One reason we were delighted with the result on Saturday and the good performance of the side, was that we didn’t think our current team could grind out that kind of win on the road.
So the fact they did that and the players played their hearts out at Bristol City was really good and augers well for the future.
Rafa Benitez getting wet at Bristol – but happy enough
That determination and grit seemed to be missing – especially in our first two games – two defeats – so Saturday could be a water-shed game for the lads.
Now Benitez wants the same kind of intensity in every single game this season and if the lads can do that we should be OK:
“The most important thing for me is that we showed character, and we showed we can do it in this kind of game.”
“That is a message for the rest of the season now.” “We have to do this every week, and work as hard as this in every game we play.”
“That is the minimum for us now, and after that, maybe we can use our quality to make the difference.”
“But at least we know that we can cope with this kind of opponent and this intensity in the game.”
“Some players were probably thinking that it was difficult to win away.”
“To show character in a game as difficult as this, with the physicality of the opposite team, shows that we are capable of doing it every week.
“For the confidence of the team, that has to be really important for the rest of the season.”
Good words there from Rafa and spot on.
There is still a lot of work to do in the summer’s transfer window with only 9 days to go and up until now these are the ins and outs at the club.
[table “51” not found /]It looks like Brendan Galloway’s loan deal has been called off by Everton manager Ronald Koeman.
Comments welcome.
62 comments so far
Sav
Aug 22, 2016 at 10:56 AM
Comment #1STOP THE PRESSES… Siem de Jong passes medical!
Veltman
Aug 22, 2016 at 10:56 AM
Comment #2Cheers fellas –
I don’t know Jose’s injury records are but the last time when we were in the Chmshp, he was one of stand out players and played a big part in our promotion if I remember correctly..
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 22, 2016 at 10:58 AM
Comment #3Martoon
Diame is a muslim, and i think they recently had ramadan? Maybe he has struggled with that. I reckon fasting might affect each player differently. Just a theory mind.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:03 AM
Comment #4veltman,
That was six seven years ago! He is therefore six seven years older.
Te quiero Rafa!
Munster Mag
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:04 AM
Comment #5I remember seing De Jongs first (?) game on tv , or on Sky highlights and wondering how a bloke so slow and unfit lacking in energy and power could make it in the prem league. Another awful signing – no more de jongs please ! As for Galloway – no big worry, move on and try to get the winger and striker we need.
Wayayman
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:05 AM
Comment #6Marcus, re Ramadan; A couple of lads I play with on a monday night fast during then too. Nothing to eat or drink during daylight hours. Even for a kick about at snails pace the lads just cant do it after not eating or drinking all day. Eating is one thing, but no drinking is the big one. If Diame has been strictly fasting then it definitely will have had an effect on his fitness.
Mental really, considering that in countries where the fasting originated, they have way less daylight than we have here in the Summer. Got to admire the convictions of people who do this though, I can barely go an hour without the munchies…
That said, if Diame is only 70% fit then I cannot wait to see him when he’s fully fit and flying. Could be a huge player for us these next few years.
Munster Mag
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:05 AM
Comment #7Jose was brilliant for us, a really difficult opponent for a winger. But older now and probably overweight. Did Sam buy him?
toon1707
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:06 AM
Comment #8I keep wondering why Gamez has not been given a chance yet
BandB
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Comment #9Players bought or loaned in August since our last relegation in 2009.
2009 Simpson (loan)
2010 Tiote, Ben Arfa (loan)
2011 Obertan, Santon, Elliott.
2012 Anita.
2013 Remy (loan),
2014 Ferreya (loan).
2015 Toney, Thauvin.
Darlow and Lascelles were also signed in August, though they went out immediately to their old club on a season long loan.
Munster Mag
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Comment #10Nice to see Moyes cheering up all the Mackems by giving them a reality check. They actually looked ok when they chased the game but Boro are a more composed team. We have to get to their standard last year to get out of this league and it was a high standard. Lets hope we get ore strike power and creativity in soon. If we can get out of this league, Rafa is going to have to rip the whole thing up and start again.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Comment #11Wayay
Yeah i always feel its a little incompatible with pro-sports, but obviously it is part of their faith so I dont want to seem like tw@t about it. 😀
JDdubai
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Comment #12Ramadan finished around 7 weeks ago, it wont be an issue.
LB, LW, CF this week please Rafa. then save the rest of the Sissoko money for Jan or ideally next summer.
hibbitt
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:10 AM
Comment #13can’t think of many players that return to a club and live up to the memories
jayphoto
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:10 AM
Comment #14@you couldn’t make it up – Ramadan ended about 5-6 weeks ago though, should be over it by now.
Pretty sure he started Hulls pre season with an injury? Definitely missed some of it so its possibly a case that hes a few weeks behind everyone else?
Munster Mag
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:11 AM
Comment #15Wayayman, he’s a bit of a beast. He’s not a brilliant passer but a great runner and great attitude. Not as fast as Sissoko but a great engine and I think a very dominant, central sort of character on a pitch. He ran the show for Hull in their play off final and was the dominant force on the pitch. Gotta say I was thrilled when we got him.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:12 AM
Comment #16JD
Would that not put them behind on fitness, though? It is a lot of strain on your body, especially , as Wayay said, not drinking. That would severely hamper pre season training? Like I say, its just a theory as to why he might be a little short of match fitness
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:13 AM
Comment #17Jay
Ah well if there was an injury too then tjay would most likely be the cause.
jayphoto
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:14 AM
Comment #18wonder if Rafa will crank up the ante and put Sissoko in the side Tuesday night? Be a definite message to teams looking at buying him.
