We’ll have to start picking up some points fairly soon after going into a barren period when we have just one p[point after the last 18 played for.
After 9 games we were well positioned in 7th top place with 14 points and a goal difference of +2 but six games later we are currently in 14th place with a goal difference of -8.
We have seven games left through January 1st when the 3rd round of the FA Cup will soon start.
And we need at least 5 points from the next four games if Rafa is to make his mini-target of 20 points from the first 19 games (half a season) which would put us on target for 40 points and probable safety in the Premier League.
Rafa Benitez – big challenge at Newcastle
At the moment we are not doing much better than Steve McClaren’s team of two years ago, which had 13 points from 15 games after beating Liverpool 2-0 at home.
But then in the next game, we beat Tottenham 2-1 away and had 16 points from 16 games – close to what we have at the moment.
That was the only time in our relegation season that we had two league wins in a row!
Here’s the tough schedule coming up for Newcastle where we play Arsenal away and Manchester City at home.
Date Fixture KO time
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
Newcastle will need all the support in the next two home games – two wins would be phenomenal – and that’s possible if now probable.
We still have faith that one way or another Rafa will keep Newcastle in the Premier League, and then whoever is in charge in the summer there should be a lot more money available for Rafa to strengthen his squad.
As one of my sons Neil mentioned this morning at breakfast when we were reviewing how the team had done, he mentioned Newcastle is Rafa Benitez at the moment and one reason we are on TV so much.
Comments welcome.
193 comments so far
YoungMag :P
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:47 PM
Comment #41Jail
Yup, I figured that out pretty quickly.
Like I said, arrogant.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:49 PM
Comment #42Why would you disfigured yourself with a tattoo like that on your neck?
jimiley
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:51 PM
Comment #43Unless we spend in January we will go down. We are losing to fellow strugglers. We cannot stop them going in and we cannot score. Recipe for disaster. And we have the worst form in the Premier League. And Rafa is selecting the wrong players. One point out of 18 when it should have been 8 or 10. Those lost 8 points may come back to haunt us. Down to Rafa selection non policy. Anybody but Mitro.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:51 PM
Comment #445th to 15th in 6 games. Bottom three by Christmas & if no takeover imminent Rafa sacked by the New Year. Not my wish incidentally. Ashley has just the person to blame now we are in freefall mode. Who thinks we can stop Vardy & Mahrez? And if Hazard was unplayable what is De Bruyene going to do to us?
No wonder Mitro wants to go back to Anderlecht. He must be worth a shout on Saturday say with Gayle. Also badly need Atsu & Lascelles back. Not won a game since they were injured.
sing in the corner
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:52 PM
Comment #45Not happy with Man C here like. It’s taken a goal against to wake them up!
This kind of thing reminds me of the season before last, when teams didn’t bother playing the relegation threatened teams around us like the makems
Ian Toon
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:55 PM
Comment #46Online I bear no malice guy.
sing in the corner
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:56 PM
Comment #47Having said that, I expect Pep to get into them in the dressing room and come out in the right frame of mind!
c-dog
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:56 PM
Comment #48Someone might care. By stating no one you’re essentially saying all users of the blog. Now I’ve lost all interest in Cathy and yours little tiff since about 1996. Instead of no one, would you mind using no one minus THE C-DOG… just cause I want no part in your games. Independent-DOG!!!
Online Guy
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:57 PM
Comment #49Mr Tuff
Good to see you impart some good advice to the unruly on here. IAN TOON is the most tedious boring writer on the planet . What the hell is his MO ? .
Bet he’s great at parties. What an incredibly boring Man ..sorry to repeat it but I’m banjaxed. Perplexed .
Aye that Marilyn Masons a intelle
Online Guy
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:58 PM
Comment #50Intelligent decent bloke ..doesn’t look it mind ..has he had some sort of illness ? Something I read.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:59 PM
Comment #51It’s tragic when we have to rely on other teams. Tell you what only one of the three teams in bottom three will stay there – Swansea – the others will spend big in January. Ashley won’t spend another penny on this club. It’s takeover or relegation simple as. Furthermore this a much worse squad of players than the other two recent times we have been relegated. Don’t think we’ll bounce straight back up with this shower.
A big money takeover group won’t want ANY of these players.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:59 PM
Comment #52Ha ha,
You think Ashley is going to sack Rafa, the tight git sat back and watched Pardew and Carver take us to within a whisker of relegation and left it way too late to sack that last clown. Do you honestly think he’s going to give Rafa a 7.5M pay out then give a new manager 20/25M to buy new players. Ha ha ha
sing in the corner
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Comment #53On Leicester..
The last thing we want to do is try to go after them too hard on Saturday evening. They will pick us off on the counter with no problems.
Back to the programme hopefully Raf. Get control, establish a base first. Not pretty but we don’t want another Watford.
Ian Toon
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:02 PM
Comment #54Sing- A week before the Derby game they can ill afford to drop points with ManU winning yesterday.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:03 PM
Comment #55Gateshead 0 Luton Town FIVE!
This North East “virus” is really spreading.
sing in the corner
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:06 PM
Comment #56Ian
Absolutely. We see this a lot with teams going very well. They are so confident they forget to show up against teams they are certain they will beat. Different game now hopefully.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:07 PM
Comment #57JFA – Where’s this £20-£25M for new players coming from? – Certainly not Ashley. £7.5M could be money well spent in his eyes to take the focus off himself.
Ian Toon
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:08 PM
Comment #58Still Online- Taking your own. advice you do need to explain to your readers that MO is Modus Operandi.
