We expected a rather easy win at Ipswich Town today after we played so well on Friday night to outplay Leeds United, yet we still only got a single point when we conceded a late goal right at the death.
And over the last several games Newcastle have looked far too nervous without the assurance that winning matches can give you – that’s because we have only won two of our last eight league games – a shocking run of results and only 9 points.
Rafa Benitez has admitted that his team is not mentally tough enough and we have been going on about all the pressure there will be on Brighton and Huddersfield, but Brighton have won their last five games and walking away with the Championship and were officially promoted today.
That’s what most of the Newcastle fans thought we would do late in the season, but it hasn’t turned out that way at all – we are struggling and hanging on.
It has to be said that Ipswich were probably inspired by it being Sir Bobby Robson Day today – and they put in what was considered their best display of the season.
But for Newcastle that sounds too much like an excuse – and we are sick of excuses over the last several years.
Getting the results means you don’t need to have or look for any excuses.
This is what Rafa told Sky Sports after the disastrous result at Portman Road:
“I am concerned about the change in my team’s performance from Leeds on Friday to the performance today.”
“We know we have to win our games and now we have to change and improve.”
“We knew it was going to be this kind of game but we were not ready – it seems we were not mentally ready.”
“We made mistakes and we got paid for it.” “We have to all take responsibility, we win together and we lose together.”
“I won’t blame my players in press conferences. They know what I told them at half-time and at the end, we know something was wrong and now we have to analyse and change quickly.”
And after the last two seasons at Newcastle, where the management from the top was simply pitiful and incompetent and caused our fans to suffer greatly – we are even having to suffer now through what we thought would be a great season for us.
It hasn’t turned out that way – at least at the end – even with Rafa at the helm.
Better things must lie ahead.
Comments welcome.
139 comments so far
BenArfa the magician
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:05 PM
Comment #81Krul
Yes mate looks that way, i’d be far happier with your outcome mind.
Fostino
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:06 PM
Comment #82Very surprised there was so many changes after a great performance Friday. ..mbemba..mitro…perez young lads should be abLe to go again
sparky55
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:15 PM
Comment #83I must admit I think Lacelles is pants. I got quite some stick when I suggested this just after new year….IMO he’s slow, ponderous, and hasn’t got any smartz….which is no good really. He’ll be exposed for what he is if he gets in the team next year.
Re rafa changing a winning team….I mentioned this this morning as well….I don’t understand why he does this…it doesn’t allow the players to get into form and to stay in form…I really don’t understand why he does this and as I stated this morning it’s it a worry…but in Rafa I trust (with the caveat my trust is not as strong as it was six months ago!)
chicousa
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:23 PM
Comment #84Provided we end up promoted (and am not taking anything for granted!), then these frustrating matches can actually be useful:
1. To reveal which players have the bottle to make it in the EPL and which are lacking either physically or mentally. It will give Rafa and staff a better insight into who should go and who should stay next year.
2. Illustrates where we need to strengthen the squad, such as the glaring need for a true #10!
3. May actually cause Rafa to admit he is not infallible and perhaps that his insistence on always starting with 1 up top, may not always be the way to go. Hopefully old dogs CAN learn new tricks. I still believe in Rafa but think he too may need to occasionally show flexibility in his approach.
yorkymag
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:23 PM
Comment #85Sparky
Me too I am with you
But I do think in his defence we have been ravaged by injuries and suspension to key players
We have not had our best team available since just prior to Christmas
Rafa wanted re inforcments and didn’t get ,so as always cashley needs to take some responsibility
We have a good first 14 but with the injuries etc we have been down to the bare bones and a number of those are simply not good enough whoever is the manager
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:25 PM
Comment #86Munster can’t stand Rafa Benitez despite his, “I’m glad Rafa is here” spiel. Why don’t we hound Rafa out, I’ve heard, or as carl, Ian Toon etc would say, I’m told that Klopp is bored at Anfield and needs a new project.
cyprus
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:26 PM
Comment #87Wrote a longer message disappeared somewhere. So, summary.
Thanks Derby county.
Still think we’ll limp across the line, not sure we’ll hit super safe 90 though.
