We have been very impressed with some of the Newcastle players who have come out since Sunday and said they want to stay on Tyneside for next season.
It seems a lot of that has to do with the possibility that the great Rafa Benitez will still be our manager at that time.
Rolando Aarons brilliantly scores the fourth Newcastle goal on Sunday
Rolando Aarons signed his first professional contract with Newcastle in April two years ago and it was for two years – but Newcastle probably have a one year option on that, which they will no doubt pick up this summer.
This is what the 20 year has said in his interview with the Chronicle today:
“Yeah, I love Newcastle. You can tell by my celebration how much it means to me.”
“I want to stay here. I’m not focused on contracts I just want to play games and score goals, that’s all that matters to me.”
“Next season there will be more games so there’s more opportunities. I am looking to take them more than I did last season.”
“Everybody wants to be here. You could tell against Spurs that nobody was thinking about the summer.” “We want to put performances in for the fans. Everybody is up for it here.”
“It is tougher than the Premier League in terms of games, there’s two a week. We just have to get through it and get straight back up.”
“We needed to restore our pride after being relegated and it was a good way to end the season. We hit form too late.”
“Being relegated never does you any favors, but we just have to deal with it. We have quality players and we have to bounce back.”
“It’s taken 38 games in a season for me but I finally got there and got a goal.” “I am happy with my individual and team performance but it does not make up for relegation.”
“We just have to focus on next season and get back to the Premier League.”
Rolando has suffered from a number of hamstring and other injuries since making his sensational debut a couple of years ago in pre-season, but we are hoping with Rafa in charge his injury problems are over with.
Roland is an excellent young player, as he showed on Sunday and that was some goal from the 20 year-old, when he quite brilliantly smashed the ball into the net from a narrow angle, as several Spurs defenders were wondering what was going on.
It’s exciting to think what Rafa Benitez can do for this Jamaican born winger next season.
Anything and everything seems possible.
Comments welcome.
228 comments so far
Blackley and Brownlie
May 17, 2016 at 3:45 PM
Comment #1If we are winning trophies, competing at the top while playing good football with a top manager in charge who cares about the finances …
Yeah Jail. But we aren’t winning trophies, competing at the top or playing good football … we can’t even win away games other than on very rare occasions. We haven’t been able to get results away from home for many a year. What a disgrace.
Sound finances go hand in hand with a well run, successful club. So I for one care about the finances. It is the finances that will hopefully give us the edge over other clubs on the Championship. It is the finances that will help persuade Rafa to stay or leave.
Belfast
May 17, 2016 at 3:45 PM
Comment #2Wwsbrd yer predictions are rubbish.
Hail Wor Ashley
May 17, 2016 at 3:48 PM
Comment #3Previous thread:
Would definitely have Carrick if he’d come. Ideal player to show Shelvey how to play that role properly.
Him added to Tiote, Shelvey and Colback would be comfortably best CM the Championship has seen.
JP...from The Rock
May 17, 2016 at 3:49 PM
Comment #4Very surprised and pleased that many of our top players are intent on staying. If Rafa stays I can see them staying and forming the backbone of this team. We can build and grow together and then really have a go for it in the league when we are back in the Premiership and with stability at last.
Jail for Ashley
May 17, 2016 at 3:50 PM
Comment #5Blackas,
No we are not, but if Rafa signs with all his assurances tied up in a watertight contract, I believe we are about to. in fact if he signs I’m going to get a season ticket.
BandB
May 17, 2016 at 3:51 PM
Comment #6Blackley
Premiss 1 = “Sound finances go hand in hand with a well run, successful club”
Premiss 2 = “We have sound finances.”
Ergo ….. “We are a well-run and successful club.”
It’s sound logic.
BandB
May 17, 2016 at 3:57 PM
Comment #7It thought the sound finances were going to give us the edge over other clubs in the Premiership.
That was what it said on the tin, wasn’t it?
Graeme
May 17, 2016 at 4:03 PM
Comment #8BandB @ 6 – Priceless, just love it.
