The Chronicle is reporting today there was a get together between local journalists and Rafa Benitez at the Benton Training grounds earlier this week.
They report the difference in the mood (and even inside the newly renovated inside of the building) couldn’t have been more different from the same meeting with Steve McClaren a year ago.
Of course there’s nothing quite like wins to create an upbeat mood at any football club and after 13 games played in all competitions we have nine wins – so that’s not bad.
Rafa Benitez – Newcastle manager
Of course we have Rafa Benitez running everything football related at Newcastle – and that cannot be bad.
It’s also the first time he’s had such a wide scope of responsibilities at any club and he seems be relishing the opportunity to build Newcastle into a great club again with a top team on the pitch.
The Chronicle is also reporting that Rafa had a meeting with Managing Director Lee Charnley on Wednesday, but that was only one of the regular meeting between the two that take place fairly regularly.
One subject on the agenda was recruitment in January, although they are also planning what to do in the next three transfer windows.
That sounds good.
This season is already different from the previous ones since Mike Ashley became the owner in the summer of 2007.
For one thing we have very few injuries – although Daryl Murphy returned from the Ireland squad after being inured maybe on the first day of training earlier this week.
Rolando Aarons has been out with a broken foot and Jesus Gamez has been nursing an Achilles tendon problem.
And it didn’t seem to take Rafa long to make an impact on what has been a long-standing injury problem at the club.
He has done a number of things to try to improve the injury record including having a bigger squad with the rotation of players and hehas the club upgrade to 4G artificial training pitches.
Two new medical staff were hired in the summer to concentrate on the recovery from injuries and put procedures in place to try to prevent them in the first place.
Rafa has asked everybody associated with the club to get behind the team and that seems to have worked and it includes the players and staff, the media and of course the fans – and anybody else who may have some association with Newcastle United.
It seems to be working.
And if the team can keep improving as Rafa keeps stressing is necessary to be successful this season, then things could look really good for Newcastle come May.
Let’s hope that all happens.
Comment welcome.
162 comments so far
Mister Tuff
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:03 PM
Comment #1A lot of non football related posts today.
cyprus
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:13 PM
Comment #2On the football posts, it would be good if Mitro gets more game time before his enthusiasm wanes or he ‘accidentally’ injures Gayle.
On Colback, he sounds very mature. He ignores the ‘crap on social media’? Good idea.
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:16 PM
Comment #3Ha ha ha ha ha. Hilarious. Things you literally could not make up.
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:19 PM
Comment #4Cyprus, maybe that’s a cunning plan by Mitro, to injure Gayle ‘accidentally’ – a pulled neck muscle would do the job – so he does get more game time? 🙂
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:21 PM
Comment #5Bobby
Watching David – Peter Willey’s son reminds me of the famous Brian Johnston commentary moment.
“The bowler’s Holding the batsman’s Willey”
Ha ha ha
bettyswallocks
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:24 PM
Comment #6Bobby …….. Glad to see you’re in good spirits after the madness of the other night.
WWSBRD
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:34 PM
Comment #7cyprus
It would be good if Mitro deserved to get more game time imo
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:35 PM
Comment #8Jib, the unintentional jokes are always the funniest. Like when the worst ever offender complains about none footballing matters…? Hilarious. 🙂
Betty, nice to hear you again mate. I’m always in good spirits. I thought mocking your personal emails was disgusting by the way. Maybe a lesson about sharing details with unstable people can be learned though. I realise you were maybe trying to build bridges mate, but the response you got says a lot really. Nasty, but you can expect that I suppose. A nice gesture by you, hurled right back in your face.
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:39 PM
Comment #9Fair to say that barring a wee miracle, Bangladesh are going to cruise this. 🙁
lesh
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Comment #10Jib
I jest about your posting. I’m surely not alone in saying that I find many of ’em informative and amusing.
🙂
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:51 PM
Comment #11I didn’t realize than Sunlun will also probably have a player in the USA side v Cuba this evening .
Lynden Gooch has appeared in 7 cup and league sides for the unwashed this season and is expected to get his first cap for the USA today.
He’s from Santa Cruz CA just a couple of hundred miles from Chicousa.
lesh
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:52 PM
Comment #12It’s interesting to read that Rafs and Charnley met on Wednesday.
Ed ran a thread earlier this week and its theme was about the importance of everyone, all non-footballing staff included, pulling im the same direction. I wonder if Rafa’s meeting with Charnley went as as Rafa hoped.
There again, maybe Rafa’s hopes for cooperation were expressed prior to his meeting with Charnley, warning him that that’s what he wants.
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:54 PM
Comment #13Nae bother Lesh
Sometimes stuff can come across curter (more curt ? ) and ruder than intended.
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:56 PM
Comment #14Lesh
It was probably intructions from Rafa who he wants watched – the international breaks are a great opportunity for clandestine scouting.
lesh
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:58 PM
Comment #15Jib
Discurteously maybe?
