When Brighton gained a well deserved automatic promotion on 17th April by beating Wigan 2-1 at home they had won five games in a row and had gone 7 points ahead of Newcastle at the end of round 43 of games – and just 3 games to play.
Brighton were away at Norwich, home to Bristol City and away at Aston Villa on the last day and they needed 3 points from those 3 games to ensure they went up as Champions.
So two of the last three games were at clubs relegated with Newcastle last May.
It looked like Newcastle had thrown the Championship away after we had dropped 2 points to Leeds United at home on Good Friday and 3 points at Ipswich Town on Easter Monday – 5 points dropped in two successive games.
🙁
Rafa Benitez – pleased with two wins on the trot
We did gain automatic promotion in our 44th game this season when we hammered Preston 4-1 at home so all was forgiven.
And if we couldn’t go up as Champions well at least the main goal of an automatic promotion spot was reached in our first season down below.
Then on Friday night the lads had a very good 2-0 win at Cardiff City and suddenly we were only a single point behind Brighton, but they had a game in the hand.
They lost that game in hand later yesterday afternoon when they were surprisingly beaten 1-0 at home by relegation threatened Bristol City, after losing 2-0 at Norwich on the Friday (21st April) in their previous game after they had gained promotion.
Rafa was asked in the Chronicle about our recent record after the game at Cardiff and before the Brighton game against Bristol City:
“I’m really pleased, because I think the players were doing so well all season, especially away, that it was a pity not to have broken the record before.
“To do it after the promotion and be closer to Brighton is quite positive for everyone.” “After promotion we gave them a day off,”
“During the week they were training well. I think they were quite focused.”
“You could see, especially in the second half, that we played very good football.”
“Something that they have is experience,” “We did our job. We’re happy with that.”
“Also, when you play away, always it’s good for your fans if you can win, and especially if it’s a long, long trip.”
“I think that the fans were delighted and hopefully they can go back even happier.”
“I don’t think I’ll bother to watch the Brighton game tonight.”
“I will try to enjoy the evening with the family if I can. “I can’t change anything. Why do I have to be there suffering or not suffering? “
“It depends on them. We have to wait.”
Newcastle seem back in form with both Ciaran Clark and Isaac Hayden back in the side and we must be favorites to now win the Championship with a celebration crowd of over 52.000 at St. James’ Park on the very last day of a successful season as we say a fond goodbye to the Championship.
If Newcastle win then we are Champions, unless Brighton can win at Aston Villa and they have lost only three games at Villa Park all season.
And you can bet that Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce wants a (very) good performance and result to go into the summer transfer window with some real momentum as he prepares the Villa club for a real promotion attempt on the Championship next season
So with any luck we can go up as Champions and that would be absolutely fabulous – it would be icing on the cake.
And we’d all have to thank manager Rafa Benitez for his absolute brilliance this season – with more to come next term back in the Premier League.
It all sounds very good to ys.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Comments welcome.
70 comments so far
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:29 PM
Comment #41Youngmagpie
You’ve got no chance of a ticket mate. It’s sold out, I was lucky enough to get one off of Facebook, Newcastle face value tickets it’s called. You could try your luck there but you’ll need to be quick
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:32 PM
Comment #42I have JFA to thank for that.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:34 PM
Comment #43Ah okay shire thanks for the info. I guess there’s not much point then. I’ll just have to hope burnley stay up and then just get an away ticket when they face us at home.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:35 PM
Comment #44How far in advance do you have to buy the ticket then?
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Comment #45Young magpie
It will tell you on the club web site when tickets go on sale for games mate.
Mister Tuff
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Comment #46LGFUAD21 – what we do not know is what lists Carr presents to the hierarchy ie who is on the lists and have top players at the top of the list been overlooked for poorer players – way way down the list – which we then ultimately bought and who turned out to be right knackers.
When Carr retires we may get to know. I suspect their stupid policies and penny pinching will have played a part.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:39 PM
Comment #47Okay shire thanks man
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:40 PM
Comment #48Tuff
Charnley had the list upside down mate!
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:41 PM
Comment #49Youngmagpie
No probs 🙂
Rotonda heights
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:43 PM
Comment #50mr tuff
sadly for every decent one missed there was a haidara, riviere, saviet, cabella and a whole host of others in the debit column.
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:43 PM
Comment #51Any word on when the new sponsor is gonna be revealed?
Rotonda heights
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:45 PM
Comment #52welsh
why don’t you leave us and make spuds your second team?
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:45 PM
Comment #53Well whatever the new sponsor is it can’t be worse then wonga. So more good news ahead.
