Rafa has given his press conference today for the Derby game tomorrow and he seems pleased with the fitness and form of the new arrivals at the club.
Since the International break started 13 days ago Newcastle have managed to sign Christian Atsu, Daryl Murphy and Achraf Lazaar and from what Rafa has said today they are all fit and ready to play.
Achraf Lazaar with Rafa Benitez after signing
Daryl and Achraf are permanent signings, and Christian is on loan for the season from Chelsea with an option to buy in the summer.
This is what Rafa had to say about the new arrivals:
“Each player is different, so it depends on how they adapt and train and if I have to play some of them they can play, if they have to wait they will wait.”
“I think they are ready, I’ve been really impressed with them and we’ll see how they adapt.”
“At the moment some players have an advantage because they have been playing, so they have more chances to play in this game.”
“When you are winning four games in a row, maybe it’s not the right time to have a break.”
“But players have been out to play for their countries, have picked up confidence, and come back with no problems and ready to play.”
“In this case, Mitrovic played for Serbia and Gayle has had time to train so they can be in the squad.”
“I was watching (the Serbia vs Ireland) game and pleased to see Daryl score an important goal for his country.”
Newcastle are on a four game winning streak and we really hope we can make that five wins in a row tomorrow at Derby County.
And it’s a good question as to what the Newcastle team will be, with our new arrivals apparently all ready to play.
What would your team be?
Comments welcome.
50 comments so far
barkel
Sep 9, 2016 at 3:29 PM
Comment #1I think the team that starts will be much the same as our last game, perhaps Gayle coming in for Perez the only change. It’s going to be very interesting with the squad we have now for players getting game time
Rotonda heights
Sep 9, 2016 at 3:34 PM
Comment #2Band B
”My own feeling is that changes will be incremental, based on form, fitness and development, with any surprise choices picked for plausible tactical reasons.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – –
Oh the joys of having a proper manager.
dok - the horrid colonial
Sep 9, 2016 at 3:45 PM
Comment #3RH,
been so long since weve seen a proper manager itll take time to digest…
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Sep 9, 2016 at 3:56 PM
Comment #4Lol, nufc digest.
Markaccus
Sep 9, 2016 at 3:57 PM
Comment #5BandB
Yes apparently I am me again. Return of the Mark (accus)
Markaccus
Sep 9, 2016 at 3:59 PM
Comment #6The delay was because i was collecting my youngest offspring from school,rather than being modded.
Markaccus
Sep 9, 2016 at 4:05 PM
Comment #7Barkel
Yeah i think that will be the case. Shouldn’t mess too much with a winning team
dok - the horrid colonial
Sep 9, 2016 at 4:15 PM
Comment #8WB mark 🙂
Markaccus
Sep 9, 2016 at 4:27 PM
Comment #9Dok
Thanks, although I never really left 😀
Lindisfarne
Sep 9, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Comment #10Achraf Lazaar looks like a square peg, will be used in a square or round hole?!
Lindisfarne
Sep 9, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Comment #11#will HE be used…
Markaccus
Sep 9, 2016 at 4:57 PM
Comment #12Lindisfarne
He might be one of those players who has more than one square hole, with any luck.
Lindisfarne
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:04 PM
Comment #13Markaccus
I am sure he will have more than one Square t-shirt.
WWSBRD
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #14Welcome back Markaccus
Lazaar for me should be straight into the team and Gayle back up top but other than that we look, touch wood, very solid so I wouldn’t change the rest
Tsunki
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #15YaY! Markaccus! I also can avoid doing those double takes with Young Magpie in Traction now ha ha
G
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:15 PM
Comment #16@2 + 3, funny you say that about the propper manager, every time there is a press release I feel like arguing with it, then I remember that for the first time since Hoots we have a manager who talks sense!
Tsunki
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:16 PM
Comment #17Difficult to say how or why the team should be changed for this one seeing as we are doing OK atm. I know Rafa will rotate (jesper!) personnel but I doubt if he’ll make more than one starting change at a time, but if all goes well we might see new subs.
