:
“It was the confidence. We have the quality and we have the same players, it’s a confidence thing.”
“When you are losing every week you’re in a bad mood and it’s difficult. When you try something in a game when it’s like that or take a shot, you might miss because your head is not very well.”
“Now, we are much better and when you look at the Premier League table we’ve won some games. Everyone is finding it easier and that’s good. That’s football.”
“When you are winning you just want the next game to be as soon as possible. We know we are still in a bad moment but we just want to play.”
“We had a good week this week and we trained very well. We have another training session before we travel to Aston Villa.“
“It’s going to be a tough game but we’ll do everything we can to come away with the three points.”
We have played 10 games away from home this year and we have lost 9 of them and drew 2-2 at Liverpool last time out in an away game.
So a win at Villa Park is by no means a certainty – and Aston Villa will see this game as an opportunity to get their first win in 12 games in their final home game of the season.
They have lost the last 11 games.
But Newcastle simply have to win tomorrow if we are to have any chance of survival in the Premier League this season.
Comments welcome.
34 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
May 6, 2016 at 10:10 AM
Comment #1Ashley Out! Unless he keeps Rafa In!
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
May 6, 2016 at 10:14 AM
Comment #2From prev
The lower leagues are a tough place to shine. Arma having an almost 1 in 2 record, most of which were scored in the first half of the season when Coventry had a decent side, is brilliant. Add the fact he still managed a few goals when the team fell away, then surely it points to the fact he is going to be a quality player.
Rotonda heights
May 6, 2016 at 10:21 AM
Comment #3way to ruin your career, play for second / third rate management at NUFC and then escape and spectacularly revive it, go HBA…!!
Munster Mag
May 6, 2016 at 10:22 AM
Comment #4Ycmiu, in build he would remind me of Michael Owen, although its unlikely he is as good? Bobby’s gonna kill me for saying that! But wasn’t Owen on the England team around 19/20? In fairness I’m no expert on the English national team!
Munster Mag
May 6, 2016 at 10:23 AM
Comment #5Rotunda, HBA will miss Pardew and you know it but just cant admit it 🙂
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
May 6, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Comment #6Munster
Yeah owen was scoring against argentina at 18, but then again his body started to let him down in his mid-latw 20’s. Players peak at different times so there is still a massive chance for Arma imo.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
May 6, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Comment #7If HBA is doing well now, it will have a huge amount to do with an attitude adjustment. He was a stroppy bell end when he came here, Pardew or no Pardew. A professional footballer should always strive to be the best he can under whatever circumstances, regardless of external factors. Fair play to him if he has finally realised this. If he had done it here I would have had more respect for him. He has to take a big part of the blame for what happened. No matter how much Percy is hated, it’s petty to blame him 100%;for everything.
Hail Wor Ashley
May 6, 2016 at 10:44 AM
Comment #8HBA to Barca 🙁 Says it all about his talent. The most exciting dribbler in world football, including Messi who is very formulaic, just exceptional at what he does, whereas HBA takes you on a improvised ride every time he sets off with the ball.
Never had an attitude problem whilst here in my opinion, well certainly not one that wasn’t provoked by mistreatment from a complete shyster. At Hull he was very obviously there against his better judgement, felt he had to go and was simply not interested because at that time his heart was still at NUFC.
What could’ve been if we had a top manager that wanted to build a team around him.
lesh
May 6, 2016 at 10:45 AM
Comment #9Ibiza
From earlier correspondence, what I was referring to is that some are still of the belief tha Ashley’s ‘pocketing’ gate receipts etc. Ashley personally and directly?
They are the points I was referring to that some will never see, no matter what.
There’s no doubt that MASH and SD are making money out of the Club, surely that’s what owners try to do isn’t it? Unless they’re laundering their acquired wealth or are mega rich and want a toy to play with.
There’s no doubt that Ashley’s penny pinching and mismanagement have cost the Club dear and it will take a lot for him to gain fans’ confidence but that’s the bigger picture. We can but hope he be more realistic about his approach to running the Club
Hope that helps and I can resume my lotus position.
Ommmmmmmmmm
WWSBRD
May 6, 2016 at 10:46 AM
Comment #10YCMIU
Agree on Benny his biggest problem has always been HBA
BandB
May 6, 2016 at 10:49 AM
Comment #11Don’t worry.
When Barca ask for Pardew’s opinion, the deal will be off.
jimmysmith
May 6, 2016 at 11:03 AM
Comment #12Same team, same shape. Perez is good. Widjnaldum is better.
jimmysmith
May 6, 2016 at 11:11 AM
Comment #13It;s hard to forgive and forget, and I’m not about to. But he’s spent over a hundred million in under a year, and Rafa Benitez is the manager, RAFA BENITEZ, and as you would expect, we are playing well.
Ibizatoon
May 6, 2016 at 11:14 AM
Comment #14Lesh..Are there still people of the belief that Ashley’s ‘pocketing’ gate receipts?
On the etc, it is quite possible, depending on what the etc is 🙂
You seem to say that Ashley doesn’t take anything, but then there’s no doubt he (or Mash) are making money out of the club. Not sure how that ties together. Perhaps when I reach my maximum zen state, all will become clear.
