Newcastle have carved out two tough victories on Saturday at Burton and last Wednesday night at Wigan for a good 6 points.
And when you take into account the 4-0 home win over Birmingham a week last Saturday that’s three wins and 9 points in eight days after losing three games in a row – none of which we should have really lost.
But we did and it shows the resilience of this Rafa Benitez Newcastle side that they can fight toe to toe with the likes of Burton and Wigan on their own grounds and come away with wins.
They are certainly not easy games to play.
Alan Shearer – confident about promotion
When we (painfully) think of Steve McClaren’s Newcastle side last season, we shudder at the incompetence and the frailty of that side who could collapse at any minute and often did.
Things have thankfully changed massively for the positive under Rafa and he’s made the lads into winners.
They know how to win and they have taken on the mantle of Rafa – who wants to win every single game however he can.
So setting a target of points means nothing to the Spaniard – if he did ever answer it would be “as many points as possible.”
Alan Shearer seems to be a big admirer of Rafa and he’s been speaking on the Four Four Two web-site and seems very confident of promotion this season.
This is what he has said when asked if he thinks Newcastle will be promoted, as reported in the Shields Gazette:
“Yes, I expect them to come up.”
“With it being a one-club city, the support and backing is amazing. They have been starved of success for so long.”
“I hope the wait doesn’t go on too much longer.” “The people in Newcastle live for their football and their football club.”
“And they worship anyone who gives their best for them.”
Really good words from Alan there – said like a true Geordie!
Rafa is keen to keep the expectations under control, so that it doesn’t start to affect the side’s form if our players think they are going to be promoted.
The lads must continue to do what they’ve been doing and respect every single opponent whether they are at the top like Brighton or a team at the bottom like Rotherham.
We have found in this league Newcastle can be beaten by any side if they decide not to turn up for a game – just think Wolves and Blackburn at home.
Comments welcome.
11 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Dec 19, 2016 at 12:45 PM
Comment #1Boom! Boom! Boom!
Let me hear you say “Gayle!”
WWSBRD
Dec 19, 2016 at 12:50 PM
Comment #2jay
From previous
Oh aye I dont see either Atsu or Goofy starting in the PL but I dont think we’d keep both as back up. Am sure we will have a new LW when we are in the PL
On Knockeart isnt he mainly right sided? Theres also that Insigne link that keeps coming up but who knows I dont think either will be coming in until Summer though
To be brutally honest am not sure Ritchie will be first choice when we are in the PL either
jayphoto
Dec 19, 2016 at 12:52 PM
Comment #3@Lindisfarne – yeah, seeing live games has made me rate Gayle in particular much much higher! Hayden aswell actually, gets around and is going to be a good player for a long time I think.
Lascelles and Clark look a good pairing too
Ron Knee
Dec 19, 2016 at 12:56 PM
Comment #4Fines paid into whose bank account?
jayphoto
Dec 19, 2016 at 1:00 PM
Comment #5@wwsbrd – agree with you on Ritchie too… didn;’t want to add it in because in my head it sounded mad!
Think knockeart plays both sides comfortably, when I’ve seen him he;s been on the left but think he;s played mainly right sided this year?
That Insigne link keeps coming up doesn’t it…
Got a feeling Rafa will have a go at Jese who’s have an awful time at PSG and Callejon who he seems to rate highly if we’ve got the money and promotion
jayphoto
Dec 19, 2016 at 1:02 PM
Comment #6I bet those fifa fines are different amounts in relation to income generated by the F.A’s in question? Pretty sure that’s taken into account when fining players too
jayphoto
Dec 19, 2016 at 1:07 PM
Comment #7reckon when we get promoted the back 4 and goalkeeper will probably stay the same. Mbemba is premier league ability and can’t get into the team which says how strong it is. Similarly Darlow and Elliot havn’t let ever let themselves down and Krul is an international level keeper that will be coming back in.
In midfield I think shelveys place will stay, and I think Gayles place will stay too, can see us bringing in 3-4 first team players, my guess would be centre mid, number 10 and the 2 wings are probably our weakest areas
WWSBRD
Dec 19, 2016 at 1:09 PM
Comment #8jay
Oh it is a mad opinion to have on Ritchie and Ive little doubt most will disagree but when Ive seen him play although he is clearly a good footballer he just seems to lack something that would make him a real quality RW in the PL, I know he did well at Bournemouth but he didnt turn heads there (I think he’d still be important for us in the PL but not undroppable like he is currently)
I will take ur word for it mate Ive only seen Knockeart play on the right though he tends to drift all over
Is that Jese who played for Madrid? Never seen him play just remember the name
WWSBRD
Dec 19, 2016 at 1:13 PM
Comment #9jay
I think Gayle will be upgraded when we get to the PL but he will remain at the club where as I think Mitro and Perez will leave
Not sure I agree on Clark either tbh
hibbit
Dec 19, 2016 at 1:16 PM
Comment #10with Rafa in charge any players coming in could be completely of the radar ??
we all know how he likes to surprise us !!
jayphoto
Dec 19, 2016 at 1:23 PM
Comment #11@wwsbrd – yea, came through Castilla system. At PSG now but some weeks doesn’t make their bench, he’s their fans paul dummett, been really pulled apart in the press.
Remember quite a few players in the past who were excellent in the championship but not quite premier league… David Kelly springs to mind, Williamson in recent years, Lovenkrands too, and alan smith actually! Ritchie for me will be a great squad player but no way rafa just wants midtable obscurity every year, he’ll want to push as far as we can, ruthless in the past too, reckon he wouldn’t have stayed if the object was promotion and then obscurity and picking up tv money…
Gayle be interesting, he reminds me a lot of Ian wright and I think his pace and movement means he would get premier league goals, hes improving under rafa too!
One thing I agree on – perez and mitro… tbh If you’re not in the team in the championship, I doubt you’ll be here in the premier league