We never like it when we see articles that are smashing a Newcastle player after they have given a poor performance.
What good does that do?
Not much, other than it brings the player further down – it certainly doesn’t help them.
Every player we have on the team gives 100% effort in every single game – sometimes they don’t play well sometimes they do – that’s the nature of football.
Newcastle are struggling at the moment with four successive defeats and we are not playing particularly well.
Rafa Benitez – forceful words from the gaffer
Rafa has given his press conference today for the game at the Hawthorns tomorrow night and he has talked forcefully about a number of things before the West Brom game.
He has talked about where we were after the transfer window closed in early September and that the major goal this season is to stay in the Premier League.
That’s job one.
Just like last season when the major goal was to be promoted – preferably in an automatic position – and we were able to do that.
And there were bumps – sometimes big bumps – along the way – like being beaten twice by Blackburn who were relegated.
And then stumbling near the end of the season when Brighton were 7 points above us with just 3 games to play.
If we stay in the Premier League the club will get all that big money again and Newcastle will at least be on a fairly level playing field with the rest of the Premier League clubs.
That was not true last summer.
Here’s some of what Rafa has said today:
“No-one should forget that on September 1 following the end of the transfer window)all of the fans were saying it was going to be a difficult season.”
“Nobody said it would be easy but we are 14th and in a good position.”
“I think the majority of fans know the reality. We have a good team but we also have injuries and our squad is not as big as some.”
“So we are doing well. Could it be better?” “Yes, 100% but everyone needs to understand our reality.”
“What is our target? “What do we want to achieve this season?”
“To stay in the Premier League.”
“We do not know what is going on (with the takeover) and what will happen.”
“Our fans need to know it could be even worse.” “If we don’t sign anyone, what can we do?”
“We have to stick together and keep working hard until the end of the season.”
“I think Joselu is doing a lot of things right.”
“He is doing a great job for the team and he is making the rest of our team feel more comfortable.”
“If you want to sign a striker who’ll score 20 goals, you must pay £40M.
“If you sign an average striker, it’s £15M, or £10M if they can kick it forward.”
“We didn’t do it. That’s the situation we’re in.” “We must stick together.”
“I still have full confidence in our team.”
“Yedlin didn’t have a bad game.” “He was up against two top quality players.”
“We have to win games as a team.”
“This group of players can manage if we stay calm and continue in the same way.”
“Our fans know where we are and why we are here.” “We have had a difficult month.”
“We knew that before.” “We have 14 points and are in a good position.”
“Are we happy? No, it could be better – but it could be worse.”
“If it gets worse, keep on going.”
Rafa is well aware that a lot of the fans are agitated and critical at the moment.
The manager and his players will be doing their utmost to get 3 points at West Brom tomorrow night.
Let’s hope we can so that – that would be absolutely terrific.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
140 comments so far
ShirebrookToon
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:25 PM
Comment #81And that’s all I’m saying. Too many posters are quick to shoot you down on here!!
hibbit
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:30 PM
Comment #82well done !!!!
enjoy it have good night
lesh
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:32 PM
Comment #83Shire, Hibbit, Sparky, your insights are keeping everybody’s pecker up
expatmag
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:35 PM
Comment #84SHIRE
Any new timeframe?
Optimistic Panda
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:39 PM
Comment #85Shire
Should I get my glad rags out for a mid week knees up?
ShirebrookToon
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:43 PM
Comment #86No specific time. I’m awaiting more info
expatmag
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:46 PM
Comment #87Shire
Ok…..but positive vibes?
ShirebrookToon
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:47 PM
Comment #88Absolutely
Optimistic Panda
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:52 PM
Comment #89Shire
Cheers
YoungMag :P
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:54 PM
Comment #90Thanks shire matey 🙂
expatmag
Nov 27, 2017 at 9:54 PM
Comment #91SHIRE
Well lets hope it all goes through in time for tbe transfer window because we are in dire need of players with the ability to create and finish.
Our Toon
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:04 PM
Comment #92Patience is the key for the takeover, hopefully he goes before the window opens.
