Newcastle have lost the first two games in the Championship and if any of our players or fans thought it was going to be a cake-walk this season they will know now it isn’t going to be like that, which is a pity but the reality.
It doesn’t mean we still cannot do really well this season, but we also must not overact too much, but in truth we still couldn’t believe we lost to Huddersfield of all teams, although they played very well and defended well when they had to.
That’s not something Newcastle do well yet – and the defense is an area we must improve now that we have new defenders in the club.
Matt Ritchie in action yesterday against the Terriers
Matt Ritchie was our Man of the Match once again with 50% of the vote and the 26 year-old winger had this to say on the Newcastle web-site after the game when reminded our next game is at home on Wednesday night to Reading:
“That’s the good thing about the Championship – games come in quick succession, and you can put your losses right.”
“It wasn’t the result we were looking for, but there’s a lot to work on and there’s a lot to analyse, and we’ll go again on Wednesday.”
“It’s not the start we intended, but we’ll work hard.”
“I think it could be a blessing in disguise – we could look back on these two games and think they really made us.”
“That’s because we’ve got the bit between our teeth and we need to make sure that we really do continue to work hard, continue to get better and build relationships on the pitch.”
“I think we’ll be OK.”
“Obviously it’s been a tough start, but we’ve got another game on Wednesday, we’ll go again, we’ll work hard and we look forward to it.”
“There’s new players, a new team, and we need to make sure that we stick together with the fans.” “I just don’t think there’s any reason to panic.”
“We’re a new team, we’ve got probably seven or eight new players in the door in the summer, so we just to relax, and we will get better, we will get stronger and we will start winning games.”
“It’s what we need (talking about the terrific Gallowgate Flags display before the game).”
“We need the fans behind us, and we need the fans to stay onside.”
“I understand it’s frustrating for them, but we will start winning games, I’m sure.” “They’re a good team, but I look forward to the game.”
Those are good words and some good points from the talented 26 year-old Scottish Intentional winger.
Results should improve once some things have been sorted out on the pitch and the lads get more playing time together in the Championship games – but we have to start picking up the points fairly soon too.
A win on Wednesday night against Reading would do wonders for the spirits on Tyneside for both players and fans alike.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
37 comments so far
ShirebrookToon
Aug 14, 2016 at 8:37 PM
Comment #1Deja vu
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 14, 2016 at 8:38 PM
Comment #2Just watching Football Gold on Sky Sports and its when we came back from 4 nil down against Arsenal! That Toon team would destroy our team at the moment!!
We need players like Barton , Nolan, Carroll and Best who were all amazing at winning headers and bullying teams we have no one apart from maybe Diame who can do it
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 14, 2016 at 8:39 PM
Comment #3Although before someone tries to be smart I know Carroll wasn’t playing in that game just saying we need a player like him!!
Enrique at left back as well he is still available on a free transfer as well
anthc
Aug 14, 2016 at 8:40 PM
Comment #4I watched too. Barton and Nolan alone have more desire and positive aggression than our entire team at the minute.
jazzyp
Aug 14, 2016 at 8:43 PM
Comment #5The fans are with you Richie. That’s why we pack our away allocation and fill St James park week in week out.
All we ask in return is a team what gives a Sh@t. A team that tries and works hard for one another.A team that has a clue what to do on the park……..Epic fail on all of the above
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Aug 14, 2016 at 8:44 PM
Comment #6Deja vu,
last season same outcomes except we drew our first game so a worse start.
Belfast
Aug 14, 2016 at 8:49 PM
Comment #7Thauvin just got hooked at half time in this Marseille match. 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:01 PM
Comment #8Good words from Rafa, I hope some of those predicting relegation and wanting shot of Rafa are listening. No one’s actually mentioned sacking him but judging by their comments they might as well say it.
jazzyp
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:02 PM
Comment #9Chronicle: Newcastle hope to complete the loan signing of Brendan Galloway before Wednesday’s game. #NUFC
Jail for Ashley
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:02 PM
Comment #10Belfits,
Really, did he, wow, who’s he again?
Tsunki
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:08 PM
Comment #11Talking about watching golden oldies ( No Angela, not you…) I watched the 5-0 debugging of a very good manure side that should have been 7-0 (and Cantona hooked) again today. Apart from the swagger and laugh out loud cheek of it, seeing Batty commit like a madman and Pav owning the box reminded me that it wasn’t just the obvious stars in that team, it was the work rate and application of the utility section that kept the engine running while the attack dismantled them in humiliating style. Where did those days go, the ones where we comforted ourselves for being 2nd in the league by preparing for CL football?
ShirebrookToon
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:16 PM
Comment #12I watched that game the other day tsunki.
I miss those days 🙁
jimmysmith
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:21 PM
Comment #13Good words indeed, but that’s all they are, we still have a huge problem down the left after that sobering Aarons performance ahead of a predictably ponderous Dummett and then astonishingly Anita, who when asked to play there did so without murmur of dissent as you’d expect despite it being grossly unfair on a right footed central midfielder and an entirely inadequate move tactically.
Clark with Ritchie ahead of him on the left, and Anita or Gamez with Janmaat ahead of him on the right my get us out of jam as a stop gap, then we only have the very real problem of the diminutive and unaccomplished Gayle leading the line on his tod. Has he ever been asked to do this before? Judging by his lack of effectiveness and general bemusement most probably not.
