About 20 months ago at halftime during the game at Southampton Jamaal Lascelles had a go at players in the dressing room at halftime for some sloppy play in the first half.
He told the players they had to care when playing for Newcastle and be proud to wear the shirt – and some other things…
That impressed manager Rafa Benitez who in that summer made Jamaal Lascelles the captain although he was only 22 at the time.
In fact, one of our problems we’ve had in the last eight games is that we have missed Jamaal’s play and leadership in the Newcastle side, so hopefully, things will improve with all of our 26 squad players now fit to play.
Jamaal has said the players talked in the dressing room after the Everton defeat and a few home truths were said.
Jamaal Lascelles – spoke up after Everton defeat
But it not as frantic and hectic as it was at Southampton.
Here’s what Jamaal has to say as reported in the Chronicle:
“It’s not like a few years back when I had a go at people.” “It’s nothing like that at all.”
“It’s just about working hard as a team, sticking together, looking back on how well we were doing at the start of the season compared to now.”
“I would not say it was calm, no. There were a few home truths said.” “I don’t want to leave it too late for things like that to be said.”
“The reality is we are not in a great position and sometimes things need to be said that players do not want to hear.”
“It’s certainly not the easiest game in the world (at Arsenal).”
“But they only have 11 men and we have 11 men and we’re in the same league, so for me, it’s anyone’s game.”
“Ideally, you do not want to be conceding goals from individual errors.”
“If you are going to be conceding goals in this league, it should be by your opponents playing world-class football.”
“I think at the start of the season, teams were scoring goals against us which had us holding our hands up saying ‘OK, that’s great football.’”
“But more recently, in the last three or four weeks, we have been making mistakes and it has cost us.”
“So we definitely have to sort that out because it is unacceptable.”
The first thing Newcastle must do is to start defending well so we are hard to beat because we don’t concede too many goals.
With Jamaal back in the side and Paul Dummett coming back soon that may happen.
But the position we are in at the moment is not good and given we were 7th top after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at home in October – it’s come as a huge shock to the system.
At least to me, it has.
Comments welcome.
86 comments so far
AncientC
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:15 AM
Comment #41Frank pingles, from earlier this morning. If the sale doesn’t go through and Ashley does sanction a £30 million spend in the coming window, it shouldn’t change the price of the club, so long as that money is being spent out of the club coffers.
I am not sure where this £30 million rumour is coming from, but it could be a case that the club has around £30 million excess available to spend on players, PCP demanding that be spent in the next window, with Ashley keeping up the pretense he was not going to spend it. If the club is in trouble and has £30 million to spend, you would expect Ashley to allow that money to be spent, but he could be making it appear to PCP that he would be doing them a favour by spending that £30 million—something he was going to do anyway—in an attempt to get some kind of leverage in negotiations.
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:17 AM
Comment #42Ian@35
Not entirely the case that my generation solely looked at manger by his transfer dealings as performances were vital as well.
Joe Harvey was in charge when I was first able to start going (if not supporting) and he made some excellent buys Wyn, Supermac,Jinky ( to avoid Corporation Tax at year end reputedly!) Tony Green and so on but the fans wearied of the hit and miss performances particularly away and in cup final and as well as sack the board Harvey out chants developed.
Despite the lack of a decent performance against Liverpool in final (my first of 4 fruitless visits to Wembley) St James and streets were packed to welcome the losers home – always so near yet so far.
Over the years we have suffered the pragmatic management of the likes of Lee,McGarry,Charlton and Smith long before the Souness’s etc most of which didn’t have much of a transfer budget to speak of so transfers were difficult. It was style of football that eventually caused fans to desert them after initially giving them (reluctant) backing.
I do feel living through different years inevitably gives a different perspective on current happenings whether Politics The arts or football and always has and will.