BeeGuy
May 17, 2016 at 4:09 PM
Comment #9Nobody in the squad will; say they cannot wait until they get out of NUFC. They will do that once they have a firm offer from elsewhere. Then it “was so great at NUFC, but it was an offer I could not refuse. I’d love to come back someday.”
giimps
May 17, 2016 at 4:16 PM
Comment #10If Rafa does stay , I can see a waiting list for season tickets in the near future, if we go up and play as well as we can I can see a turnaround in the whole ethos of the club, it’s started now by the look of it……where else on earth would you see the players and manager applauded off the pitch after being relegated………..one club in turkey burned their ground in protest at relegation……set fire to the stands and had a pyre in the middle of the pitch, we sing for the manager to stay and make us a force again…….I was going to give up my daughters season ticket but I’m keeping hold of it for when she’s older……they might not be so easy to get hold of in a couple of seasons ,and there’s more chance of her getting to a few games next season if they’re on Fridays and Wednesday’s ……come on mikey, do the right thing by the club, the players and fans…..if you don’t want to sell, give Rafa the keys and let him run it for you ??
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 17, 2016 at 4:18 PM
Comment #11@giimps
I remember there used to be waiting lists for tickets under Robson and Keegan
Now you can get a match day ticket online for near enough every game !
Under Benitez and back in the premiership we could easily get 60k a week local fans never mind getting the glory hunters and foreign fans
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 17, 2016 at 4:20 PM
Comment #12I know its a downer that we are down but is anyone else looking forward to getting some games on a Friday night for a change ??
Mister Tuff
May 17, 2016 at 4:23 PM
Comment #13If Mr Tubbs signs up Rafa long term- gives him total control and some loot – the previously principalled Geordie/fan will not give a stuff about what Tubbs/SD get up to.
Forgotten will be the far eastern sweat shops, Dodgy dealings with Wonga, zero hours etc etc.
Folk will even admit to buying tat in his shops – new shell suit for their summer break in Magaluf or visiting relatives on the Costa del Crime..
Prinipals – what are those.
Mister Tuff
May 17, 2016 at 4:24 PM
Comment #14principals
giimps
May 17, 2016 at 4:25 PM
Comment #15I’m looking forward to a few away games this season, I went to a few the last time we were down as we get more allocation and it’s normally a mint day, win,lose or draw…..I remember Chris hughton being what I thought was overly defensive ,playing 2 holding midfielders vs 10 men ,we only drew the game and I slaughtered him after the game….but then he got us straight back up and now he’s a hero…….Rafa will be the same when he does the same
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 17, 2016 at 4:29 PM
Comment #16@giimps
Yeah being tactically aware none of our managers have ever seemed to get the balance right its either too attacking or too defensive
Rafa will make sure we defend and we will no longer give away silly goals or get pumped by 4 or more goals and I am happy to watch us be organised for once !!
We wont be all out attack under him but we will still be good to watch and we will more games than we will lose thats for sure
BandB
May 17, 2016 at 4:31 PM
Comment #17My older lads are saying they would go back Tuff…but not buy a shirt until Wonga is off it.
There will be a rush back from the refugees who will feel their club has been liberated. if not from Ashley then from the most iniquitous of his policies.
Shadow_Shearer
May 17, 2016 at 4:32 PM
Comment #18What a story it will be if benitez stays, takes us back to premiership & wins trophies.
The night is darkest before dawn.
The black & white knights will rise!
giimps
May 17, 2016 at 4:39 PM
Comment #19Bandb,
That’s the way I feel about Wronga, I refuse to have it on anything and will not buy anything endorsing the brand.
If we keep Rafa and get rid of Wronga there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
Blackley and Brownlie
May 17, 2016 at 4:41 PM
Comment #20BandB
Your logic is flawed. Successful clubs have sound finances. But not every club with sound finances is successful. NUFC built a substantial war chest and then decided to pish it into the wind when it could have translated it into footballing success.
Your knowledge of computers is better than mine. Mine is crap. That’s why I don’t pontificate on technology. There’s a lesson in there for you somewhere.
Shadow_Shearer
May 17, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Comment #21LCBP
I agreed. We would love to see good attacking football, but we haven’t won a trophy in half a century. I’d rather play organised football, win trophies & have a tactically clever manager like benitez than play attractive football & not win trophies.
Graeme
May 17, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Comment #22I still wear my Brown Ale shirt – wouldn’t even contemplate a w***a shirt.
