Even though we lost 2-1 yesterday at Hillsborough we moved from 11 points needed in six games to 8 points needed in five games, since Huddersfield lost 2-0 at Nottingham Forest, so Forest did us a favor yesterday.
If we had won the game we would have needed just 5 points in our final five games to ensure promotion.
And those 8 points needed assume the Terriers will win all their remaining games and they are not exactly getting the results lately, losing three of their last four games.
So we should be promoted, but it gets a lot easier and a lot quicker if Newcastle win their games.
Rafa Benitez – big plans for the summer
So promotion is looking extremely likely now even though we lost our third game in the league this year and the Chronicle is reporting that Newcastle want to bring in at least six players this summer in the transfer window.
The report is that manager Benitez has ambitious plans that will significantly strengthen the Newcastle squad for the Premier League next season.
As we saw yesterday, while Newcastle have been good this season we still lack the skill, class and creativity of the top sides in the Premier League.
Rafa is said to want six top players brought into the squad so he and Lee Charnley will be very busy this transfer window when we expect Mike Ashley to back him as much as he can financially.
And the Chronicle is reporting that it seems that owner Mike Ashley will be fully supportive of his manager in the summer transfer market and ensure he goes nowhere in the summer.
That’s good!
The six players will be brought in as potential starters in the side, so that should significantly increase the quality of the Newcastle squad and there will be a number of players leaving the club this summer too.
It could be very much like last summer as Rafa significantly changes the Newcastle squad with a number of players leaving the club.
Rafa apparently wants to strengthen the spine of the side with a striker, central midfielder and center-half being three of the top targets.
It looks like Christian Atsu has not done enough to make the move to Newcastle permanent and Yoan Gouffran will also be released with his contract not being extended in June.
Newcastle would also like to get some bargain buys like we did last summer when we picked up the likes of Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle, Ciaran Clark and Isaac Hayden fairly cheaply.
But the players this time around will be proven Premier League players or top players brought in from the continent via Rafa’s many contacts.
And maybe Newcastle can also get in one or two good loan signings.
Newcastle have been scouting a number of English players like Harry Maguire of Hull and Andre Gray of Burnley but they will also have to bring in some foreign players too to get some decent bargains.
The good news is that initial enquiries have seemed to have gone well with a Rafa managed and resurging Newcastle United in the Premier League being a big attraction for good players.
That sounds good to us.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
sing in the corner
Apr 9, 2017 at 8:25 AM
Comment #1Pleased to see jonjo getting a large amount of the much maligned blog MOM vote. We really need him in form for Friday.
sing in the corner
Apr 9, 2017 at 8:28 AM
Comment #2Just seen the highlights,that shelvey effort from his own half was a fantastic effort. So unlucky!
WWSBRD
Apr 9, 2017 at 8:38 AM
Comment #3Sounds very positive this but the Chron is a club mouth piece more often than not so we will see
As for the game yesterday crap happens we were poor and they were better. Defence was awful very surprised Hanley didn’t start tbh wasn’t a game for Mbemba but hey ho on to Leeds
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Apr 9, 2017 at 8:42 AM
Comment #4defence yesterday was shocking from the first minute with Dummett mis-clearance across goal where their lad hit the bar. Then on it was mistook after mistook.
Mind you it was not just the defence the midfield did not give our back four any cover they ran/passed through us like a hot knife through butter.
Bit like the Brighton game first 15 minutes
WWSBRD
Apr 9, 2017 at 8:51 AM
Comment #5Charlie
Dummett is getting into the habit of those ‘clearances needs to knock that on the head sharpish, he was targeted yesterday though and his confidence instantly disappeared
Anita was as bad tbf, Lascelles was in the mix for both goals and Mbemba wasn’t strong enough against the long balls…Darlow was good though
posada
Apr 9, 2017 at 8:57 AM
Comment #6Morning Sing
Aye we are not doing it in style that’s for sure.
Some little things are starting to get to me.
Rafa says we make a silly foul and they score.
We do it six times a game.
These teams thrive on it. Teams like Wigan and Burton depend on it.
Everyone up and deliver it into the box.
posada
Apr 9, 2017 at 9:00 AM
Comment #7Thing is though I think it is about confidence. Instead of diving in you should just hold your ground and defend.
But for that you have to be confident that everyone round you has the right position and that folks are covering for each other.
I don’t think we have that now. Clark is the best and being there on the cover for others and anticipating danger.
kimbo
Apr 9, 2017 at 9:39 AM
Comment #8Well another garbage performance by Rafa ,why can’t we play with 2 big strikers and give the opposition something to worry about.I am not going to renew my season ticket if I have to watch any more of this rubbish,totally sick of his team selection and negative tactics.I was spoilt by Keegan’s wonderful tactics of attack attack attack surely that is what football is about.
Rotonda heights
Apr 9, 2017 at 10:35 AM
Comment #9Kimbo
don’t think you’ll be missed
marshy
Apr 9, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Comment #10rotonda height- pity you have to make such nasty comment against someone telling the truth, you must be happy watching poor football.
LambethMag
Apr 9, 2017 at 2:31 PM
Comment #11We’re in the 21st century now mate. 442 and George Riley and Mick Harford partnerships are old hat. Do you really want us to play like Wimbledon 90’s side? We’d be overrun every week by average sides.
Our club is in transition and what you are witnessing now is the first step in a big rebuilding programme.
I’m presuming you arrived with the KK bandwagon. If you sling your hook, there will be plenty to replace you, who believe in what Benitez is attempting to achieve. But it’s not happening overnight.
Penshawlad
Apr 9, 2017 at 4:37 PM
Comment #12There’s got to be a happy medium here. We have been ponderous this year. We do bring well motivated opposition on to us with our turgid play. There has been enough quality to get us into a position from which we probably will be promoted, but this has not been an exuberant season. Watching it has been agonising a lot of the time. I don’t like to see the apparently random chopping and changing. This is not a plea for hoofball but let’s get some zip into it for God’s sake. Perez is too lightweight and has not delivered enough to be a starter. A tricky player to bring off the bench late in the game when the opposition is tired, maybe. Shelvey is class but he needs runners around him to thrive. They have not become a cohesive unit, but a rotating squad of individuals. The captain has got a good attitude but too many defensive lapses. 37 year old lower division workhorse Aaron Wilbrahams gave him a football lesson (home v Bristol City). It was a blessing in disguise when the ref made that howler against Burton – it got the crowd going. Normally it is the opposition’s job to put the home crowd to sleep, but we do the job for them with a timid approach. The away fans laugh at our torpor. Is this an evolutionary step to our become an elite passing team that stings opponents after lulling them into a false sense of security? Only if we spend about £300 million on the best players in the world. I love Rafa as a man. A gentleman. I hope I’m wrong but his need for the highest quality of players to support his style might lead to frustration and eventual failure. God I hope I’ve got this all wrong.