Rafa Benitez seemed extra composed after the 4-1 defeat against Manchester United after the game last night.
As he does often after games – he clinically analyzed what happened, and while we were good in the first 30 minutes, eventually the sheer class of the Manchester United team shone through.
With a scoreline of 4-1, it’s too easy to dismiss Newcastle’s effort yesterday, but the lads showed in that first half hour that we can be a good side.
We just need to extend that to the full 90 minutes and cut out the mistakes.
It was again some defensive frailty that let us down yesterday and no doubt Rafa will be working hard on that aspect of the game in training next week.
Hopefully, we can keep a clean sheet at home against Watford next Saturday, and a win would be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Rafa BenitezNewcastle UNited manager
Dwight Gayle looked menacing yesterday, and it was an excellent first-time strike from Dwight that put us ahead after 14 minutes – and that goal – his first of the season – should give the striker a lot of confidence.
We need a win on Saturday, and then we have a good chance of getting something at West Brom on Tuesday night – as the games come along thick and fast through the end of the year.
Here’s some of what Rafa said after the game yesterday:
“Even if we had scored the second goal, you know the game is not over when you are playing against a team with the quality of these players.”
“But it is a pity because we had the chances and we could have scored.”
“We could have scored again before we conceded the second goal.”
“I’m not really worried about that, I am worried about getting points for Newcastle United.”
“They are both very good teams and they are both doing well.” “They have very good players and they will be there.”
“We will see what happens because it is a very long race.”
“For us, the main thing is to take the positives of the first half and try to build from that.”
“For 30 minutes, even with their big names on the pitch, we were doing really well.”
“The big difference is that you can change players, and maybe the players coming from the bench are even better.”
“They have this situation, and we were unlucky because we made mistakes in the first half when we were doing really well.”
Here are the next 10 games we have in the league.
Date Fixture KO time
Sat 25 Nov Newcastle vs Watford 15:00
Tue 28 Nov West Brom vs Newcastle 20:00
Sat 2 Dec Chelsea vs Newcastle 12:30
Sat 9 Dec Newcastle vs Leicester 17:30
Wed 13 Dec Newcastle vs Everton 19:45
Sat 16 Dec Arsenal vs Newcastle 15:00
Sat 23 Dec West Ham vs Newcastle 15:00
Wed 27 Dec Newcastle vs Man City 19:45
Sat 30 Dec Newcastle vs Brighton 15:00
Mon 1 Jan Stoke vs Newcastle 15:00
Comments welcome.
110 comments so far
jane
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:00 PM
Comment #81Mister Tuff is so condescending funny though
Jib
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:01 PM
Comment #82Mr Tuff
You watch too much tv.
Why on earth would the club do
that ?
Ashley fcuking hates agents .
He doesn’t like players much more actually
All that time you spent cleaning the bogs at
Clifford Street and you learned nowt
😀
jimmysmith
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:07 PM
Comment #83ok, thanks. i see. Seems a relatively minor offence though, domestically speaking, that wouldn’t effect the tax due to British tax authorities. Complicit in the foreign based agents attempts to cook their books I take it then. Still frowned upon by HMRC I suppose.
jane
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:07 PM
Comment #84even if was at the behest of French tax authorities it still doesn’t explain why they needed to raid NUFC if NUFC were not under suspicion.
Jib
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:08 PM
Comment #85John Cleese talking about Mr Tuff
Jib
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:10 PM
Comment #86jane
even if was at the behest of French tax authorities it still doesn’t explain why they needed to raid NUFC
That’s why NUFC went to court.
Hey shock horror the authorities closed ranks and it was thrown out.
magscar
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:14 PM
Comment #87At this stage until more is actually known ( and if ever) about the VAT and Income Tax and National Insurance alleged Fraud by HMRC over treatment of agents fees by NUFC in relation to transfer of Demba Ba ( but possibly others) speculation on what may have been allocated in and where in the audited accounts is futile and unwelcome by many on a Football Blog.
Mister Tuff
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:15 PM
Comment #88Jib – what a thicko – don’t shoot the messenger.
Jib
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:18 PM
Comment #89It really gets up HMRC’s nose that PL
players have so many loop-holes to use
image rights etc.
However it seems to be the case in this country
as the Paradise Papers last week showed
that the wealthier you are the less tax you pay.
lesh
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:24 PM
Comment #90Shirebrook
You see 4 wins and 3 draws from the next ten fixtures?
At such a critical time, might we ask you to leave forecasting results to others and you deal with important issues – keep an eye on Ashley and don’t let his greed get in the way of any buyer freeing Newcastle United from his paws!
RUNAWAY777
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:39 PM
Comment #91you need a business to know how accounts work wink wink
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 19, 2017 at 10:57 PM
Comment #92Even at the lowest level of income a good accountant will find ways of reducing tax levels, legitimately.
Mine did.
Wouldn’t be any point in employing one if he didn’t.
RUNAWAY777
Nov 19, 2017 at 11:05 PM
Comment #93Essex Geordie Bill mine too whats the point in hundreds to accountant if he not gone to help you in some ways.
ShirebrookToon
Nov 19, 2017 at 11:31 PM
Comment #94Lesh
That’s a bit harsh like. That’s you off the approved bloggers list now
ShirebrookToon
Nov 19, 2017 at 11:35 PM
Comment #95And I think 4 wins and 3 draws is achievable
Online Guy
Nov 20, 2017 at 12:18 AM
Comment #96Newcastle and West Ham were raided by HMRC…all over the media, RAIDED .