Don’t stick with the lotus position for too long. One must mix it up a bit. I’m typing in the Kapotasana position.
jimmysmith
May 6, 2016 at 11:20 AM
Comment #15Ashley is entitled to make money. The question surely is does he provide value for money on the ticket? On balance, probably not up to now. But this Rafa thing looks like it might have legs, for all competing interests.
Jib
May 6, 2016 at 11:20 AM
Comment #16It’s starting to look like Messi maybe entering the twilight years of his career in the PL – last big payday ? – although he’ll shyte hisself when he sees our tax system – a reunion with Pep at Man City ?
lesh
May 6, 2016 at 11:22 AM
Comment #17Ibiza
The Kepitosama? Impressive.
Unlike the learners such as I, it’s only masters who can hold that position for any length of time.
Ibizatoon
May 6, 2016 at 11:26 AM
Comment #18Lesh…Hold off on the well done for now…just rolling off to the chiropractor.
Jail for Ashley
May 6, 2016 at 11:31 AM
Comment #19Jimmy@13,
Aye!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 6, 2016 at 11:35 AM
Comment #20COME ON CHELSEA AND MAN UTD!!!
Need a big hand from both of those 2 teams this weekend !
I can see us winning 3 nil with Townsend involved in all of the goals
stuart no9
May 6, 2016 at 11:36 AM
Comment #21i think that vision of mucca on the bench with his head in his hands will haunt me for the rest of my life , what a sign to give to your players who are only carrying out his instructions on the pitch – nothing short of shocking . That man should be no where near a football ground regardless what league it is .
Jail for Ashley
May 6, 2016 at 11:42 AM
Comment #22It wasn’t the same photo every week either!
Rotonda heights
May 6, 2016 at 11:45 AM
Comment #23YCMIU
Top coaches / managers like SAF can use people like Cantona, a flawed genius in the right way.
I would suggest playing someone for a full 90 mins after a serious injury lay off on a plastic pitch in sub zero conditions as AP did with HBA isn’t going to foster the best of relations.
There a plenty of bellends like Ronaldo, Rooney etc etc with serious attitude problems who sulk and strop at the drop of a hat. Thing is we’ve never had a player, maybe Beardo, who could do what Benny did, we still don’t.
Rotonda heights
May 6, 2016 at 11:46 AM
Comment #24LCBP
appreciate your optimism but please don’t tempt fate!
stuart no9
May 6, 2016 at 11:49 AM
Comment #25jail — very true . it was every game though., jeez
hibbitt
May 6, 2016 at 11:49 AM
Comment #26a scrappy 1 nil will do for me
Mister Tuff
May 6, 2016 at 11:51 AM
Comment #27Looks like this Benny story has a bit more to it than the usual transfer speculation- with Benny supposedly in Barcelona at the weekend.
If it is true – cannot see many footballers turn down the chance to play with the likes of Messi, Neymar, Suarez.
Free transfer as well – could be a good and not to costly shout by Barca.
King Percy – eat your heart out -idiot – keeping Benny would have provided a few goals and we would not be where we are now.
Jail for Ashley
May 6, 2016 at 11:51 AM
Comment #280-5 and mackems losing 0-2. If Carlsberg done results.
Rotonda heights
May 6, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Comment #29Wouldn’t mind this CV
Ben Arfa spent three years at Lyon before leaving for Lyon, where he won four Ligue 1 titles. With Marseille, he won the 2009–10 league title, his fifth overall, as well as the Coupe de la Ligue in 2010.
Mister Tuff
May 6, 2016 at 11:58 AM
Comment #30Whilst it is all about opinions – similar scorn should be cast on fans – saying King Percy was the best thing since sliced bread ——— wrong.
Similar types then giving it large about Wally Brolly – he was the man – nobody else —–wrong.
Some folk do have a more well informed opinion than others. That is not to say they are bad people just that others have more accurate opinions.
Rotonda heights
May 6, 2016 at 11:59 AM
Comment #31left clairefontaine for Lyon even!
lesh
May 6, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Comment #32Ibiza
I trust the chiropractor didn’t take too much out of you. You known her long?
Munster Mag
May 6, 2016 at 12:31 PM
Comment #33I think its too easy to go overboard on HBA. Beautiful dribbler, of course he would do well at Barca on a good day, but he would seriously have to up his workrate to get on a team who press so hard and look to get the ball back within 6 seconds of losing it. He seems to have fallen out with every manager and once ran less than a goalkeeper did for Hull, hardly the attitude of a true professional. As for Messi being formulaic, wtf is that all about ? Some consider him the greatest talent ever for goodness sake. We are lucky to witness Messi in our lives -he will be past his prime for the very young kids of today to witness his extraordinary talents, work rate, the lot.
Hail Wor Ashley
May 6, 2016 at 1:07 PM
Comment #34Munster
Formulaic isn’t a bad thing if your formula is the best there is and ever has been. Defenders and spectators know what he’s going to do, but he cannot be stopped.