This blog should be the richer for the spread of experience of fans from different eras still in love with NUFC who post in their inimitable styles 🙂
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:27 AM
Comment #43Rotonda@38
Jail simply cannot bear any post which he interprets as an attack on Rafa or support of Ashley. He simply has to grow up and realise posting a possible take on what could happen after a takeover (in the interests of blog discussion) in no way makes you a flat earther.
I am entitled to make reasoned speculations (can’t speak for Slank as don’t know want pricked Jail’s sensitivity) just as others go on about likely formations, transfers, why and who we missed and so on…..
Many like his posts as they share his complete dislike of Ashley and that is fair enough but in the interests of letting the blog breathe he should stop castigating anyone with the temerity to proffer a different take.
I do wonder what he will post once we are relieved of Ashley’s presence. A never ending series of rants at any poster questioning Rafas infallibility.
Tsunki
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:29 AM
Comment #44For those that cling to the idea that Ashley not only saved this club but continues to be it’s benefactor and deserving of not only all the free SD revenue, the selling off of apparently meaningless parcels of land, the outsourcing of catering and merchandise revenue streams and still getting all his money back plus a perceived uplift in value of the club due to bring dragged back into PL status you really need to take a step back.
It seems no coincidence that those who carry the most support for the man scheming to tinker with a third relegation in a decade prefer not to dwell on such petty details as his sell out of this club yet again, in brazenly identical manner (invest just enough to achieve bare pl status but strictly at a balanced finance) – all so he can minimise his losses and maximise his gains in a sale.
No, they prefer to dwell on the man he engineered to be his bullet proof vest, a high-achievement manager who will absorb all the blame for the wafer-thin structure be has imposed on him.
We are at the point where Mike really has to be on too of his game, his lack of support in summer is now biting his backside hard, tough negotiators realise he will have to spend that money after all, either in January to prove this club can be stabilised this term, or season end when he reimburses the new owners for selling them a dud.
Tsunki
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:35 AM
Comment #45Desperate times for bt and sky as they bury the hatchet and club together to try vainly to fend off the online giants.
It’s early days yet and when the likes of Amazon and other online content providers wade into footy bidding it’ll be all change i fear.
Sky and BT sign channel sharing deal – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42364401
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:37 AM
Comment #46Tsunki
It is a well known position of yours posted many times but seems a little redundant as my reading (could be wrong) is most seem to think Ashley is in the transit lounge if not on the beach and it will happen.
Assuming it does I for one look forward to a blog without any Ashley in fighting in our Brave New World – what will we talk about?
My view as always has been Ashley will go when he is good and ready – I am hoping today might be the day or at least the Season to hedge my bets a little 🙂
Ian Toon
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #47magscar- Interesting historic perspective. My grandfather used to talk about the 1927 Hughie league winning team. I am told I will inherit the memorabilia of the time.
In mentioning transfer dealings I was merely making a laboured point about owners wanting to see what they get in return on the field and I think your point of that a change often requires new demands.
Rotonda- Rest assured I won’t be embarrassed by any forthcoming success. I used to love night European games as a kid. ManC do look a different breed but the gulf between the haves and have nots has widened. Calls for massive investment to get amongst them in the short term.
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:47 AM
Comment #48Tsunki
Oh and the 2 parties who can and will value the club are of course the seller and the buyer anyone else’s view is immaterial.
If it all goes wrong then surely that is the time for endless recriminations and witch hunting for those pesky rewriters of Ashley’s history who apparently lurk on here.
Me – I am waiting for the New Dawn at Club and on Blog like a kid on Christmas Eve
Tsunki
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:47 AM
Comment #49Magscar it isn’t redundant yet though is it? And I doubt it ever will be as Ashley’s tenure will be a cautionary tale in years to come.
I don’t agree that simply because Jail proffers a robust counter to the Complaints about the manager that he should be regarded as “ranting” at others, rather to those looking from a distance, “equally robust” would be fairer.