Chelsea were only “paid a visit”. as reported, (More tea and biscuits sir ? < ) on the same morning…Chelsea's lawyers were probably on to it via tip off before the " Raid / Visit", and before it went to print.
An Embargo on the truth as far as Chelsea and the filthy rich sugar daddy are portrayed methinks .
Manchester United's TAX dodging Scheme Via a company they have set up in the Cayman Islands needs publicised.
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 20, 2017 at 12:53 AM
Comment #97Shire
Still trying to find how to get onto the disapproved blogger list.
After all in the words of GrouchoToon!!!
And that’s me done for the night , over to the nightshift!
Optimistic Panda
Nov 20, 2017 at 6:20 AM
Comment #98Is today the day a statement is expected?
expatmag
Nov 20, 2017 at 6:38 AM
Comment #99Panda
No
Optimistic Panda
Nov 20, 2017 at 6:53 AM
Comment #100Expat
Jeez, its like waiting for xmas
hibbit
Nov 20, 2017 at 7:11 AM
Comment #101Optimistic Panda
shire says Wednesday be patient
the good times are coming
Jail for Ashley
Nov 20, 2017 at 7:49 AM
Comment #102Jimmy,
It’s the same old story, he’ll simply have to back him in January or risk losing the lot. Money that could have been made available in the summer to make our situation more comfortable. It made me laugh when carl the clever said Ashley has found the perfect manager in Rafa as he can scrape survival on a shoestring. But he’s not the perfect manager for that at all as he won’t keep putting up with it.
martoon
Nov 20, 2017 at 7:55 AM
Comment #103BREAKING NEWS
Chris Coleman will now NOT be taking over at Sunderland. Its is understood that he failed the medical when he had his head examined!
jayphoto
Nov 20, 2017 at 8:04 AM
Comment #104No matter what, takeover or not the club needs to invest upwards of 25m in January or its going to be touch and go in the second half of the season… club needs a striker, a number 10 and a left back…
Can probably get away with a loan signing or 2 as they’ll be some very good players itching to move as its a world cup year and they’ll need minutes to get into their national squads, means chances are they’ll put the effort in too…
Jail for Ashley
Nov 20, 2017 at 8:08 AM
Comment #105Pardew was the perfect manager for him, a very near miss one season and a season where the second half was almost the same form as Derby and the mackems in their record breaking relegations. We weren’t going to be relegated the season he left but no doubt would have gone in to a tailspin when the players realised they were safe. I wonder how long he’d have gotten away with it. I don’t think he’d have survived the abuse of the second half of the season when the players gave up though.
jayphoto
Nov 20, 2017 at 8:14 AM
Comment #106Was at the match Saturday (albeit it in the wrong end) thoughts were – Murphy is a like for like Andros Townsend..quick but not the quickest, direct, runs with the ball but doesn’t run past people, cuts in, looks to shoot etc.. Actually looks like he’ll be a decent player in time, definitely a player that can contribute a few goals he should have had 2…
Gayle looked sharp and interested…
Shelveys game looked different, carried the ball more than he normally does, looked good..
The full backs, Manquillo especially were targeted..and it worked, Lukaku drifted wide a lot and they couldn’t handle his strength, mbemba might have been a better option on the left..
Clark and Lejeune are not the makings of a partnership, both seemed out of sync with each other, both look happier next to Lascelles…
Joselu isn’t a premier league striker..
Elliot looked kinda hesitant..wasn’t at fault for any goals but something looked off..
Mitrovic was on the field for 25 minutes and Im not sure ive seen a more disinterested performance..granted we were 3-1 down but he barely broke into a stride
jayphoto
Nov 20, 2017 at 8:17 AM
Comment #107on a lighter note – Palace are virtually down..WBA are going to sack Pulis this week and Moyes already sounds defeated at west ham, mad appointment.. just hope theyre too far gone before they hire Tony Pulis in march and get the Pulis bounce and Swansea are just terrible.. but theres 4 clubs for your 3 relegation spots taken
Jail for Ashley
Nov 20, 2017 at 8:18 AM
Comment #108Jay,
It’s going to break the fat man’s heart putting money in. Can he “lend” us 25M with takeover talks going on, they might want to put things on the backburner till they know where we’re at. The next six weeks are crucial with the buyers firmly in the driving seat.
expatmag
Nov 20, 2017 at 8:21 AM
Comment #109Rafa is already detailing loan deals as a possible only option in January with selling players to raise funds another option.
I really hope you guys are right……Shirebrooke and Hibbit
jayphoto
Nov 20, 2017 at 8:31 AM
Comment #110@Jail – my guess is funds will come from whoever they sell for most, Gayle or Mitrovic… my guess is Gayle for 15m to whichever club is in and around the championship playoffs? A leeds or a Villa will see Sheff Utd/Cardiff/Bristol don’t have the squads to keep up their form and might gamble on catching them..perhaps Fulham? (6 pts off playoffs). Wouldn’t be surprised to see one of them take Colback too…
Be very surprised if Mbemba sticks around, hes facing a prospect of playing a handful of games in 2 years if he does so theres probably another 8m and if Rafa gets the keeper he wants that’ll be Darlow leaving, done enough to be a number 1 somewhere you’d imagine..or at least be a number 2 at a top level club, the fact that he’s English and counts to homegrown maybe key..