Rafa Benitez has a fairly ordinary squad this season in the Premier league, and pundits are surprised we are up there in the top half of the league table after 9 games played during which we have acquired a good 14 points.
Ande Newcastle have a chance to go 6th top of the league and above Liverpool with a win at Turf Moor tonight although that will be a tough game.
Rafa is trying to raise the standards of his players and what they expect from themselves and from the team.
The manager wants to win every single game or at least be competitive in every game – and an excellent example of that was the last match at home to Crystal Palace.
It was an awful game to watch but with just 4 minutes to go, Mikel Merino, raised the morale of the Newcastle fans with a good headed goal and all 3 points.
Rafa Benitez – we must compete against every team
Rafa has talked about how to win and what he wants from his players this season – as reported in the Chronicle:
“You have to win and try. We will look at it again in January and the reason I say that is because by then we will have played the top sides and you will be exactly where you are for a reason.”
“People might say now, you haven’t played City, United or Arsenal so it might be different, which is why I’m not going to start saying ‘oh, we’re amazing’.”
“In January you might be saying to me ‘You’ve lost five games in a row and you are a disaster’.”
“I want us to compete against every team. We have to be ready to get 3 points against any team – afterwards maybe a draw is a good result, you never know.”
“But the team has to play with confidence because they are well organized and working hard and you can see the level of the other teams.”
“If you do well, why can’t you win?”
Over half of the Newcastle fans think we can win this game tonight – and that would be an excellent result.
Here’s where we are in the league table, and 3 points will take us one point ahead of Rafa’s former club – Liverpool.
[table “68” not found /]Comments welcome.
6 comments so far
G
Oct 30, 2017 at 12:29 PM
Comment #1I don’t know why, but I have a very bad feeling about tonight’s result. I suspect we are going to be handed our backsides. Hope the half of the blog who voted win are correct and I am wrong though.
jayphoto
Oct 30, 2017 at 12:38 PM
Comment #2Be happy if Wood doesn’t play! Gave Lascelles problems last year. Going to be an interesting game because neither side likes too much of the ball. With the players on show it’s going to be more like a premier league game from 20 years ago, 22 players working hard with set pieces key! Ive got a sneaky feeling Lascelles might get on the score sheet again tonight. Dyche done a good job with Burnley, but credit to their board, they stuck with him when they got relegated, not many do that
Novocastrian66
Oct 30, 2017 at 12:40 PM
Comment #3Newcastle’s squad may be written off but besides Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd , Chelsea and Liverpool, we’re as good as anyone. Spurs are an anomaly as I feel they punch above their weight and that is a credit to the players and their manager. Liverpool are less than the sum of their parts and Klippety believes the hype.
As long as we keep working hard and the players don’t get above themselves we will be alright.Im sure Rafa will keep them grounded.
Tsunki
Oct 30, 2017 at 12:49 PM
Comment #4If Rafa turned out to be Ian Toon I’d definitely give up and join the Athanasian monastery.
If you’re reading this btw Rafa, I’ve always been a fan, no matter what i might have said in the distant past 🙂
And if any players are reading, sorry. 🙂
Tsunki
Oct 30, 2017 at 12:50 PM
Comment #5I think Rafa tunes in to get Munsters latest thoughts.
lesh
Oct 30, 2017 at 3:27 PM
Comment #6Tsunki
If Rafa tunes in to get Munster’s latest thoughts he’ll not be on long!