Newcastle did not play well today in front of a sold-out crowd of over 52,000 at St. James’ Park and so much for making St. James’ Park a fortress this season, as we did not play well and lost our second league game – this time 2-1 to Huddersfield – we will be near the bottom of the Championship tonight.
It has now been a disastrous start to the league for Newcastle and you cannot even say that Fulham and Huddersfield are two of the best sides in the Championship and it could well become another long hard season for Newcastle – but this time in the England second division.
That would be really shocking if that happens – we have had enough pain over the last two and a half years at Newcastle.
🙁 🙁 🙁
A stern looking Rafa Benitez at the end of the game today
Newcastle did not play well in the first half and again – just like at Fulham – the Newcastle defense went to sleep just before half time and Huddersfield scored through Wells in stoppage time for the first half – so we were 1-00 down at the break – just like at Fulham.
The team was booed off the field at the half on a day that was supposed to get us on track with an easy 3 points, but it didn’t turn out to be like that.
Newcastle started better in the second half with Matt Ritchie coming on for Rolando Aarons, and after 60 minutes we got a penalty and Gayle’s spot kick was saved but he followed up to head the ball home and put the two sides level at 1-1.
So you would have thought Newcastle could have gone on to win this game but no – after 82 minutes Payne scored after finding some space on the right.
Time ran out and amazingly we could even be bottom of the league tonight.
We are going to get panned by the pundits – that’s for sure.
So that’s two defeats in two games – and three goals conceded and only one scored – and that was through a penalty and we couldn’t even score cleanly from that.
We did not expect to start the season in this way and if Graeme Souness was right and that Newcastle go into a crisis after two successive defeats we’re in a crisis.
But at least this time the games come thick and fast and we are at home to Reading on Wednesday night, but Newcastle will first have to get their act together before we give too many points away this early in the season.
Indeed Rafa may have to keep some experienced players like Cheick Tiote and yes – even Moussa Sissoko – at the club for this season.
This is not turning out to be a walk in the park a lot of people expected.
Even more pain for Newcastle fans today.
But not the time to panic.
76 comments so far
AMEOBI
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:34 PM
Comment #41Runaway
I’m in the real world, supporting my club.
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:34 PM
Comment #42Time to gel? Huddersfield town has 12 new players so PLEASE ENOUGH with that crap. West Ham had the entire core ripped out as Bilic came with new players they where off from the word go so please.
Please don;t give me the time to gel crap. Its crap.
manxpie
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:34 PM
Comment #43Haha well at least the scum are already down
Ron Knee
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Comment #44Yes, and I blame Rafa for Nitro’s red card!
illusionerx
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Comment #45Can anyone just list down the users who are posting negative comments? I just wonder if things started to turn around where you all be? If you are that negative, why not provide some of your “professional” solutions to the team? If you are that good, why not just sack Rafa and you take over his position?
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:38 PM
Comment #46Tsunki
Benitez sure as shite built it up too. Many a quote out there of him speaking about things beyond this season. Yeah he always added the caveat about concentrating on this season, but it still translates as not being solely grounded in the here and now.
Hoots not once remarked about more than the next game, ever. His interviews and post-match got boring and repetitive, he chose his words very carefully, but it did the job necessary and kept everybody grounded and focused.
I suppose just the fact it’s Rafa in the Champ, players, manager and fans alike getting ahead of themselves was inevitable, even if he never did personally allude to the future, was bound to happen.
I remember the sense of apprehension and of the fight to come last time. This time all the pre-season fluff created a sense of entitlement and expectation.
mattyNUFC
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:38 PM
Comment #47YMFB
what’s that about 1000 words? not to disregard your entire post, but I am
my only response would be:
there is no one left to save us. no hero around the corner. that was and is supposed to be Rafa, because past him, there is nothing but freefall. So, instead of becoming bogged down by the negativity, i look for the very faint positives at this point; Ritchie, the fact that we have two other hopefully solid CBs in if Jamaal can’t cut it; an enterprising midfielder in Diame; the promise of more signings that can hopefully only improve the squad; Rafa’s experience to soldier through this learning curve
anyway, there’s been enough negativity associated with this club over the past decade. I’m choosing to see what positives i see, and hoping for the best
dannitoon
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:38 PM
Comment #48FFS wat a shite report.. why not go n hang yaself..
GeordieTwo
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:38 PM
Comment #49Talking about the January window when the summer window hasn’t even closed is ridiculous YMFB. If Rafa gets forced out by the whinge brigade, including many on here then we really will have a disaster on our hands because Ashley is waiting in the wings. Talking about finishing 15th after 2 matches?
Ketsbaia9
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:39 PM
Comment #50I expected Benitez to sign Spanish La Liga prayers, but instead he’s gone for too many British championship standard players. The only two I approve is Ritchie and Diame.
RUNAWAY777
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:40 PM
Comment #51Geordie whats he done wheres our points dont tell me to pipe down come back when he wins something
geordie157
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:41 PM
Comment #52Sounds like its either us or derby who’s so say tapped up Forresteri, would be a good signing.
Go get him and assombalonga!
Ketsbaia9
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:41 PM
Comment #53Anyways, I’m off out to get some gash. Gunna start off slow, but pounce later on when everyone’s slashed. The best way to sink a defeat in is to get your end away.
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:41 PM
Comment #54GeordieTwo
2 matches. Sorry I have an opinion on watching the club for over 30 years. I have an opinion based on the fact that we got relegated, on the fact we lost the best players and haven’t replaced them with anything but players to make the numbers.
I have an opinion from the play that I have seen and heard from the commentary that its poor with no attacking zest or creativity. I have an opinion having seen our defence being rubbish for the last I don’t know how long.