My take on the Rafa bashing and the complaints about his tactics and lack of results would be that it could be more easily taken on board to a fair extent if the same complainers acknowledged in any way, shape, or form, that he has, in his defence, been short changed with playing staff by a man with a twice-proven track record of scuppering this club.
The opposite is true though. We have not only the assertion that Benitez is past his best, tactically gone to pot, behind the times and to boot has an expensive and more than capable squad and only his pig-headed stubborn attitude and his personal vendetta against certain players (none of which are proven) is keeping this side from mid-table comfort.
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:48 AM
Comment #50George caulkins tweets are always very informative
Only journalist worth listening too
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:49 AM
Comment #51https://mobile.twitter.com/CaulkinTheTimes
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:53 AM
Comment #52Ian
1927 is even a little before my time 🙂
Still remember our glory ( even if TV didn’t) in 1969 and as with mates mistakenly thinking we were on our way. Not for the first or last time either – I never learn!
Is this time different in my winter years -please please pleased let me get what I want this time to quote Morrissey 🙂
jonnyshaw85
Dec 15, 2017 at 11:58 AM
Comment #53@Dubai from earlier this morning. agreed regarding the trustworthiness of an Egyptian source (I have also worked with WAF so I’m not that gullible); I just thought that if i could get a name, it would be another one to be thrown into the hat. Anyway, the Agent I work with has been trying to get something from his contact since last night…
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:06 PM
Comment #54Tsunki
To cut to the chase I (can’t speak for others) acknowledge Rafa was short changed but find it I can’t then simply allow the season to develop as it has not to question in my mind at least why certain selections are !are or not made.
Healthier than simply repeating the mantra that he has been let down and so has a get out of jail free card ( A Monopoly reference not The Jail but it does have a ring to it). I am not alone I believe Rafa has said something similar.
I like most on here (anyone as a NUFC fan seriously questioning whether he should go this season is completely misguided in my view) support Rafa through the thin as we hope and expect the thick as is our due as long suffering fans of course. Sitting at a match as the inevitable unfolds is character building but I really feel I am near being over-developed and long for some pleasure however decadent I become.
Moonraker15
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:12 PM
Comment #55Frank
The idea that people working in the stadium go to Charnley with work related matters is laughable!
However he won’t carry on in his present role in future but I’m sure he will be retained under new owners in an admin role.
Regardless of the buyout the most important issue is now team strengthening. We didn’t deserve to lose v Everton and we won’t get relegated.
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:18 PM
Comment #56This blog has long had an overwhelming number of posters who polarise others views from any slight acknowledgment of something good by Ashley into a forever “Ashley Lover” and more recently any quibble on Rafa into “Rafa Hater/Pulis Lover”
For otherwise intelligent posters it is tedious and clogs the blog!
Another prediction from me -sale completed Rafa goes from strength to strength and with nowhere to go Jail turns into Catchy or Keys type poster having on about the bad years ( tongue firmly in cheek before I get abuse from all sides) 😉
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:21 PM
Comment #57Kets not Richard Keys but thought is intriguing
jimmysmith
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:29 PM
Comment #58The consequence of being let down by Ashley, (although in truth Rafa will have known that he needed to clear the decks to buy, so he wasn’t let down to the degree that is commonly claimed on here) but none the less the consequence of having the rug pulled out from under him mid window, is that no matter what 11 he picks there will be significant weaknesses. The “short blanket.”
Pick an 11 you’d realistically back to do well fin the epl from the group he has?
Mine would be….
…………………..Elliot
Yedlin Lascelles Lejeune Dummett
………..Shelvey Merino
……..Ritchie Perez Atsu
………………Mitro..
That’s the best 11 I can come up with, and I don’t think it stacks up particularly or consistently well against any epl opposition.