Fostino
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:27 PM
Comment #88Sign terry asap 😉
cyprus
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:27 PM
Comment #89Why do players who put in MOM performances get dropped Rafa?
GeordieTwo
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:27 PM
Comment #90Well, it’s a 6 point gap now. We are backing into promotion but it’s still in our hands. That was probably the hardest loss of the season for me but Huddersfield couldn’t take complete advantage. Surely we can win 2 of the last 3 and a draw for 7 points? That should definitely do it.
yorkymag
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:30 PM
Comment #91Two
Two wins does it if huddersfield win all 4
Dead simple
chicousa
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:33 PM
Comment #92G2
Actually the magic number now is only 5 points. The max points Huddersfield can get to now is 90 pts and Reading max pts is 88. With our superior goal difference we need to get to 90 points to guarantee promotion.
magspuggy
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:36 PM
Comment #93The result was horrible to take but thankfully Darby saved us two points.
Huddersfields goal looked offside to me.
By the time we play again we should know a win will do it but atm that’s pressure we cpuld do without.
This league is a nightmare imho cant wait to gtf outta it.
Who should start for us monday ??
Munster Mag
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:38 PM
Comment #94Sparky, at least u are honest. I think a lot of people’s blind faith in Rafa has been tested and worse, but they won’t admit it. If rafa gets us up, I hope we can play like Leicester of last season. He likes defensive teams but hope he can find some pace. I’m not optimistic though. Rafa had a big budget and we have played a lot of dross. Guys refused to see this but they do now. We badly need to find more skillful players who can raise our standards. I’m just breathing again after derby saved us even more stress. Of course maybe Huddersfield are now playing shit too as u said. But they have a better excuse due to budgets etc
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:44 PM
Comment #95If Rafa was let down badly in January and feels a title he was desperate to win was denied him because of broken promises it doesn’t bode well for him and us. He stuck his neck on the line and said we need to strengthen in January, it didn’t happen. How do so many experts on here know that we didn’t need to recruit at all and that we had the best squad in the league.
GeordieTwo
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:44 PM
Comment #96That sounds good to me chicousa mate. A win next Monday at home will take a huge weight off us.
GeordieTwo
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:45 PM
Comment #97We’re definitely thin for a battle with the big boys next season. It will require some fairly heavy expenditure or all of this will have been for nothing.
Munster Mag
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:47 PM
Comment #98Jail klopp wud be thrilling here. It’s stupid that I have to explain to guys like u that I know Rafa has done good things at many levels and appreciate it but still can’t give a fair appraisal of his awful football post Christmas and daft rotation policy. Why can u not debate that without saying that I hate Rafa?
chicousa
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:47 PM
Comment #99G2
Agree: we need to start winning again regardless of Huddersfield or Reading gifting us points. Losing breeds losing and we need to break that nasty habit ASAP!!!
toon kk
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:48 PM
Comment #100We look a beaten team, just like before Rafa came in. I hope our players hold there heeds in shame. As for Rafa good manager with quality players but finding it very hard with championship quality.
He needs to take a look at where he’s going wrong not just the players.
I do think fans over rate our players, best to be realistic.
Lindisfarne
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:49 PM
Comment #101Hooked on a feeling!
https://youtu.be/NrI-UBIB8Jk
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:49 PM
Comment #102Munster,
For your sake, I wish we’d sack the cnut and get someone you feel more comfortable with like???
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:52 PM
Comment #103Why Munster,
Because you have slated him from the very off, grow some balls and admit you do ‘t lije him inatead of your slimy backhanded digs. Who do you want in place of him, you never ever answer tgat queztion!
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:53 PM
Comment #104*that question.
Who do you want instead of him?????
ShirebrookToon
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:56 PM
Comment #105Well this run of form reminds me of our form over Xmas n new year. The lads hate playing over the holiday periods.
Howay Rafa stop fcuking abooot with the team ffs. No need fur so many changes.
PS bring back Cathro too please. We battered teams when he was here and his input is sorely missed
magspuggy
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:57 PM
Comment #106That’s part of what boils my blood with us.
If rafa wanted to add in jan we bloody should have backed him
Its insulting imho.
If we arnt going to back a world class management team whats the point in paying five million per year for him plus what ever his team cost.