Lindisfarne
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #18I have had this discussion a couple of times with various bloggers (and not all actually the same person), we now have a proper manager and rotating the team is very much on the cards. The arguement always tends to go with stick to a winning team, where as replacing a player here and there is essential in order to use the squad properly.
bettyswallocks
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Comment #19If the players are speaking unscripted as they appear to be, then it really does seem that Rafa has instilled a healthy competition for a starting place in the team with everyone pulling in the same direction.
Since Rafa’s appointment there doesn’t seem to be that cloak and dagger insincerity when they’re asked a question and everyone seems to understand the new remit which is to win matches.
bettyswallocks
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:42 PM
Comment #20Tsunki……. Why would Rafa rotate Jesper? It was suggested when he was at Liverpool that he often rotated his wife!
Legolas
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:47 PM
Comment #21Looking forward tomorrow now. Can’t wait. Hopefully it won’t disappoint. For whoever cares the team that I think will be picked tomorrow is:
Sels
Anita Lascelles Mbemba Dummet
Ritchie Hayden Shelvey Gouffran
Diame
Gayle.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:48 PM
Comment #22Joke. Of. A. Blog.
martoon
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:53 PM
Comment #23I think Rafa will rotate when the games are coming thick & fast but surely after a break he will pick what he considers to be his strongest team. I think pretty much nailed on the same team as Brighton except Gayle for Perez.
hibbit
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:53 PM
Comment #24once a wum always a wum
that right rob
BandB
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Comment #25Judging by his comments at the press conference he will use rotation as a tool rather than as a policy.
He knows he’ll have to rotate to keep the squad serviceable as there are a lot of games to get through.
I also think he will rub some people up the wrong way from time to time for his steady away approach, believing that rough patches are there to be ironed out.
Lindisfarne
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Comment #26Legolas
I would go with that team
Kabul Fish
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:59 PM
Comment #27Legolas – I was thinking the same team mate. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game – shame I have to wait until nearly 2100hrs out here. Fingers crossed it will be well worth it.
HWTL
BandB
Sep 9, 2016 at 5:59 PM
Comment #28Yep,
I think that’s close to the one that might start, all else equal.
bettyswallocks
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Comment #29YMFB………. It’s encouraged to tell jokes on the blog. It helps to relieve boredom and frustration between games and to calm the nerves before a match.
By the way have you tried those ribbed condoms ? Apparently they provide far more traction in the dirt.
Lindisfarne
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:01 PM
Comment #30I do not know the relevance of this but, does anyone else recollect that when Rafa took over L’pool he struggled to fit Gerrard into the team?
dok - the horrid colonial
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Comment #31good team there… see mitro and Yedlin come on late…
how are ya BandB?
dok - the horrid colonial
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:04 PM
Comment #32why don’t young magpies drink Kool-Aid?
they cant figure out how to get 2 quarts of water in that little pouch…
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:04 PM
Comment #33Insulting jokes? Appropriate on this blog? Whatever ya say.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:04 PM
Comment #34I’d like to see two up top with Mitro or Murphy instead of Shelvey but that team there is looking most likely.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Comment #35He should play my team. Easy win for sure.
Kabul Fish
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:08 PM
Comment #36Would like to see the same Jail – hopefully will happen at home soon as I think it will be one up front when away
Legolas
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:11 PM
Comment #37Lindisfarne, I can’t see Rafa mixing it much at the moment. As others have said it will be different when games come thick and fast.
Kabul, nightmare bud. However, I am at work until 17.30 tomorrow. Will have to rush home for the start. Lol.
WWSBRD
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:11 PM
Comment #38Jail
Why would u drop Shelvey mate?
bettyswallocks
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:11 PM
Comment #39Mitro looked a bit sluggish and off the pace the other night for Serbia.
He obviously needs to play more games to get up to speed. Therein lies Rafa’s dilemma.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 9, 2016 at 6:13 PM
Comment #40Because I’d like to see Mitro or Murphy start with Gayle with Hayden as the holding mid and would prefer Diame in place of him.