RUNAWAY777
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:42 PM
Comment #597 days and iam away for a month working in the sun cant wait takeover or no takeover these players need to up there game quick they get paid enough
Jail for Ashley
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:46 PM
Comment #60magscar,
I think my posts are a lot more varied than just purely attacks on Mike Ashley, how many times did I mention him from Rafa getting here and his subsequent shafting of him last January. Besides it just shows what a pompous pratt you really are when you class yourself in the intelligent poster bracket. You can’t be that clever if you still haven’t sussed out what a wrong ‘un Mike Ashley is!
jimiley
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Comment #6130 million is unlikely to save this club in January. 30 million was spent in August and you could argue we have a worse team. More choice of very average players just seems to confuse our leader. If there was no Lejeune he would play Clark and Lascelles and no Joselu would mean Mitro playing. So I would contend that the 1st 11 Rafa picks is actually weaker than the 1st 11 last season. 30 million is a drop in the ocean. It is obvious that no deal will be done until the summer when Staveley will know whether we are staying up. Fat mans 30 million in January means we are going down.
Double it and we might stay up.
Bambams
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:49 PM
Comment #62In relation to Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who was the founder of Godolphin Racing and had a yard in Newmarket. It has been suggested he may have something to do with the backing of the takeover.
Whilst I cannot rule him out my Cousin many moons ago was a jockey on his yard (Campbell). I have been in touch and there are no rumours down there ‘re our takeover.
What I was told Maktoum previously paid for Maradonna to coach a non league team in the Middle East, so he is obviously football daft – just nothing down there been said.
Not ruling him out or in
Time will tell
Jail for Ashley
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:49 PM
Comment #63And who would have played while Mitro was banned for three games Miley, which we won two of.
Markaccus
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:54 PM
Comment #64Just heard this. The source is second hand from a relation of a club employee. Pinch of salt required. Sorry if anyone has already said any of this.
Due diligence completed. Price agreed at 250Mil PLUS money back that he put in for variois things (this was complicated) but it brings the total of around 400 mil. Only the 250 up front.
All in the hands of the lawyers and banks now. Expected completion is feb. Any January transfer fees will be refunded (we’d already heard that before, though).
Not sure how true all is, but it fits in with that property deal stuff, and the alleged 6pm statement.
I do not accept any responsibility for any bullsh1t 😀
jimiley
Dec 15, 2017 at 12:58 PM
Comment #65Jail
Anybody but Joselu.
Our recruiting is abysmal. We have let players go on frees who are better than our multi million buys.
Looking for a keeper?
Oh dear what about Krul or even better Forster. Our own goals are beyond belief.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:03 PM
Comment #66jmiley,
Why don’t you apply to your local football club in some capacity as an advisor, I’m sure you’d be welcome with open arms.
geordie157
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:03 PM
Comment #67Maybe he told Darlow to get some better gloves. Diame that the summer holidays are over.
If Dummetts not back for arsenal… give mbemba, lascelles, lejuene and Clark the back four spots.
Murphy, Hayden, Merino and Atsu in the midfield.
Mitrovic and Gayle up front.
Thump
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:03 PM
Comment #68What meeting has been cancelled?
@Mark: sounds promising but £250m seems a bit short given the twisting that’s taken place this far.
jimiley
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:05 PM
Comment #69Jail
If you dont like the answers, dont ask the questions
ilovetoon8788
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:08 PM
Comment #70If we had played better the deal would be smoother. But out shi* performance means we are nailed on for relegation in most eyes and rightly so. So, takeover is getting more complicated.
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:09 PM
Comment #71Jail
I include myself along with say Tsunki for an immediate example and they are many others too numerous to name as being “intelligent” . I am not necessarily or exclusively talking in football related terms simply the construction of posts and the wit behind them. Some long some short all are welcome especially those who can find a different angle not simply for the sake of it but because it provokes thought and debate and not the default of derision.
Ashley has done some good for club not necessarily deliberately or without some balance of pain but overall his tenure has been bad for club – no argument from me.
As I have said, my years on here are littered with me restating the point that Ashley will go when he is good and ready and most likely on his terms. Simply hating him to the extent that other dialogue never gets air time is tedious to me as is the Rafa walks on water.