Our Toon
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:09 PM
Comment #93Rafa you have a 15m striker sat on the bench give him a fair chance like you’ve done with joselu, give him a run of 5 or 6 games and see what he delivers. Surely if he doesn’t score he will at least assist. It’ll be a master stroke if it comes off rafa can say he made him hungry. If he fails in 5 or 6 games he can say I told you so.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:15 PM
Comment #94Our Toon,
I said exactly the same thing earlier. He has to start him. But bollocks to your fair chance, he’s had loads of fair chances, if Joselu wasn’t so completely pants I wouldn’t want him anywhere near the team despite my daft affection for him and that is purely down to his apparent love of the club.
Tinman
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:18 PM
Comment #95Hibbit, Shire
Did you ever hear the story of a poster called Transfer Sage?
Our Toon
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:19 PM
Comment #96Jail
Didn’t realise you’d stated that but makes sense. Agreed if joselu wasn’t pants then Mitro doesn’t deserve his chance but he has a player on the books that was know rated as a serious prospect. Mitro has let him down a few times as well, but time to bury the hatchet.
Rafa should sit him down and say you’ve got 5 games to save your career here, 5 starts to make a difference and if you don’t make that difference then you can have no complaints when I sell you in January. That will either work or Mitro will flop either way he can’t say he wasn’t given a chance
YoungMag :P
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:20 PM
Comment #97Forgot about him tinman.
Our Toon
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:21 PM
Comment #98Jail
You worried Ashley might derail the takeover?
I can’t stop thinking the fat idiot will come out of this and say I tried but the bid wasn’t good enough for the fans.
RUNAWAY777
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:24 PM
Comment #99Glade to see you back shirebrooke my shut some on here up what ever you know keep it to yourself you gave them the chance now cause its the 27th the knifes are out stay strong .
Tinman
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:37 PM
Comment #100Youngmag,
I think he was genuine, but got hounded out
YoungMag :P
Nov 27, 2017 at 10:54 PM
Comment #101Hounded out? Why?
martoon
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:06 PM
Comment #102Our Toon – You’re right we have a £12m striker on the bench. We also have a £5-6m defender but Rafa chooses to play a £2m (I think it was) one at left back. So I understand what Rafa is saying but he does have options that he won’t use!
Binney
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:10 PM
Comment #103Thanks for the update Shire. Will sleep a little easier tonight.
Our Toon
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:16 PM
Comment #104Martoon
That is the worry, last season everyone was kept on there toes. I think Mitro may well be needed for defending corners tomorrow. WBA have a big threat from set pieces, hopefully merino is fit as well as his height and quality will be important
Binney
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:22 PM
Comment #105News on Twitter emerging that there could be a 2nd interested party involved in a take over. Surely not as it would take another month of DD? Maybe just a tactic from Ashley to speed up the deal/charge more.
stan anderson
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:24 PM
Comment #106I did think we would here something positive today 27th.Sorry i should just hold my breath.Ashley OOT
Mister Tuff
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:25 PM
Comment #107Telegraph now reporting that Mr Tubbs is in negotiations with a second group of interested parties.
Probably false info introduced by Mr Tubbs PR machine.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/11/27/rafael-benitez-warns-newcastle-fans-second-takeover-party-enters/
Mister Tuff
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:29 PM
Comment #108NUFC Bloggers organise friendly reception for the three amigo ITK’s.
http://i.imgur.com/DNlCOt0.png
jane
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:37 PM
Comment #109well said Rafa.
lesh
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:57 PM
Comment #110Mister Tuff
So Ashley’s letting it be know that he’s talking to a second bidder. It may be true and it may be not.
We’re relying on PCP to play him at his game and beat him!
TudgeNUFC
Nov 28, 2017 at 12:31 AM
Comment #111Strikers play on form and Joselu is bang out of it! Mitrovic deserves a shot at West Brom, got a lot of games coming up and rotation will be needed. Joselu in his first few games showed a lot of promise was doing a lot of good things just not finding the back of the net as much as we’d like which I think has damaged his confidence and he’s showing it.
Bit worrying that he describes a 10million striker as someone who can just kick it forward and Joselu is half that….
