Newcastle are back on track again and the performance last night against Wolves was so much better than on Saturday – and certainly Rafa didn’t mess around with his selection as he made 8 changes to the side that lost so poorly on Saturday.
Rafa brought in a whole new defense with Karl Darlow getting a chance in goal and our two new full-backs DeAndre Yedlin and Achraf Lazaar both making their first starts for the club.
The central defense pair was Grant Hanley and Ciaran Clark and for so many changes that were made Newcastle seems to play well as a team.
Daryl Murphy also made his debut up front.
Daryl Murphy – made his debut last night
It’s the defense that Rafa wants to build this new Newcastle side on and that’s why he seemed so upset after the game on Saturday when it was two bad mistakes that gifted Wolves their two goals and the shock win.
The defense was solid last night and once again goalkeeper Karl Darlow surely should get a string of game in the first team – when he had these last season after Rob Elliot had been injured – he showed what a very good goalkeeper he can become on Tyneside.
We were also delighted to see such a big crowd at the game but maybe it was the unifying words of Rafa Benitez at his press conference on Monday afternoon when he asked everybody to stay behind the team through thick and thin.
The crowd was 34,735 and that’s an excellent crowd in anybody’s book for a cup tie on a Tuesday evening.
So Rafa has demonstrated that a completely different team can play well. as he gets the players knowing exactly what they have to do in every single position when they play for this new Newcastle side.
It was a good win and we are now in the last 16 of the EFL Cup and maybe we will draw Preston at home in the 4th round?
But one interesting question is what will Rafa’s team be for Villa Park on Saturday and especially the defense.
But whoever starts on Saturday will know they will have to play very well to keep their places as the competition for places at Newcastle is greater than it’s been in years.
Sounds good to us.
A good day at the office last night – and a good contrast to Saturday – which is what we all wanted..
Comments welcome.
16 comments so far
lesh
Sep 21, 2016 at 1:26 PM
Comment #1Could it be that some of the lads were becoming a tad complacent and needed their feathers ruffled?
Hail Wor Ashley
Sep 21, 2016 at 1:33 PM
Comment #2Mbemba should be left on the sidelines for the foreseeable.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:05 PM
Comment #3Not to sure of Clark and Hanley at the moment
twice early on last night Wolves were put through with through balls between them – Darlow came one excellent save and Yedlin got back with his speed to block. – but all-in-all a good all round display
thought Murphy led the line well – Mitro could learn a lot from Murphy’s performance last night!!!
Rotonda heights
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #4that goofy goal is something else. watched it more times now than shelvey’s curler v qpr
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:08 PM
Comment #5Martoon
Just wondering but as I selected Shelvey for our MOS and Gouffron as our top scorer, is my choices still valid if Gouffron is MOS and Shelvey top scorer.
You did after all allow Bobby his choice of Armstrong as TS even if he scores them all for someone else. 😉
Just asking.
WWSBRD
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:12 PM
Comment #6Hsil
Barring the last league game Mbemba has looked a cut above the league
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:27 PM
Comment #7Or even if they ended up as joint TSs and Men Of Season.
clinath@ed
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:30 PM
Comment #8Have a good holiday Lesh
jimmysmith
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:43 PM
Comment #9I think Gouffran’s form is most probably down to playing in a confident winning side and the lower standard. I argued for ages that we should have tried to keep all last seasons players for this reason, and while I never thought we’d keep all of them, I was surprised by the extent of the overhaul, and feel certain it will mean we’ll need another overhaul again come the end of this one, and we won’t be making any sort of profit in the market that time round. Last seasons group lacked depth and balance, but did have some real epl quality talent in it. This one is almost the opposite, and will require 4 to 8 additions, probably 4 to slot straight in as regulars. That’ll be the acid test for Ashley because they won’t come cheap, although I think he’ll back Rafa having failed in all his efforts previously and do believe he now wants a successful club.
firebug666
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:45 PM
Comment #10Well it has been an eventful day today, following a great win last night I went to my allotment only to have Police cars, fire engines and ambulances, and a helicopter flying around, after the TSB in Horden was targeted by armed robbers.
Ok that might have been a little more exciting than last nights match, but hey we won.
Lazaar need some game time to find his mojo, but overall the lads did OK, now bring on Villa.
estechco
Sep 21, 2016 at 2:45 PM
Comment #11Judging by that picture, Murphy looks quite a lot like Peter Withe (one for the younger reader)!?!
Tsunki
Sep 21, 2016 at 3:16 PM
Comment #12TSB in Horden, Firebug? Wow, that’s £47.50 they won’t get back in a hurry. 🙂
Tsunki
Sep 21, 2016 at 3:17 PM
Comment #13And it’s Defence, Ed (sigh)
jimmysmith
Sep 21, 2016 at 3:20 PM
Comment #14https://youtu.be/ZeuEt7SkTBY
Steve Watson. Had totally forgotten about this.
sing in the corner
Sep 21, 2016 at 3:22 PM
Comment #15DEfense ha ha ha.
Must get a new ‘row-ter’.
Bloody Americans..
James RS
Sep 21, 2016 at 3:26 PM
Comment #16Yes better now that flapper Sels the number 4/5 keeper was replaced by the number 3 keeper Darlow.