Thats my biggest fear with us atm that we will or maybe already have mess up the best chance we have of winning something.
Firstly though we have to get this little task of actually getting back up put to bed.
manxpie
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:02 PM
Comment #107jail tbf if you asked every manager and player in the league who had the best squad we’d be at the top by a very very high margin hardly just on here
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:07 PM
Comment #108Good post @34 Munster. Rafa’s playing a lot of bum notes on his expensive fiddle lately.
magspuggy
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:09 PM
Comment #109Sorry about the grammar on that last post.
Half has gone missing and the rest has became a jumbled mess.
Munster Mag
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:16 PM
Comment #110Jail, with all due respect, compare the squad we have with all the other teams. Add in the huge crowds we have, (a positive if u attack) and one of the (apparent) top managers in Europe. We are second and hopefully can hold that, and be grateful (and as a lifelong nufc fan I am) but crikey let’s call out the poor stuff when we see it?
Munster Mag
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:16 PM
Comment #111Jail, with all due respect, compare the squad we have with all the other teams. Add in the huge crowds we have, (a positive if u attack) and one of the (apparent) top managers in Europe. We are second and hopefully can hold that, and be grateful (and as a lifelong nufc fan I am) but crikey let’s call out the poor stuff when we see it?
one fine day
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:19 PM
Comment #112Watching yesterday was pretty painful even in the first 40 .
no real urgency .(almost as punishing as listening to welsh and the utter cnut formally known as kimbo taking delight at our demise )
Had Richie planted that header a few mins before he gave the ball away on halfway things might have been very different.
Clearly Brighton have learnt from previous and are coping much better with seeing the season out after last year..
Seems to me a few players have simply switched off ,either because they thought the job was done and simply had to just turn up or they already know they are not in the plans next season and so are not “putting a foot in where it hurts” incase an unwanted injury will spoil a move elsewhere come May?
one fine day
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:26 PM
Comment #113shirebrook @105
I agree with cathro.
Maybe coincidence but we did seem to go into our shell a bit after he left.
Maybe not replacing him was just as significant as Rafa not getting the back up he was asking for in January.
To be honest a bit of silverware is nice but no one really cares/ remembers who goes up as 1st and 2nd .
it is all about who sets up best for next year .
Munster Mag
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:26 PM
Comment #114Jail, I didnt slate him from the off. I pointed out his negatives unlike 99% of people on here and the criticisms are and were, fair. It would be dumb not to see the great stuff he has done (fitness, PR etc) but I wish he would attack more at home. If we don’t, and we struggle to play with flair, the obvious needs to be stated.
Fostino
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:40 PM
Comment #115Munster mag.
It’s a very tough league. We are on course for promotion. Everyone relax. Next game is o tv next Monday at home and we’ll learn a lot more as the other twas will hace played 1 game more.
The players should embrace this opportunity. Full week of good training needed. Need to wrap hayden ..Clark. ..Gayle in cotton wool and try have them starting next Monday. Too much chopping and changing recently. This time next week we could be promoted and we can start planning for a Pl. Squad.
Think positive. . It’s in our hands. Huddersfield are stumbling.
jane
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:43 PM
Comment #116lets worry about next season later! :rollseyes:
jane
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:43 PM
Comment #117:rolleyes:
sparky55
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:46 PM
Comment #118Just watched the lowlights on channel 5 and boy were we pants.
IMO if we had started with the same 11 that started against Leeds then the result would have been a lot different.
Now the problem is the 14 players who were involved yesterday will all be mentally shot because of the result and will be wondering how the hell that all went so pete tong. There’s no doubt we’re struggling mentally atm and it needs addressing.
Players on form should not be rested…the adrenalin coursing thru their veins would have seen them through for the last 4 games.
We’ve forgotten how to keep the ball…we’ve giving it way far too cheaply and it needs sorting
Dingo†®
Apr 18, 2017 at 1:23 AM
Comment #119We can go up on Monday can’t we? Reading and Huddersfield lose and we win job done
Dingo†®
Apr 18, 2017 at 1:24 AM
Comment #120Forgive me if this has already been pointed out…. haven’t had a chance to read all the comments.