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:48 PM
Comment #54I can’t stand the YIDS. Every player seems to be one of their fcuking own! Zzzzzzzzzzz
firebug666
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:49 PM
Comment #55The son of former Newcastle United defender John McNamee has revealed his father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
The 75-year-old central defender signed for NUFC in 1966 and was part of the last Magpies side to lift a trophy three years later with success in the Fairs Cup.
His son John Jnr has now has bravely spoken to the Newcastle Chronicle about his father’s fight with the devastating brain condition.
He said: “Every day, people are coming to me and saying, ‘Oh John, I saw your dad yesterday’, and you know the next sentence isn’t going to be positive.
“Telling the truth is a huge weight off of me, and it means people now know why my dad is behaving differently and they can look out for him as well.”
John Jnr said the Sunday Mail’s campaign in Scotland to highlight links between football and dementia had encouraged him to speak out.
John, who was born in Coatbridge, Scotland, began his professional career with Celtic in 1959, and he moved to Hibernian in 1964 before being signed by Magpies boss Joe Harvey two years later.
After Newcastle, the central defender turned out for Blackburn Rovers, Morton and Hartlepool, before he briefly managed Workington and coached at Carlisle.
The dad-of-four became a postman when he retired and he now lives in Cockermouth, Cumbria.
John Jnr said: “At the moment dad recognises me. But he has these episodes where he just goes to a different time.
“He was diagnosed in August or September but I reckon he’s had this for maybe four or five years.”
John Jnr said he had been worried about football’s links to dementia ever since a coroner ruled in 2002 that ex-England star Jeff Astle had died of ‘an industrial illness’.
He coaches young footballers and wants the sport to fund more research into whether heading the ball causes the condition.
——————————————-
Shame wish him and his family well, it a difficult thing to cope with.
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:50 PM
Comment #56Could be Samsung
jazzyp
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:52 PM
Comment #57Shirebrook
Did you know there is an Audience with Alan shearer at the Town ground in September ??.
firebug666
Apr 30, 2017 at 6:52 PM
Comment #58So Florian Thauvin scored a hatrick today and set up another, wonder where he was when we needed him to perform.
bettyswallocks
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:04 PM
Comment #59Swansea trialling some new talent for next season
http://home.bt.com/images/sheep-face-off-in-football-match-136390784610210401-140603115702.jpg
jane
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:16 PM
Comment #60“wonder where he was when we needed him to perform.”
only had 3 starts and on loan the second half of the season.
Tsunki
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:23 PM
Comment #61Ymfb – nufc.com do a running sidebar on all upcoming matches, with dates of member and public sales
firebug666
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:23 PM
Comment #62jane
So why did he only get 3 starts? and why shipped out so quick? He came with loads of promise that never materialised, brutalised by the fans for his total lack of effort when he did get on the pitch.
Shirker or worker?
Tsunki
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:24 PM
Comment #63Betty I’m worried about the motives of the trainer in black. I fear another dark controversy looming
welshgeordie9
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:30 PM
Comment #6452Rotonda heights // Apr 30, 2017 at 6:45 PM
welsh
why don’t you leave us and make spuds your second team?
Why the frig should i leave.
ShirebrookToon
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:31 PM
Comment #65Jazzy
No I didn’t know that mate. As a date been set for it or is it just sometime in September?
jazzyp
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:37 PM
Comment #66Shirebrook
14th mate. Not many tickets left.
As for your question earlier, I think Rafa will get substantial funds this summer bud. If he gets that on top of player sales we could have a massive war chest for the transfer window
GeordieTwo
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:43 PM
Comment #67Who is the trainer in black Tsunki mate? Sorry to have to ask. Is he related to the lady in pink?
GeordieTwo
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:45 PM
Comment #68But how massive a chest for the warfare will it be jazzyp mate? I’m full of questions today. Is it a full and ample bosom of a chest? Or the small A cup of the noted cheapskate Ashley?
cyprus
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:45 PM
Comment #69So Craig Bellamy said we want CL football? How dare he?
…. Wait a minute. We do want that. When he was with us we played that thing.
On next year, it’s not just money. It’s money well invested. Last year we spent like 80 million to get relegated. I think Rafa will invest our war chest of 60 mil wisely. Shelvey upgrade, CF, winger.
Zekalea
Apr 30, 2017 at 7:55 PM
Comment #70i think a league we haven’t really touched apon is the german league, and its a shame because they have some cracking players
timo werner striker
forsberg winger/ attacking mid
pulosic winger/attacking mid
jonathan tah centerback
hakan calhanoglu winger/creative mid
mahmoud dahoud midfielder
to name just a few.
i know they are probably out of our reach but dreaming is a great thing…