Harrumph
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 4:59 PM
Comment #16Lesh, no need to worry on that front mate, Rafa appears to be happy with the arrangements from what I can gather. He’s getting everything he wants by the sound of it. And it shows both on the field. I think we’re actually being run like a proper football club at the mo. Hard to get my head around for sure, but long may it last. 🙂
lesh
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:01 PM
Comment #17Jib
You could well be right but when I read it I may have seen a message to Charnley in there.
Maybe, nay definitely, I’m becoming more cynical in me dotage!
lesh
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:03 PM
Comment #18Bobby
Long may the Club continue to be run on professional lines. It’s taken long enough for the penny to drop with Ashley.
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:04 PM
Comment #19Two quick wickets! On a hattrick… Pure wickedness, getting my hopes up like this. 🙂
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:04 PM
Comment #20discourteous in Turkish is nezaketsiz
bettyswallocks
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:05 PM
Comment #21Bobby….. Thanks for that, I do regret doing it now as it was a genuine gesture at the time separate to all the blog stuff. I don’t mind the banter and mickey taking, in fact I come on here for the craic as much as to discuss Nufc stuff. However in this age of so called equality if some female comes on and starts some pretty heavy banter and then tries to play the sexism card and even threatens police action when it’s fired back then that’s too much for me.
In the cold light of day I now realise there are serious mental instabilities going on there and it’s best to steer clear.
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:06 PM
Comment #22Lesh, becoming cynical is one of the pleasures of getting old. 🙂
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:06 PM
Comment #23Bobby
The Bagladeshi crowd has gone very quiet all of sudden
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:09 PM
Comment #24Number 3
You can hear a pin drop
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #25So we need a new acronym, how about:-
HWTBRS
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:19 PM
Comment #26Betty, nothing surprises me any more mate. Her dig at my – shall we say – mobility problems summed her up for the blog to see. Wasted on me though, because nobody laughs at my predicament more than me. What she sees as me complaining is me taking the piss out of myself, but it’s above some people’s ability to digest. What is described as me ‘ranting’ is simply me taking the piss out of them, but again – whoosh! – straight over their simple heads. I know sometimes I should ignore them, but they supply me with so much ammo it would be bordering on rude not to capitalise. 🙂
I’m more than happy that the most obnoxious bunch of hypocrites on here dislike me. I would be devastated if they did like me.
Oh, giddiness abounds. Another late wicket. Could my minor miracle request be actually on? Stranger things…
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:24 PM
Comment #27Jib, exciting stuff innit? I thought it was just a matter of time, but how nice to be wrong. 🙂 You’re right though – very quiet. Thought the microphones had broken. 🙂
Get in there! What a collapse. One more to go…
Graeme
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #28Bangladesh 280 – 9
Mister Tuff
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:30 PM
Comment #29Cannot let it go – I note the earlier snipe for no good reason at all. please desist I asked you not to mention me yesterday and I would reciprocate.
What happens today – another pop to cause aggro -plain for all to see.
I ask again do not mention me otherwise I will be forced to highlight your earlier duplicity abusing dok and then saying its a joke.
Can we all do that or just you.
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:31 PM
Comment #30Graeme, welcome to the naughty step mate. The blog police don’t want us discussing cricket because it’s not football… Good game though matey! 🙂
bettyswallocks
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:32 PM
Comment #31Bobby……. Hypocrisy springs to mind which is why I hinted that the playing field needs to be level. It’s been discussed enough times on here about not crossing certain lines during arguments and disagreements but anyway it’s good to see you can laugh at your own plight.
In my opinion humour and laughter have great medicinal values.
One definition of kinkiness:- Lovebites on haemorrhoids.
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:32 PM
Comment #32Tuff, STFU eh? Nobody cares.
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:35 PM
Comment #33Jeepers we won it !!!!!
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:42 PM
Comment #34Get in England!!! What a game. Betty, ouch! Not funny mate! (He says jokingly). I find the ability to laugh at yourself is one of natures greatest gifts mate. The hypocrisy is what gets me laughing most. I often wonder how they can be so blind to themselves. Whining about others whilst bang it themselves. Like saying you intend to ignore me, them making snide gripes about cricket. Priceless. They take themselves far too seriously. Nobody but Ed owns the blog and we’re all – or should be – old enough to police ourselves without relying on ‘mightier than you’ nobody’s telling us what we can or can’t do. Funnier that they think we might listen to them! 🙂 Mind you, if we carry on taking the piss out of them there’ll be nothing left. 🙂
Jib
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:43 PM
Comment #35Tuff
You and Dok go and start a Hands across the Atlantic blog of your own
Graeme
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:47 PM
Comment #36Bobby, I only caught the last 8 overs mate, but what a collapse by Bangladesh – most impressive lol.
Bobbybee
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:55 PM
Comment #37Graeme, monumental mate lmao! They needed something like 40 runs off as many balls and I’d written us off virtually. You caught the best part of it, they were on top most of their reply. Good batting from England, but only about par. The bowling response at the end was excellent.
dok - the horrid colonial
Oct 7, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Comment #38and that’s why this blog that I used to love has gone to hell…
Average_Contents
Oct 7, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Comment #39Dok
Your wrong. It’s just how they envisaged it.
dok - the horrid colonial
Oct 7, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Comment #40whos they AC?