Benitez, for whatever reason, has not been able to put a fit for purpose 11 out. Sissoko, Mitrovic, Galloway and probably Tiote are needed ASAP.
Belfast
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:23 PM
Comment #14He was the one with the neat haircut who could only cut the mustard on a wet Wednesday against Northampton.
The other one with the neat haircut who didn’t cut the mustard is also playing.
Comprende?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:24 PM
Comment #15Galloway can only improve so much but we need someone much better than Aarons ahead of him to make it work who like Perez seems to lack in game intelligence and always loses the ball
Funnily enough Sammy takes a pasting on here but he has been more effective playing on the left wing for us than either of them!!
Belfast
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:25 PM
Comment #16It’s also a really shite match hence the reason I’m here chatting to you.
jimmysmith
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:26 PM
Comment #17The failed signings of Cabella and Thauvin have come home to roost. Consecutive duds leaving us with Aarons and Anita wide left.
Toon Tang
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:32 PM
Comment #18Jimmy, was just coming on to leave a similar comment. I’ve been watching the game and they’re 2 sides of the same coin.
Tsunki
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:43 PM
Comment #19Can’t help thinking cabella and thriving would probably be really useful in this league. As Bret said to Jemaine while chewing on a sandwich he had found in a bin – “We ARE poor, aren’t we?” 🙂
jimmysmith
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:44 PM
Comment #20…………………………..Krul..
Janmaat……Mbemba,,,,,Clark….Galloway
………………..Tiote…….Shelvey
…Sissoko……….De Jong…….Ritchie
………………………..Mitrovic
This is only one of many permutations we can potentially field that is surely significantly better than what we’ve been putting out so far.
We can’t get over these last few weeks of the window quickly enough and hopefully then ending up with the fit, available and balanced group we’ve been making do without.
Tsunki
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:44 PM
Comment #21How does thauvin turn into thriving? Cruel sense of humour, auto correct. Really Cruel.
Ketsbaia9
Aug 14, 2016 at 9:59 PM
Comment #22Shouldn’t have sold Cisse, Thauvin, Cabella, Marveaux. We haven’t replaced them.
Toon Tang
Aug 14, 2016 at 10:03 PM
Comment #232nd place in the medal table. Absolutely flying eh
Been a corker so far, taking my mind off the toon for a few mins anyways
Belfast
Aug 14, 2016 at 10:05 PM
Comment #24Kets how about we replace all four with the Shearer statue?
jimmysmith
Aug 14, 2016 at 10:35 PM
Comment #25Widjnaldum played his part in a memorable win for Liverpool at The Emirates. Two proper football clubs there. Providing everything that players need to perform at their optimum. He didn’t get that at Newcastle, and it’s why I pause before placing the lions share of the blame on almost any player we’ve had in recent years whose struggled to deliver. Even so we’ve had a few softies too. Marv, Thauvin, Yanga Mbiwa uppermost among them, but not Widjnaldum, and not Sissoko either.
Tsunki
Aug 14, 2016 at 10:43 PM
Comment #26Marvelous, though Ketsy. What a player. Why didn’t we go after him eh?
Tsunki
Aug 14, 2016 at 10:44 PM
Comment #27Sorry. Marvellous has two l’s in proper English. 🙂
SPRINGY
Aug 14, 2016 at 10:47 PM
Comment #28i think these french sides who want us to pay half the wages so they can loan our players should jog on….if they are not going to buy them,loan them with a fee and pay there wage they should sod off….cheeky sods…..i’d rather keep the players and use them if we need them…they have money,they are just always looking for the cheap option….its not that when we were buying players from the french league….soon as newcastles name mentioned the value doubles…make ya bloody sick.
Blofal
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:01 PM
Comment #29Watching the highlights of Arsenal v Liverpool just gives you a stark reminder of how far off the pace we are.
FollowFollow
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:09 PM
Comment #30I expected Wijnaldum to score his first away goal today but no change so far. The game passed him by.
manxpie
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:11 PM
Comment #31Jail who is predicting us to be relegated and who wants benitez gone? Being a bit over dramatic aren’t you?
I actually think Anita is getting used a bit kinda like the 2 keepers on the bench trick i.e we need a fuskin winger, and quick so get ya finger out charnley!
Tsunki
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:12 PM
Comment #32Springy – you could even think it works like this –
French club propagates rave reviews about their new up and coming star after a few stellar performances in pitiful league matches
Get rich pl club on the hook, agent steps in and gets big fee and nice wage deal going.
Player strangely fails to acclimatise, spends season loafing around
Pl club gets sick and allows player to go back home, still paying half his wages. Everybody wins.
Except the pl club.
manxpie
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Comment #33Yeah gini had 1 bit of good play with an assist bugger all else tho
Tsunki
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Comment #34Bit of a desperate shout for wijnaldum being the quality act that just needed better players around him. To wake him up that must be.
Tsunki
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:15 PM
Comment #35Oh well better leave it in the capable hands of the night shift.
manxpie
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:19 PM
Comment #36Aye tsunki 100+ mill worth of attackers around him just a tiny bit different to what he had here
jimmysmith
Aug 14, 2016 at 11:20 PM
Comment #37Not what was said nor intended, but don’t let that bother you.