Rafa Benitez was asked after the game if that performance was perfect from Newcastle, so perfectionist Rafa said nothing is ever perfect, but that it was a great display from his Newcastle side.
It was a very organized and disciplined performance from a Newcastle side who got their first win of the season this afternoon, and it really was a terrific win.
That put us on 3 points from our first three games which is not too bad.
That’s after we lost both Paul Dummett and Florian Lejeune to injury in the first 45 minutes of the season and then Jonjo Shelvey was sent off three minutes later, and all three have been out ever since.
This is what Rafa told Sky Sports after the game when initially asked if the performance was perfect:
“Perfect? You will never see something perfect!”
“Great performance, I think the way everybody was working for the team at the end made the difference.”
“When you have this effort from players, fans enjoy it and they’re even more behind the team.”
“We were working hard also against Huddersfield, but you have to score, we scored today and the belief that we could win was growing.”
“The fans were pushing and it was easier for the players to keep going. The second goal made the difference I think also.”
“When you are working hard, doing well, and score the goal, the confidence is growing.”
“The team was playing well but was also well organised in defence. Everyone was working hard for the team, not just individuals playing for themselves but for the whole team.”
“It’s always good to win, but especially when you have time to enjoy during the international break.”
“Yeah, we have to try always behind the scenes to do our job, but we will enjoy it a little bit and keep on working.
“I think if we work like today, we can win more games, but obviously, every manager wants there to be more quality.”
“Today we see a lot of positives.”
An excellent time to put in a good performance just before the two-week International break!
Comments welcome.
167 comments so far
swemag
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:09 PM
Comment #1Relief.
Merino could be something? Big player?
Bobbybee
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:12 PM
Comment #2Typical. First post, miss the bus. Try again.
Bobbybee
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:04 PM
Comment #13
Got back home. Nice cup of tea and post at my leisure. Battered West Ham start to finish. Nice to get some noise back into the crowd as well. If we’ve got problems they’re done for.
Came for a draw imo and once we scored to spoil their plan they didn’t have a plan B.
Merino grew into the game and by the end he was running the show. Bear in mind this kid is only 21 and he’ll be something special after a full season in this league. Could be the buy of the window pound for pound.
Joselu is a handful. Never gave them a moments peace and won so many headers I lost count. Atsu gave them the runaround down the left.
Ritchie had a decent game but let himself down with his defensive duty. Kept getting pulled inside and leaving Manquillo with two men bearing down on him. A better team might have punished us. Mustn’t have been so obvious on TV but the gap down the right in the second half was alarming.
Good effort from the crowd as well. All in all a great day to be a Mag. ?
Oh yes, what was it Rafa said. ‘There’ s no point talking about being unhappy to the press, there’s nothing they can do’. Paraphrasing, but to the point. Maybe he does read the blog after all. ? Great minds think alike Rafa. Ha ha ha!!
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:13 PM
Comment #3Swe, merino looked good v Huddersfield.. I think we have a gem on our hands. That’s a thumbs up to rafa big time for that. Let’s hope he can help manquillo who looked a bit suspect when I saw him
Jail for Ashley
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:14 PM
Comment #4Bobby,
I noticed that gap on right as well, it was like we had someone off injured getting treatment for fifteen minutes.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:16 PM
Comment #5Munster,
Aye, let’s hope Merino doesn’t become one of the unlimited amount of duds Rafa has signed
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:16 PM
Comment #6Cheers Bobby hope u had a great one. Wife saw flights to Newcastle for 9.99 last night on web! I presume a match ticket for me or 4 for the family would be nearly impossible to get?
lochinvar
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:17 PM
Comment #7Great result and how the mood has changed for the better. Bouncing sounds good.
Just wondering what punishments the FA will throw at Sterling and Aguero to be fair to other clubs and previous bans they have handed out.
One charge they will definitely face is for failing to control their players and the FA will of course take action as they do against other clubs in similar circumstances , won’t they ?
Or does money talk ?
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:17 PM
Comment #8Jail why aren’t you in the pub after that?
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:18 PM
Comment #9Where did I say he signed ‘unlimited duds’ Jail?
Ron Knee
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:25 PM
Comment #10The goals:
https://twitter.com/NewcastleGoals/status/901509605720813568
Bobbybee
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:25 PM
Comment #11Munster, Aye, 52k sell out again mate. Pity, you would’ve enjoyed it today.
Jail, that gap was alarming. Ritchie was completely out of position second half. Manquillo struggles with one, but leaving him wide open like that ain’t good. It’s why I’m surprised to see Ritchie winning motm on here when his defensive duties went complete walkabout. Like I say, maybe it didn’t show up so much on TV as it did in the ground. All in all though, a dominant performance matey. Been a while hasn’t it!! 🙂
TyneMouth
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:26 PM
Comment #12I understand that the shirt numbers are not officially recorded until the transfer window closes.
If this is a fact, please take the number 10 from Diame, and give it to Merino!