BandB
May 17, 2016 at 4:49 PM
Comment #23Blackley
Can I refer you to Beginning Logic by EJ Lemmon.
It is the standard text for first year undergraduates.
I’m willing to bet you’ve not read it.
dok - the horrid colonial
May 17, 2016 at 4:52 PM
Comment #24Under Benitez and back in the premiership we could easily get 60k a week local fans never mind getting the glory hunters and foreign fans…
I take exception to that… wtf are you on?
dok - the horrid colonial
May 17, 2016 at 4:54 PM
Comment #25unless you meant getting foreign fans a good thing..
and FYI, I do not consider myself a fan, I am a supporter, been so for almost 20 years…. thru thick and thin…
BandB
May 17, 2016 at 4:56 PM
Comment #26Graeme
Broon Army!
GeordieTwo
May 17, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Comment #27Maybe we can do both. Play attractive, attacking football under Rafa and win something.
dok - the horrid colonial
May 17, 2016 at 5:02 PM
Comment #28G2,
a bit hurt that my fellow north american didn’t give me a rating yesterday lol
MacToon
May 17, 2016 at 5:03 PM
Comment #29Mister Tuff // May 17, 2016 at 4:23 PM
If Mr Tubbs signs up Rafa long term- gives him total control and some loot – the previously principalled Geordie/fan will not give a stuff about what Tubbs/SD get up to.
Forgotten will be the far eastern sweat shops, Dodgy dealings with Wonga, zero hours etc etc.
Folk will even admit to buying tat in his shops – new shell suit for their summer break in Magaluf or visiting relatives on the Costa del Crime..
Prinipals – what are those.
================
Not all previously principled Geordie/fans Tuff, I can assure you of that.
Graeme
May 17, 2016 at 5:04 PM
Comment #30BandB – Without a doubt lol.
GeordieTwo
May 17, 2016 at 5:04 PM
Comment #31My hopes are all on Rafa staying. A top European manager only comes along once a decade or so for us. We’ve had Keegan, Robson, and Rafa over the last 25 years. Let’s keep this man Ashley.
WWSBRD
May 17, 2016 at 5:07 PM
Comment #32Belfast
I direct u towards the yearly Steven Taylor injury sweepstakes my friend
GeordieTwo
May 17, 2016 at 5:08 PM
Comment #33Ah yes dok. Harrumph. I was getting around to it. The hedgehogs took longer to deworm than I thought.
dok: has developed a Western drawl but still keeps on top of his footy. The cowboy hat and spurs are put aside for important matches. All in all a top overseas supporter. 7.8/10
MacToon: a sharp incisive eye or two. Demands integrity from his club. Wears the thong of Justice well. 7.8/10
GeordieTwo
May 17, 2016 at 5:09 PM
Comment #34Shadow_Shearer: a sensible approach together with a no nonsense attitude. Shadow reminds me of some of the old timers who don’t waste words. Well done Shadow. 7.5/10
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 17, 2016 at 5:11 PM
Comment #35@Dok
I apologise I never meant it in a bad way ! Actually come down to games every season but I am from Scotland !
I meant to say Glory hunting fans in foreign lands you know the type that last season supported Chelsea and now support Leicester and the season after City we need some of those guys as well!!
GeordieTwo
May 17, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #36And of course:
Blackley and Brownlie: a long time supporter. Has taken a lot of hits and disppointments. The hull is battered but the engine still runs well. Keeps his eye on the prize. 7.8/10
lesh
May 17, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #37Is there any possibility of the Rafa will he won’t he being strung out to sell season tickets and renewals and when the renew by date’s lapsed, Charmless claims he couldn’t get Rafa over the line?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 17, 2016 at 5:13 PM
Comment #38See Celtic are in talks with Brendan Rodgers according to Sky Sports would have been a useful back up plan if Benitez turned us down!!
GeordieTwo
May 17, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #39Lee Charnley Bunga Party: an excellent supporter. One of many that this blog is built on. Shows a keen tactical mind and keeps reminding us what the footy should look like. 8/10
GeordieTwo
May 17, 2016 at 5:15 PM
Comment #40lesh: I see a budding Official Club Journo in the making here. However he has some time to wait as I’m still on the beat. Stay ready lesh. 7.6/10.