Bottom line I have a justified opinion. I don’t go around commenting and patronising to you because you feel we are doing great. You feel we are doing great good for you lay off my comments.
RUNAWAY777
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:42 PM
Comment #55Rafa will get credit off me when we start wining geardie till then he’s done nowt
mattyNUFC
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:42 PM
Comment #56geordie157
those two signings would go a long ways i feel
GeordieTwo
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:43 PM
Comment #57Runaway do the same as Gorgonzola. Grow a pair and get behind your club. Come back when Rafa has won something? Hahahahahaha. He is one of most winning managers in Europe. That’s why people were so excited when he came to us. That hasn’t changed. We’ve lost 2 matches that’s all..
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:43 PM
Comment #58Ketsbaia9
Agreed…..feeling the same. Completely blown away by the lack of quality in our signings. Done nothing for me.
RUNAWAY777
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:44 PM
Comment #59Geordie two not getting your own way lot of people think the same way as me
GeordieTwo
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:45 PM
Comment #60It’s all right Gorgo, calm down. Someone will be in with your meds shortly. Say anything you want on here. It will be interesting to hear what you have to say when we start winning.
Jib
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:45 PM
Comment #61Brighton and Hove Albion star Anthony Knockaert has insisted he is happy at the club amid reports of interest from Newcastle United.
Ketsbaia9
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:46 PM
Comment #62Not happy. Give the french players a chance. Riviere has pace. He just needs confidence. He’ll tear this league apart.
GeordieTwo
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:46 PM
Comment #63It’s got nothing to do with any of us getting our own way Runaway. It’s all about the club’s success. That includes providing support in the difficult times. If you want to help chase Rafa out be my guest.
Ketsbaia9
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:46 PM
Comment #64Re-sign Medhi Abeid
Tsunki
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:47 PM
Comment #65Hail no matter what’s said, the sense of entitlement built up out of the sheer simplicity of having bagged Benitez as a manager. Are you saying he should have been downbeat about the changes he was making? I can’t remember a soundbite where “we are going to win every game in style” was mentioned.
Two games in with a transitional squad and already “We should have got Pearson”. It’s pure Kafka at times. The comedy is desperately hewn from incredulity.
bettyswallocks
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:47 PM
Comment #66This is worrying for sure. We are going to need some creativity in midfield or we can forget promotion this season.
Pat On The Heed
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:48 PM
Comment #67Hail. No excuses but what do you propose be done about it? Sack the manager? Bench the egos? Boo at the stadium? All knee jerk stuff and triggers more self destruction.
Last time we were relegated we didn’t buy anyone, apart from hand loven k a permanent contract. This is half a new team, and the other half were just relegated. The confidence was brittle and probably blown apart now.
There is an obvious short fall in terms of striking options. I’m writing off Arma, rivière this season as anything other than wild cards. Mitro was still missing sitters every week into March, so we can’t rely on him. I would have kept Cisse but given he’s gone, we need
one maybe two similar proven finishers, and to start loaning out the fringe players.
NUFCPaul
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:49 PM
Comment #68Kets – that ‘getting some gash’ comment is the funniest thing I’ve ever read on here. You really do live in a little fantasy land. Enjoy those Saturday night repeats of Top Gear on the Dave channel while eating a reheated curry from last night.
welshgeordie9
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:49 PM
Comment #69I hope Benitez don’t come out with judge me after 10 games.
welshgeordie9
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:52 PM
Comment #70Two games gone and have been poor in both, so what makes you think we will be good anytime soon, there’s more players to get rid of not just gourffran and rivière.
msk21dec
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:53 PM
Comment #71Back door man.. dont get me wrong i loved 4231 when protugal played it in euro2000 against england.. with Figo, Rui costa etc running the show and Real Madrid with the team of Raul and mcmanaman and Redondo played it to the letter but nowadays all managers playing it don’t have a clue. The formation to play is 442 for Newcastle players especially if you got british players as your core as newcastle have done for this championship season.
I think after transfer window closes rafa will slowly get a settled side but this will take a good few games. so as a newcastle fan all i will be hoping is we get a top 6 finish either auto or play offs. no way will we walk this league like everyone thought it will be very close. only because rafa thinks he’s too clever for this division. he is not and he needs to play players in the right formation in their favoured positions no more messing about. over to you rafa. also young players like aarons etc aint gonna improve or play well unless they get a run of games to get into a rhythm. i.e. when ever sissoko or wijnaldum or janmaat have crap games they always play and stay on but players like aarons and armstrong get subbed and dropped thats why we never see the best of them.
kimbo
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:56 PM
Comment #72We lost today because the useless spanish waiter played Anita. Any manager plays this crap slow player who passed the ball back everytime aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Please please never play Anita again.
Ketsbaia9
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:59 PM
Comment #73It’s not a fantasy thing though. I’ve pulled 8 girls on a night out before. Hoping to do the same tonight,
jimmygscot
Aug 13, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Comment #74Forget about promotion this season.This squad is useless. I am having doubts about Rafa we have needed a LB and a striker from the word go.
Gayle couldnt even score from the spot. pathetic.
They are not even workmanlike. they are so slow.
Aaaaarrrgh
Mag52
Aug 13, 2016 at 7:01 PM
Comment #75I sense some double standards on here when bloggers are complaining about a few boos at the end of today’s game.
If the team perform poorly then boos are in order. During the last couple of seasons, boos following the final whistle would have been applauded by all those who couldn’t stand McClaren or Pardue.
A bad performance is a bad performance, and just because we have Rafa in charge, that shouldn’t be any reason to hold back on criticism by those who have paid good money to watch it.
KevinLee
Aug 13, 2016 at 9:30 PM
Comment #76Don’t fking use Lascelles again!!!!!