Think the lad will eventually be a great number 10, and while your at it, get a rather large release clause into his contract!
Jib
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:26 PM
Comment #13Stoke away to West Brom lunchtime tomorrow
If they win they go above us and move us from 15th to 16th
All other results don’t effect us
Bobbybee
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:30 PM
Comment #14Loch, what happened mate? I was on my way to the ground when that was on.
Jib
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:32 PM
Comment #15I see Louise Taylor’s cleverly timed regular article (always Friday evening before a Toon big match) had no effect , and the stupid cow’s own team got humped off Barnsley.
😀
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:35 PM
Comment #16Apparently This Argentinian has been compared to Javier Zannetti, if he’s anywhere near as good he’ll be a bargain.
We nearly had a positive GD, could and should have had, still it’s no longer a negative.
Good to hear so many positives for Perez from actual match goers, I don’t think he was MOM but I voted for him anyway, best player for me was Hayden or Merino, best midfield we’ve had for a long time, be interesting to see where Shelvey will fit in, as he needs to.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:36 PM
Comment #17Munster,
Took the baron up with me today so the pub after was off limits. Was it plenty of duds then you said.
Bobby,
So it was Ritchie causing that gap, he never stopped all game mind maybe didn’t have the legs to defend as well.
Ron Knee
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:39 PM
Comment #18Jail
You need a Geordie spellcheck!
Jail for Ashley
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:41 PM
Comment #19Ron,
Ha ha
Bobbybee
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:42 PM
Comment #20Jail, yeah, he was everywhere but in doing so he left Manquillo without any cover for a good chunk of the second half. That said, they didn’t capitalise on it as well as they should have but on another day it might have cost us.
Still, I can forgive him considering the end result but I imagine Rafa will point it out when they review the game on Monday. West Ham were pants though. 🙂
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:45 PM
Comment #21To those who went to the game today…how was the atmosphere today?
…it really meant the world to me today to see us (not literally since I couldn’t watch the game) being able to win so comfortably…
It means we can pull through the season as long as we don’t get bad injuries to important players!
Best week in a long time…a beautiful little girl and a great win for my team…Villads was happy as well!
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:47 PM
Comment #22Well it seems old Blackas’ straight talking to the lads after the Huddersfield game might just have made the difference today. If we can perform like that …
What we need now, before the window closes, to consolidate on today’s performance is a top quality player of Rafa’s choice to replace Perez. Find the money, Charno.
Bobbybee
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:47 PM
Comment #23Jib, listening to the radio on the way back from the game and the mackems weren’t happy at all. 🙂 One mackem caller was Mr Angry, calling the players cheats amongst other things. Music to my ears.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:48 PM
Comment #24Bobby,
Saw a few of their fans milling about after the game and thought to myself that’s going to be a long journey home with the fans packed on the train till Darlington 😀
RolandoOverhead
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:49 PM
Comment #25Little snippet of Merino’s comments after today’s match –
“I’m getting used to it little by little. It’s hard to get the rhythm, because last year I did not play a lot. I had a small pre-season, but now I’m getting fit and I think in a few weeks I will be 100 per cent, and I’ll be better.”
An attack minded midfielder who always looks to press or pass forward, it’s early days but this guy is starting to look like our best cm since Cabaye and could well go on to eclipse him.
Not the finished article by any means, but bags of potential and he’s actually showing it throughout the game, not just occasionally here and there with a flick or piece of skill.
Jib
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:49 PM
Comment #26Sunlun 19th
Lucky for them there’s 24 teams
😀
RolandoOverhead
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:50 PM
Comment #27Big gratz on the birth of your daughter Jasper!
toon kk
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:51 PM
Comment #28I’ll hold my hands up, I didn’t expect a win going off our previous three games performances. So very well done to our players and Rafa for getting us up for the game, it may well have been against a poor West ham team but we played and worked very hard. Brilliant!
LGFUAD21
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:52 PM
Comment #29For me ritchie may have been poorer defensively but he showed a lot more attacking instinct today.
Motm was tough for me because i think the whole team turned up and put in a good shift. I voted ritchie though as i though he looked lively and was driving us forward.
Good to get that win under our belts. Hope it lights a fire. We played well. West ham were shocking but they couldve had a few more chances if we werent defending well which i think many will over look.
Manquillo has surprised me a little. Hes got a few mistakes in him but nothing a good coach cant iron out. I was expecting anither titus shambles when we signed him.
Alos very haooy joselu got in the score sheet. Hopefully gives him sime confidence and wins him sime patience frim the fans even if it was a tap in.
And as usual Thrilled my boy Mitro scored. What the hell was Hart doing. Get him away from the england squad now. Have to say at the moment mitro certainly is making a good case for himself. But joselu had great movement which is his strength really.
lochinvar
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:54 PM
Comment #30Bobbybee – guess you’ve caught up with news of the City game by now but Sterling sent off for second yellow after scoring winner in 97th minutes and celebrating with ballistic City fans in crowd although they spilled onto the edge of the pitch. Aguero reported to police for alleged assault on steward who was trying to restrain fans. Individual fracas apart the FA will have to charge Man City for failing to control their players – you would think but then this is the FA so maybe not.