I am a thinking adult who has supported club since the 60’s and see no need to apologise for articulating my own view on here whether it is in vogue or not.
To call someone who has posted off and on as a flat earther simply because he constructs a possible scenario based on available information that by necessity has to be extrapolated to form that scenario is regrettably consistent with your juvenile stance on all things Rafa or Ashley.
I hope it doesn’t come to pass but Rafa not being here if and when we hit the jackpot is not so far fetched if you look outside our club at the top end clubs here and abroad. Does that make the earth flat who would have thought it – obviously not a pompous but intelligent poster 🙂
jimiley
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:10 PM
Comment #72A good manager makes average players overachieve not underachieve. We must wait to see whether Rafa is capable of getting the best out of very average players. Rafas apologists will argue that he is getting the very best out of very bad players. That would be the same very bad players who got us 4th spot?
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:16 PM
Comment #73Jail
A perfect example of your immaturity is the response to jimiley @66 sarcasm rather than arguing a point made. Not a poster i agree much with from memory but a poster with a valid enough opinion for him to offer it so try giving him some respect and debate his point if it deserves your attention. No need to get into arguments for the sake of it.
magscar
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:21 PM
Comment #74Have been distracted from jobs I was going to do earlier by the banter (not too unwillingly if truth be told) but must get on – laters to use a Grandson’s expression
Tsunki
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:33 PM
Comment #75Magscar – I count myself as an average poster, no more, and certainly not one with the right to “impose” my views on anyone else and definitely no right to bully anyone off the blog simply for expressing a polar opinion. BUT anyone, including me, is fair game to be shot at when they go online and want the world to see what they think. And it’s definitely fair game to point out when an opinion falls so wide of the mark of realism that it becomes derisory.
And it’s highly ironic to call out another poster for calling out another poster in much the same way as the original calling-out 🙂
There seems to be a lot of generalising (yep I do it too) and pigeonholing of bloggers who are perceived to be in different camps – the issues are much greyer and not at all cut and dried, there are varying degrees of rafa-bashers, rafa-lovers, Ash-Bashers, ashleyites and so on ad nauseam.
It is what it is.
Tsunki
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:38 PM
Comment #76Sorry but jimiley falls into one of those wide of the mark areas.
His view is that the team are average pl quality. That doesn’t bear out with the facts, those being that the squad was largely purchased for a championship campaign.
He also asserts a good manager would get the best out of average players. Again because we are benchmarking championship players, the best may still not be enough.
Add to that most of his comparisons are knee jerk , self – assessed and wild suppositions and there you are, a bit wide of the mark. Rubbish in other words.sorry jimiley.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:38 PM
Comment #77Ronaldo
If Rooney gets away with his elbow on Ritchie then there is something seriously wrong with the Premiership the BBC and officials. If that had been Mitro or Shelvey it would of been highlighted over and over again.
Even the Press has been quite on the incident including our pathetic local press.
not a dickie bird.
Get the feeling Premiership does not want a team in the Premiership up north – keep it in the Midlands, Lancashire and the South.
Nobody wants to travel to the North-East cold wet full of pit heaps and people that cannit’ taak proppa ya na do they
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:40 PM
Comment #78Does Shelvey have an immediate ban or is it subject to some FA ruling before it becomes effective.
Another thing I’m curious about is, where would a new Stadium be built if that does indeed be decided by the buyers.
Surely the Town Moor is a non starter unless the guardians go against their own ethics and values.
And well done Jamaal some of the players need the occasional kick up the posterior, others just need kicking out of the squad.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:41 PM
Comment #79And is that Rouise walking towards the bus?
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:45 PM
Comment #80Charlie
A nice bit of paranoia, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the was an element of truth in that supposition.
It was reasonably assumed that you would always find it hard to get into the England team many years ago if yeh wor from up north!