We definitely need a few more in. A left winger and a left back would be my priority but club seems to be searching for a striker so Armstrong can go out on loan? Too many of our attacks are down the right.
Also, Anita looks so much better as a right back than as a winger or cm! He left Ajax because they kept playing him left back but just looks more comfortable at full back.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:14 AM
Comment #19Tjay = that *
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:14 AM
Comment #20Enrique by all accounts, after getting his big money contract at Liverpool simply went into cruise mode and lost all professionalism and desire for the game.
Highly doubt he’ll get a contract on these shores given his well documented complete lack of care. Brazenly happy to just pick up his pay with minimal work in return.
To suggest we should sign him is idiotic.
martoon
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:16 AM
Comment #21YouCouldn’tMakeItUp @3 – I thought Ramadan ended about a month ago? I could see this would certainly affect his pre-season but thought he would be ‘up to speed’ by now.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:17 AM
Comment #22Martoon
Yeah maybe. I just would worry that the strain may take some players longer to get over than others.
martoon
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:17 AM
Comment #23oops – you’ve already discussed this – I need faster typing fingers 🙂
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:21 AM
Comment #24Hail
Idiotic? Bit harsh. Not everyone may have seen/heard those accounts. I hadn’t.
Maybe people are misguided for wanting him. It’s not really idiotic to want a player back who knows the league and was a very good player.
martoon
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:21 AM
Comment #25I must admit I’m not a fan of players (or managers) returning to clubs – it just never seems to work out second time around. The only exception I can think of is Beardsley – but I’m sure other posters will tell me some others
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:21 AM
Comment #26Martoon
Nah its ok, mate. I am a whole weekend behind anyway 😀
Ian Toon
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:23 AM
Comment #27It ended on the 6th July. He had knee surgery a year ago pre season and from time to time at Hull had to restrict his level of training.
Mister Tuff
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:23 AM
Comment #28What a knobber.
JIB JIBBERISH EXTENDS TRANSFER WINDOW BY 30 HOURS.
“Jib // Aug 22, 2016 at 10:39 AM
Still loads of time
The window shuts midnight a week on Wednesday”
No it doesn’t – it closes at 6pm next Tuesday.
I already did a post about this – following YOUR botched previous posting citing the wrong time and date and getting Scotland mixed up in the process.
I explained all of this including work days, bank holidays – you clearly do not pay attention.
Please change your game – netball, ladies rugby or ladies wrestling as you clearly struggle with Association Football.
What a divvy – another jacksie caning of your flabby buttocks by my jacksie thwacking cane.
I fear it will be needed again and again.
Wayayman
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:29 AM
Comment #29Anyone else read Mister Tuff’s posts and picture The Wizard Of Oz?
simon376
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:32 AM
Comment #30Not wanting to be picky here, but sick of the abuse people get on here. Yes Jib didn’t get it quite right, the window closes at 11pm on Wednesday 31st. Just thought I would put down the official time while some on here only want to get digs in. Let’s try and just keep it to being about Newcastle please and not having a go
jayphoto
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:35 AM
Comment #31I’d take Enrique at this level. Don’t think we will take him though.
Wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t loan a Liverpool player though. Wisdom perhaps? or Ojo? Or Joe Gomez?
Come these next 2 weeks, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd will look to loan out players as they get their squads in order and all 3 of them have some really interesting younger players that could more than do a job for us next season
jayphoto
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:39 AM
Comment #32Chelsea alone didn’t give squad numbers to and have listed for loan – Atsu, Kane, Solanke, Piazon, Van Ginkel, Pasalic, Cuevas, Omeruo, Bamford…
Pretty sure Ola Aina is available for loan too, id take him based on what I’ve seen. Pretty sure Kenedy is available on loan too…
SPRINGY
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:39 AM
Comment #33toon 1707
read he had picked up an injury,that is why were looking at yedlin from spurs,mate.
Mister Tuff
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:42 AM
Comment #34Big difference in taking the mickey out of clots and fools and abusing people with filthy language/ foul/vile abuse from the gutter.
General observation only.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:43 AM
Comment #35On about squad no.s and no.s on shirts.
Numbers names on new strips COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME SPACE – YOU CANNOT READ THE BLOODY THINGS
Jib
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Comment #36Mr Tuff you spotted my deliberate mistake !!!
Hooray !!
I do one every day just for you.
You have missed loads over the past week or so.
Up your game man.
😎
Bowjaw
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:54 AM
Comment #37It doesn’t really matter too much why he wasn’t up to fitness unless it is a recurring injury which I don’t think is the case. what matters is getting him up to speed quickly, he didn’t look great in his first home match and I didn’t catch the match on Saturday. Does any one know how he performed???
Mister Tuff
Aug 22, 2016 at 11:59 AM
Comment #38Jib jibberish (blog pest) I really do not have the time to act upon all your gaffes – let’s face it I’d be on here all day and we all know in the coming days, weeks and months we are going to be royally entertained by the blogs very own “Google Gaffemeister”.
Jib
Aug 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Comment #39I think the DeJong situation is a perfect illustration of what a quality manager Rafa is.
He clearly rates SDJ who is back to full fitness but the last place for him to get back up to speed is in the hurly burly of a Championship promotion chase.
The much less frenetic dutch eredivisie is the ideal place for him to spend a season.
Then he rejoins NUFC in the EPL next Summer.
manxpie
Aug 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Comment #40Tuff how come sky are advertising it as the 31st as transfer deadline day? I’m pretty sure they would have it right like?