It was always going to be difficult for Rafa Benitez to save Newcastle from the drop, after we made a bad start under the former Liverpool manager and lost three of the first four games.
We are unbeaten since then having collected two wins and three draws – 9 points from 5 games – but with Sunderland also picking up points it looks like it will be too little too late, although Rafa has Newcastle looking very organized these days.
The inability to score against Aston Villa – the first time Villa haven´t conceded a goal and lost in 12 games – may be the last straw after Sunderland beat Chelsea 3-2 – after being 2-1 down at half time.
Rafa Benitez – Newcastle manager
We have kept two clean sheets in succession, so the defense has looked a lot better too – but we have still conceded 64 goals this season.
That makes it 254 goals conceded in the last four seasons – and we still didn´t bother to strengthen the defense enough last summer and in January?
The big question if we take the drop is whether Rafa will agree to stay on at the club and manage in the English second division, but that has to be a really long shot.
He started the season as manager of the world´s most famous and well known club – Real Madrid – and it will be some come down for the 56 year-old.
Of course. if it happens and he does agree to stay it will give Newcastle fans some real hope we can not only come straight back up, but be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League in future years.
Newcastle United are in a complete mess from top to bottom – caused by incompetent people running the club for far too long.
And it´s not only the first team who have lost regularly this season, but also the U21 team and also our Youth side.
Rafa joined a club with a losing culture, every team was used to losing, and it takes time to change a culture in any organization.
The only thing that can save Newcastle now is to get Rafa signed up on a long term deal – let´s make it eight years for him and his assistant coaches.
If the club can do that there is some hope for the future and the faithful but beaten-down and long-suffering Newcastle fans.
Otherwise there is simply no hope and those running the club will continue to run it into the ground.
And if Lee Charnley is allowed to stay in place and pick the next head coach then we will be a third division side at this time next year.
21 comments so far
El Sleeve
May 8, 2016 at 8:46 AM
Comment #1OMG if Charnley stays then that’s it.
Although, if he appoints Rodgers or Pearson, they could work
sing in the corner
May 8, 2016 at 8:51 AM
Comment #2Repost
The tears have been shed and the biggest exodus in Newcastles history is the next item on the agenda.
The rot as we all know has been there in the background for season after season. Yesterday highlighted it massively once again.
When you really need them, so called star players like Sissoko, Wij and The great hope of the last window Shelvey, are simply not there. Perez has disintegrated for whatever reason.
But the leadership, the character required to seize the situation and make it happen – that is what we have lacked for too long.
So Everton could still save our sorry asses and at least take it to next Sunday. But even optimism is severely stretched now. While there’s life though…
Howay divine intervention.
Jail for Ashley
May 8, 2016 at 8:53 AM
Comment #3It is going to be a very testing next few months. Ashley was lierally cluless last time we went down. The obvious thing to do would be to fund a promotion with Rafa and his chosen players via charging SD a fortune for advertising. But Ashlet rarely does logic. We could see a firesale and asset stripping until he’s cut his losses to a minimum and then bankruptcy. We could see the equally disastous scenario of Churnley and Carr overseeing a promotion bid. Surely this has to be ruled out though after the complete mess they have made of these last few years.
sing in the corner
May 8, 2016 at 8:55 AM
Comment #4If / when the inevitable occurs…
Default setting next term: go 4-4-2. Mitro And Arma up front, crosses into the box. championship style blitzkrieg.
no problem.
job
May 8, 2016 at 8:59 AM
Comment #5you can expect no better, a historic club ruined by a bunch of bell-ends……………lights out
magpie6699
May 8, 2016 at 9:05 AM
Comment #6Miserable as sin but just one thing (from previous post) I can’t get away with and that’s people saying how we need someone like Fat Sam. Really? I’d love to know what his points total / games is since arriving at Sunderland – I’ll bet it’s pretty poor. It’s just that it’s better than ours and Norwich (and Villa but they don’t count). I’m sure Rafa’s will compare favourably.
ToonMatt
May 8, 2016 at 9:06 AM
Comment #7Theres no point trying to plan for a future under Ashley, Enough is enough!
2 relegations since he took over? countless failed manager appointments? There is only one option for the club and it’s for him to sell up and give it to someone who can take it forward as he clearly can’t? All the talks of boycotts that didn’t happen in the past need to happen now, This is our club, our lively hood, We need to get it back, He’s had his time here and failed big time, ASHLEY OUT!!!!!
Jail for Ashley
May 8, 2016 at 9:10 AM
Comment #8ToonMatt,
Again Ashley has cards up his sleeve, there’s not going to be any protests next week as the crowd will be hoping Rafa stays. Any protest movements had the wind knocked out of their sails last year as well by the majority of those who attend now not wanting to get involved.
BandB
May 8, 2016 at 9:11 AM
Comment #9Sorry to get all Joan of Arc on you boys, but that is exactly the situation here.
These people have brought this on us by their complacency.
But if we go down, they will make their own deals to protect their income and their titles. It is the ordinary fans who will pay the price.
We have to tell them now we are not resigned to relegation. We will not buy into it or excuse it.
We must tell them we expect them to get off their backsides and take the fight to Spurs.
