Rafa Benitez has reacted to Newcastle’s 46 game fixture list released at 9:00 am this morning and the lads will kick off their Championship season with a televised game on Friday night, 5th August at Fulham.
Our first home game is 8 days later on 13th August at St. James’ Park against Huddersfield Town.
Rafa Benitez – we respect all teams
This is what Rafa Benitez has said about the fixtures and that first game at Fulham:
“I am not the kind of manager who is really worried about the fixtures and our rivals.”
“My idea is that you have to play against everyone, and when you will play against them doesn’t change too much in theory.”
“What we do have to do is to prepare our team in the best way possible, to make sure we are strong enough to start the season in a good way, and to carry on until the end.”
“You can say that we will play against Fulham in the first game, away and live on television, but it doesn’t change too much for me.”
“Will it be difficult? Yes. Do we have to respect them? Yes.”
“But the main thing is how good will we be this day, and how good we have to be during the whole season.”
“There are a lot of ex-Premier League teams playing in the Championship now, so the level is higher. I think it will be very interesting.”
“There is more quality around the division, so I think that you will see better games – and it will always be exciting.”
That’s typical of Rafa Benitez where it’s all about what Newcastle will do in the games.
Rafa will do his utmost to have the Newcastle side ready for every single game – and Rafa will be visiting 11 grounds he has never before visited.
See – there’s some advantages of being in the Championship – well maybe just for one season.
🙂
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
94 comments so far
Tsunki
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:19 PM
Comment #1Timing is everything Ed. We’re on to the best game of the tournament here.
Tsunki
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:20 PM
Comment #2Slowly the tide turns to portugal, and we will face them.
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:22 PM
Comment #3Best game of the Euro’s so far imo. It’s just mental. Look like scoring every attack – both teams.
welshgeordie9
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:23 PM
Comment #4Tsunki
Never mind best game of the tournament, this is one of the best games ever.
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:24 PM
Comment #5Great minds tsunki, great minds… 😉
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:24 PM
Comment #6Well said Tsunki, mate. Who does Ed think he is? 😉
I haven’t got a clue which this one is gonna go, but I’d prefer Iceland in the next round.
welshgeordie9
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:26 PM
Comment #7If England do play Portugal then i think England will beat them, send the winking man back home.
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:27 PM
Comment #8If we play portugal we can rip them on the break with Vardy. Set up for his game i reckon.
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:27 PM
Comment #9Now I’d PAY to see that one Welshie…
Tsunki
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:28 PM
Comment #10Apart from the Wales v Russia game I haven’t thought much of this tournament so far but it looks like things are picking up all right.
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:32 PM
Comment #11Clint, i’ll happily take your money marra, if you want to pay to watch it. 😉
Tsunki
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:35 PM
Comment #12Just goes to show two lousy defences can provide easily as much entertainment as two good strike forces 🙂
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:35 PM
Comment #13Cheque’s in the post Bobby…..honest
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:39 PM
Comment #14Sanchez…..50M?
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:39 PM
Comment #15Clint, goal post i presume. 😉
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:40 PM
Comment #16Hungary knacked?
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:41 PM
Comment #17Bobby…..oh dear. That’s 2nd class at best mate
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:44 PM
Comment #18Clint, touche! 😉
Tsunki
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:44 PM
Comment #19You’d think portugal would want to avoid us next.
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:45 PM
Comment #20Can he resist a shot from there? Probably not.
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:49 PM
Comment #21Not with that ego mate. I’m surprised he doesn’t take goal kicks.
Tsunki
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:50 PM
Comment #22Iceland scored?
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:51 PM
Comment #23Have Iceland scored? Yes…..we play Iceland next Monday..
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:51 PM
Comment #24Get in Iceland! It gets better by the minute. 😉
clinath@ed
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:53 PM
Comment #25Well Tsunki, Bobby really enjoyed that lads. Great craic. Off to walk the dog and have some tea.
Maybe see you in the Eire/Italy game…..got a lot to live up to.
welshgeordie9
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Comment #26Hang on a minute now guys, yes its great you have got Iceland instead of Portugal, but Iceland did draw with them in the first game, anything can happen.
Average_Contents
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Comment #27How dramatic was that lol.
Thanks Iceland. Much prefer them over our bogey team.
Saying that they’ll probably beat us :-/
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #28Enjoy your walk marra, catch ya next game no doubt. Well, what a belting game that was. Capped nicely by a goal in the other game. So, big heed, watcha got to say about iceland now then? 😉
welshgeordie9
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Comment #29Not being biased or anything but England better watch out for Swans top goal scorer when they both play.
Ha ha ha
GeordieTwo
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:07 PM
Comment #30An interesting matchup. That Iceland defense is tremendous and we don’t score much. Hmmmm.
GeordieTwo
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:09 PM
Comment #31Us against the Vikings. We will de-horn them…..
GeordieTwo
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:09 PM
Comment #32We’ve pulled the horns of tougher nuts than them…. Harrumph.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Comment #33Missed that putting the bairns to bed, 3-3 and Hungary taking the pis$,I thought they must have heard the Iceland draw, Iceland won 2-1? So are Portugal out?
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:16 PM
Comment #34Jail, they go through as one of the lucky losers.
GeordieTwo
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:17 PM
Comment #353 points and you can be through to the second round. That’s what happens when you have 24 teams. Are there really 24 good teams in Europe? After watching this tournament I would say no.
GeordieTwo
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:18 PM
Comment #36I mean do you see any nuts with horns on them? No. That’s settled then…..
GeordieTwo
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:20 PM
Comment #37Still, it gets us a game against a fairly weak opponent so I shouldn’t complain.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:20 PM
Comment #38Bobby,
How?,
Even if Sweden win?
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #39And so it’s over to Ireland to carry on with an upset against the mighty Italy. Need to play a lot better than last time around mind you, or they’ll be the only home side to go home early. Can’t help but want them to win, but it won’t be easy. You out there Munster? Give us the lowdown on your lads and their chances tonight. Come on you boys in green! 😉
Bobbybee
Jun 22, 2016 at 7:31 PM
Comment #40Jail, just going off what they said on the box. They’ve got three points, but not sure if a sweden win will change that.