We have been without players like Jonjo Shelvey, DeAndre Yedlin and Paul Dummett for some games but we have still managed to win three games on the trot.
New signing Javier Manquillo has done a good job deputizing at right back for Yedlin and could even come back in if he improves as much as he seems to have developed already at Newcastle.
That’s compared to how the Spanish U21 International played last season at Sunderland.
What Rafa has managed to do in two summer transfer windows build two teams but also have a balanced squad where we have two players fighting for every position in the team.
That doesn’t say that we cannot improve the team of course by bringing in new and better players.
And when Rafa does that he will continue to sell players who become surplus to requirements.
Rafa Benitez has balanced the squad at Newcastle
We do have a problem at the moment with left back, with our two specialist left backs – Paul Dummett and Sadio Haidara both being out injured.
Luckily, we have players like Jesus Gamez, Chancel Mbemba, Javier Manquillo and Ciaran Clark who can play at left back and Chancel has been doing an admirable job for Newcastle so far this season.
It’s good to see Chancel back in the team and playing so well – maybe he’s following Rafa’s instructions these days?
🙂
Certainly, Chancel is a very likable and popular player and still young and should get even better under Rafa’s savvy guidance.
So Rafa is improving the squad all the time, but for the first time in a long time, we have a balanced squad, with players who can come in and do the job for Newcastle, when other players are injured.
That’s another sign of having an excellent manager at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
11 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Sep 20, 2017 at 2:42 PM
Comment #1Has everyone gone to get their tin hats?
optimistic prime
Sep 20, 2017 at 2:45 PM
Comment #2Jail
I’m digging a shell scrape
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 20, 2017 at 2:46 PM
Comment #3jazzyp
Yes, the 40 point benchmark. In these times of instant gratification, hats off to your patience in choosing such a statistic for survival.
For those with less forbearance there is this: no top flight team since Millwall in 1911, has been relegated after reaching 9 points in five games.
Safety without the wait.
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 20, 2017 at 2:47 PM
Comment #4ooooh, have I got a fight to look forward to in my afternoon catch up.
IITianToon
Sep 20, 2017 at 2:49 PM
Comment #5Re Perez,
Let’s not forget it was Perez robbing the ball off a midfielder that led to the invaluable opening goals against both West Ham and Stoke.
Munster Mag
Sep 20, 2017 at 2:49 PM
Comment #6Chill out jail ffs. So what if Bobby has strong opinions on Arna? I disagree with him and don’t think he will fit in a 4231 as far as I can see, under rafa etc. But I haven’t fallen out about it. He’s entitled to get worked up about a local guy like arma in my opinion.
Munster Mag
Sep 20, 2017 at 2:50 PM
Comment #7Tian toon, I’m a fan of Perez, have been for ages. He could play for better teams than us in Europe imo
jazzyp
Sep 20, 2017 at 3:00 PM
Comment #8Chancel
Why thank you for your self gratifying tone of indulgence.
Much appreciated !!
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 20, 2017 at 3:01 PM
Comment #9Bobby
Yes, in the past, Jail has dug things up from the past; but that is in the past now. Let it pass, and let the past be the past. You digging up the past when Jail was digging up the past, it’s not helping getting passed this past thing.
🙂
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 20, 2017 at 3:09 PM
Comment #10On Krul, read last night, he played a blinder, kept them in the game.
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 20, 2017 at 3:18 PM
Comment #11On Arma, I don’t think the argument is as simple as finding his level. Put him in the Man city team instead of Aguero and I suspect he’d be banging them in. Stick him in a poor div2 team playing hoofball and one up front and he’s gonna be benched.