But if they don’t charge City then they create a precedent so when Liverpool or Newcastle or Southampton players do the same they won’t have to worry about similar infringements will they ?
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 26, 2017 at 7:57 PM
Comment #31Jesper
The atmosphere was really good. Not lifting but really good. Good noise en route. We parked at RVI about 2pm and could hear loads of noise from outside the bars. In fact, I had a worry that it was an earlier kick off like the 1.30pm Chelsea game I got wrong and of which I missed the first 10 minutes. As we got closer, we saw a parade of flags heading towards the ground. The cockneys filled a good stretch of the top tier and came a long way only to stay very quiet. The atmosphere would have been cracking had the bubble blowers brought their voices.
firebug666
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:00 PM
Comment #32Was great to see both our strikers getting on the score sheet today, a rare sight indeed. Now let’s hope it’s a case of demons put to bed, and the jelling of the new boys. We started last season with two defeats, and look what happened, OK we’re not going to win the league, but a top half finish is not unrealistic……. Is it?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:00 PM
Comment #33RO…thanks mate
B&B…hope there was a lot of praise for Rafa…think he’s in need of some loving!
Jail for Ashley
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:01 PM
Comment #34Blackas,
Where I sit in the Gallowgate you can’t see the away fans, apparently they sold out but I never heard them.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:01 PM
Comment #35Firebug mate…just my thoughts as well
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:02 PM
Comment #36Old Blackas doesn’t usually have a drink because it affects my appreciation of the game. But the boy was home and he drove. So I allowed myself two pints of Coors (one before, one at half time), which went down a treat.
firebug666
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:03 PM
Comment #37Jesper
Congratulations marra, you’re gonna need a bigger house soon mind.
RolandoOverhead
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:04 PM
Comment #38With regards to Nicolas Tagliafico, here’s a clip of him doing a horror tackle … on his girlfriend!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/argentina-footballer-produces-horrendous-two-8268614
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:05 PM
Comment #39Just got in
Brilliant result against a poor West Ham.
My MOM was Mbemba who was outstanding followed by Merino and Ritchie
Perez was a different player playing with a tall strong centre forward – hope he has learned that you cannot play Perez and Gayle in the same team in the Premiership.
What pleased me there was a lot more movement and passing the ball forward – played with a higher tempo – very few back-passes to the keeper, and when they did both full-backs came short along with centre half to get a pass back. Just Elliot needs to be a bit quicker in his decision making.
Here goes my marks
Elliot 7 had nowt to do all game except saving from a shot that swerved all over the place.
Mbemba 9 – Outsatnding display today defendeing and carrying the ball forward and passing.
Clark 8 – Another good game great goal-line clearence and popped up with a goal.
Lascalles 7- Did nowt wrong went through the game un-noticed so must of been OK.
Manquilla 8 – great going forward defended well today but left marking two first 15 minutes of second half as no-one picked up the runner
Atsu 6 – Our weakest link today – set up first goal but got intop great positions time and time again but failed to deliver the cross.
Merino 8 – Totally composed at the back of midfield great positional play picked up all loose balls used the ball well, tackled and has the ability to drift into space.
Hayden 7 – Did OK in midfield does the donkey work without getting noticed.
Ritchie 8.5 – had a great game chased closed everything down worked hard for second goal and a great pass/chip to set up Clark. back to his best Heard he gave the players a right bollicking at there attitude after Wed night debacle – if so good on him.
Perez 8 – best game in a long time in a TOON shirt full of running picking up headers and passes from Joselu but needs to get his shot off a lot quicker if going to shoot – tend to dally on the ballwhen in great shooting position
Joselu 8 – Great debut led the line well won most headers – good on the ball passed it well full of running and got of the mark with a goal.
Subs
Mitovich 6 – carried on fro m Joselu and chipped in with goal.
Diame and Murphy – not on long enough.
RAFA 10 – got tactics and team selection right playin a big-in up front.
Ref 4 poor should of given Chickpea a second yello
All-in all a great result – sorrry day with the Mackems getting stuffed.
Can’t see Gayle getting back into the team if we play like that
magspuggy
Aug 26, 2017 at 8:05 PM
Comment #40That was a canny game that 🙂 the hammers were poor and we played well.
Even my personal whippingboy perez done well hes such a better player with mitro/josolu than with gayle. Mitros goal he took well but could so easy have been sent off for the pink mist clouding his judgement and may still pick up a ban. If rafa can get the 20 million hes stuck on his head he could well be oot the door. Mbemba gets better the more he plays so he needs mins imho. Happy to be going into the break with some points if we get a couple in the next few days we will be set for my #10th place. All been a storm in a teacup we are now putting it behind us and on we go. Hwtl