Lindisfarne
Nov 28, 2017 at 12:36 AM
Comment #112“”…..we have to compete against Huddersfield, Brighton, or Burnley, but we couldn’t sign players that they signed. We couldn’t pay the wages that they paid, so that is what we have. I can tell you a couple of players in each team that maybe we could have signed, but we couldn’t pay the wages, or we couldn’t pay the transfer fee, or whatever.””
This whole having to go back to 4231 solidity and rubbishing 442 that Rafa is supposedly saying is all political spin, to deflect from continually playing the inferior striker. Joselu has been given plenty of opportunity and has lost all of his confidence. He has been the one constant through the change in formation and deserves to be dropped because of his lack of contribution, if only for a short period to recharge or dispel his his own doubts.
Mitro has not had the same luxury of an extend run of games, is portrayed as a bad example and with no contribution to the team. It is unbelievable that Joselu can be described as “…doing a great job for the team and … making the rest of our team feel more comfortable.” I believe not scoring and not contributing to a successful team is actually quiet undermining.
Mister Tuff
Nov 28, 2017 at 1:01 AM
Comment #113lesh – it won’t be normal if Mr Tubbs doesn’t try to pull a stunt.
SPRINGY
Nov 28, 2017 at 1:40 AM
Comment #114I’ve noticed that in the past rafa has usually bigged a player up in the press then dropped him for the next game,i wonder if joselu will be dropped for west brom? …. we’ll have to wait and see i spose.
jimmysmith
Nov 28, 2017 at 2:42 AM
Comment #115“If you want to sign a striker who’ll score 20 goals, you must pay £40M.
“If you sign an average striker, it’s £15M, or £10M if they can kick it forward.”
“We didn’t do it. That’s the situation we’re in.” “We must stick together.”
“I still have full confidence in our team.”
How fascinating!
If he hasn’t mangled his English, then you’d have to wonder who that is for the benefit of. The fans presumably, or Ashley, or Stavely. But certainly it won’t have done Joselu’s confidence any good.
That’s now all three options up top that know Rafa doesn’t see a long term future for at the club for them, and yet no choice but to play them.
jimmysmith
Nov 28, 2017 at 3:20 AM
Comment #116Actually did a pretty good job of mangling the English language myself there, but hey ho.
jimmysmith
Nov 28, 2017 at 4:23 AM
Comment #117Hypothetical?
Ashley receives two bids. One for 350 million from a group without funds for further investment or ambition anyways or even know how. The other of 320, from a group with cash to invest, ambition and the necessary expertise. Which one does he take?
Actually, don’t bother.
Optimistic Panda
Nov 28, 2017 at 6:12 AM
Comment #118Ashley has never had any affection for the club or area, his sole purpose from day one was to bleed it dry and advertise his tatt. He’s never invested or had any intention of doing so, the only times he’s put money into the club was to put fires out that he started.
Rafa the fans and the team need to stay together and fight together, Ashley is like a sabetour to this club a cancer that needs cutting out.
Its hard to take atm but one man has done this, he’s done it time and time again.
Yes Rafa has options but for his reasons he’s not using them, instead of getting on his back or players back we should be letting Ashley know it’s time for him to go ASAP. His time is up and he should just sell up and let someone else run the club!!
Ashley out!
Spoof
Nov 28, 2017 at 6:13 AM
Comment #119Really getting nervous about this takeover bid, it appears that we’ve either had a Chinese Takeaway or they were a fictitious rouse from the start and due to the time delay from Staveley’s first offer to now it appears as the difference of her valuation to Ashley’s could be so great that the deal could be on the brink of collapse, it has been far too long for a second offer to come in, to me and my limited knowledge of business that looks bad, add to that another un-named possible bidder which again could be fictitious, possibly another rouse to try and garner some interest from somewhere, this all looks bad, very bad, hope I’m wrong but the writing seems to be on the wall, I just hope and pray that I’m somehow misreading it.
Spoof
Nov 28, 2017 at 6:19 AM
Comment #120OP
I believe that Rafa is the right man to take us forward, however I do believe that he is making mistakes which are costing us, know one is perfect, but as you rightly say now is not the time for that, now is the time for a united front to showcase the club as best we can, I totally agree with you !