Let the Sunderland fans wring their hands over what Sunderland will do.
sing in the corner
May 8, 2016 at 9:12 AM
Comment #10Chelsea missed 5 gilt edged chances. Costa missed getting the simplest hat trick he would ever hope for. At 2-1 up they had chances to seal the game completely. Courtois basically parried a deflected shot into his net, their other goal took a deflection… All sour grapes really, and a thin covering for our own insipid effort.
But in the end, Sunderland simply had more character in their side. Bit like the procession if disgraceful derby games.
Jail for Ashley
May 8, 2016 at 9:24 AM
Comment #11Anybody wondering how or why the hugely successful self made billionaire has made such a mess of us. The answer is really very simple. His model for us wasn’t based on success, how can you possibly be successful if you don’t want to be. Other perennial mid table plodders like Stoke keep their selves going in the hope of a cup final. We were actually told, yes I’m being serious here, told that we wouldn’t be going for them and proved it by exiting in the third round year after year.
giimps
May 8, 2016 at 9:37 AM
Comment #12at the end of the day, what difference does it make to us what league were in?
If we go down, we might win some games, but it’s still football, it’s not like we have to go and watch penguins eating Lego blocks……the quality may be a little worse, but it’s still football, it’s still Newcastle United…I don’t really care if we don’t get £600mil or whatever it is cos I still have to pay for my seat….it makes no difference to me …..admittedly the quality may not be there…….but it hasn’t been there for years anyway so we’re going to where we belong to be as a club……if the fan base was a pointer for how good we are as a club , we would be in the champions league…….unfortunately it’s out of our control, the management and most players have been championship level for years but we’ve been lucky that other teams have been worse, at least if we go down, we have something positive to aim for …..promotion is something the beep an counters will want (as will we fans) so there will be more chance of them making sure we have the tools to do it rather than looking for the next saleable asset…..its 23 games at home , more football, hopefully more wins and a feel good factor back (no guarantees though and is unfortunately relying on the morons “in charge” to keep the right people at the club)…..RAFA at he helm would be a great start, HWTL
giimps
May 8, 2016 at 9:41 AM
Comment #13Should have said bean counters
NoahJ
May 8, 2016 at 9:45 AM
Comment #14whatever happens with Rafa, he needs to announce it soon after the season is over. This club has too many times dragged its feet over key decisions (for example, taking way too long to sack mclaren).
we need to move on and rebuild, but we need to know who is committed to the cause
Scotty
May 8, 2016 at 10:03 AM
Comment #15I travelled to Birmingham to watch us limp out of the league in pathetic fashion.
The away support were tremendous as usual. Very sad that villa fans have created this hatred between the 2 clubs. Holding mackem shirts up at the end of the game? What is that all about?? Upon leaving the ground the smiles on their faces says it all about the current situation they’re in.
It was my first experience of villa Park – and it is a complete hell hole. It is the dirtiest city I’m ever likely to visit.
Only positive for me is the rise of lascelles and mbemba partnership and darlow showing promise – Nothing else….
The rest can hang their head in shame and leave this club.
NoahJ
May 8, 2016 at 10:07 AM
Comment #16Scotty
The villa fans were absolutely pathetic on that day in 2009 and again yesterday.
Their protests are justified, but they should do it on their own time, rather than affecting other teams; i hope they get a heavy fine for the stupid beach ball thing.
oh, and the “you’re going down with the villa” chant- are they actually stupid?
davis_toons
May 8, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Comment #17@12 well say in positivity. So factual.
Seriously..what can really change? Unless we can have a properly manager that is supported by the owner or we will just be repeating the 7 years 8 years and go down again.
Sav
May 8, 2016 at 11:28 AM
Comment #18‘From now on we make our own luck’. If the ‘something’ we finally win is the Championship so Ashley can pack up his circus tent and leave, it may have a silver lining. If Rafa doesn’t stay and it is unlikely, we can have no faith in the present shambles to pick up the pieces. At least we get to watch Armstrong.
Moonraker15
May 8, 2016 at 11:31 AM
Comment #19Someone mentioned Fat Sam as having a good record. Not really he’s always in crisis and revels in it. If we’d had Rafa sooner, like January when the idiot McClaren was wallowing in complacency, we would be safe and rebuilding for next season. I just cling to the hope that Rafa will stay, otherwise the turmoil to come will be unbearable and I fear we could go straight down again.
Moonraker15
May 8, 2016 at 11:32 AM
Comment #20Scotty
Your right, Aston is a disgusting hole and the fans pathetic.
killit the bulb
May 8, 2016 at 1:09 PM
Comment #21if it’s any consolation lads. Aston Villa Football Club might not exist in the near future. As you point out it isn’t in the most salubrious of locations (four local pubs recently closed) always a good sign a an area is on the slide. B6( Aston) is a dump. Has been for years. The club had the option to move years ago,did’nt take it. AVFC……..BUSTED FLUSH So.Forget the daft banners Apparently put together by two school girls from Sutton Coldfield .And Cheered on by thousands of so called mature intelligent men.Pathetic. Half of Villa park closed next season due to lack of support. Fact.(sorry for the slip into cockney) Whatever the fate of NUFC It’s a lot brighter than that of AVFC.