GeordieTwo
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:10 PM
Comment #59I wish we knew more about what’s going on behind the scenes. The waiting is hard, especially as we slide down the table. Possibly finishing today 15th or lower! And Leicester will not be easy at all. Still, we’re slowly getting injured players back and I can see some form in the team although it’s spotty, not consistent. The players have to approach the Leicester game as if we’re fighting for our lives, which we are.
Mister Tuff
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:11 PM
Comment #60Online – I’ll have to check that out about his illness. They are touring all over Europe in the summer – looking at their schedule they’ll have to be super fit. Don’t want it cancelled – cost about 150 Euros for me and the missus.
Online Guy
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:14 PM
Comment #61It’s not that long ago to the night Luton Town knocked us out of the FA cup . It was an incredibly frustrating game ..
I was in the Cannon in North Shields watching on big screen..new fangledas large panel tv’s were not in abundance or invented, so might have been early projection job…
. Chilli and chips free and a big fight between two Mags were the highlight of the night.
Luton Town 2 Newcastle United 0 ?
Amazing that they are now in the same league as Gateshead.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:14 PM
Comment #62It seems the Blog has suddenly turned it’s attentions to the “misfortunes” of Man City.Well do you know that
Newcastle haven’t beaten Man City in a league game since September 2005 – 12 years & 3 months ago. Don’t see that changing any time soon, do you?
Jail for Ashley
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:17 PM
Comment #63carl,
Why can’t you just post as carl and leave out all the horseshit. People will eventually just accept you post as carl and that’ll be the end of it, you’ve been rumbled far too many times. Why carry it on.
carl
Jul 26, 2017 at 3:47 PM
Comment #30
Our Toon
What about Tuff’s homophobic depictions.
Increasingly frequent but not a word said.
Ian Toon
Dec 3, 2017 at 4:27 PM
Comment #16
Young Mag
Not totally. There was a time when Mr Tuff’s homophobic depictions regularly featured on here.
Howay man, give it up.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:17 PM
Comment #64Online Guy. Yeah it’s a pity but Gateshead don’t appear to be in the same league as Luton on today’s performance! Mad Hatters tea party or what?
Online Guy
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:19 PM
Comment #65Mr Tuff mate something I read about MM …Not sure if it was an accident or some serious medical condition he was diagnosed with . WiLloyd go check it out . If it’s bad and there’s a chance of cancellation or delay I recon you will hear it through the media sometime soon ..
I read it about a month back ..I may have dreamed the whole thing about a month back mind . Hahaha.
jane
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:20 PM
Comment #66maybe because they aren’t in the same league!
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:21 PM
Comment #67Anyway worry not . We are about to Shaw up the defence with a Man Utd reject for FREE.
Online Guy
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:22 PM
Comment #68WiLoyd ? Tablet is playing up here. My fingers are like big capacitors after a Guitar session..discharging all over the screen .
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:24 PM
Comment #69Jayne who cares about Luton Town , we couldn’t beat Whitehall Welfare F.C the way we are playing at present.
Online Guy
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:25 PM
Comment #70I knew Luton Town had a fall from grace but was not certain they were in same league as Gateshead..looks like it’s the FA cup tie ?
I never bothered to check. Bad lad.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Comment #71Don’t worry Online Guy easily done! Anyway for all you West Ham worriers Otamendi has equalised for City.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:32 PM
Comment #72What’s all this worry about a decent striker we have two centre backs who have scored as many goals as Joselu & Mitro & one more than Gayle.
Look :
Player League Cups Total
Aleksandar Mitrovic 1 1 2
Jamaal Lascelles 2 0 2
Ciaran Clark 2 0 2
Joselu 2 0 2
and Lascelles hasn’t played for six matches.
Online Guy
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:32 PM
Comment #73West Lancashire
Luke Shaw made some disrespectful comment’s towards Newcastle. Recent tv docu. Bout a year back.
Ian Toon
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:38 PM
Comment #74West Lancs Geordie- Maybe not but we did beat them 2-0 at the Etihad in the League Cup back in October 2014.
We had a very young side out including Rolando Aarons and the toon army thought we had another star in the making. That has work out well!
jimiley
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:39 PM
Comment #75The Premier League is pants.
6 good teams and the rest are rubbish.
We are losing to other poor teams and the promoted teams because they spent better than us. Not necessarily more than us. We got rid of rubbish and spent 30 million on rubbish.
Now Rafa is to blame for that. And the team selections. He has a lot to answer for. Now if it was McLaren choosing Joselu and buying those players ……… But at least Rafa has a similar record. Rafa is finished as a top manager and he knows it.
jimiley
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:41 PM
Comment #76Top scorer has TWO after more than a third of the season. JOKE.
Offkey
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:41 PM
Comment #77Pleased Man City scored, it helps us…….and I was going to put a bet on for West Ham to win 1 nil but didn’t, was 100-1
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:41 PM
Comment #78Yeah but he needs playing time now to “resurrect” his chances of having an outside chance of playing in the World Cup. He’s certainly not going to get it at Man U is he? He was a half decent player at Southampton but a lot of them who have thought that the grass would be greener with a bigger club have come unstuck.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:50 PM
Comment #79Spot on Jimiley. Lot of Red Scallies in my neck of the woods. Told me at least Rafa would get us set up well defensively. Not even doing that but can’t expect much more with a team of Championship players.It can be done though as: Watford , Burnley & to some extent Brighton are all punching above their weight as were Huddersfield early on but teams have sussed them now.
Any three from Swansea, West Brom, Huddersfield, Bournemouth & NUFC to go down. Think West Ham and Palace will spend in January & stay up.
jane
Dec 3, 2017 at 5:50 PM
Comment #80“We are losing to other poor teams and the promoted teams”
Bournemouth, Burnley and Watford are not poor.
Brighton and Huddersfield were early season and have got to come to SJP.