Dwight Gayle is a doubt for the game at Liverpool this weekend after he has again suffered some hamstring problems – but are hoping it’s not too bad.
We will know more at Rafa’s press conference tomorrow afternoon.
But Rafa will not want to risk Gayle with a three-week break coming up for us after we play Southampton a week on Saturday.
The game against Tottenham at Wembley will need to be rearranged from March 16th with Tottenham through to the 6th round of the FA Cup after beating Rochdale 6-1 last night in their replay.
Dwight Gayle – team is improving week in, week out
This is what Dwight has said about how things are going – as reported in the Shields Gazette today:
“After being 2-0 up with not long left to go, we could have kept them out, but it’s one of those things.”
“We need to forget about it and move on and try to look forward to the next game now.”
“We had a lot of chances to break forward and we should have put it to bed.”
“That’s what’s going to happen in the Premier League with the quality you come up against.”
“If you don’t take your chances, then they are going to make you pay for it.”
“We knew they were going to come out in the second half and put us under pressure but at the same time it was our game plan to hit them on the counter-attack,”
“It’s happened this season to other people and I’m sure it will happen again, but the boys are together and we’re going to look forward to the next game.”
“Over the last 10 games (14 points) we have only lost two and we are improving week in, week out.”
“We are just trying to improve as players and keep picking up the points we need to stay up.”
We lost 2 points on Saturday, but Rafa is turning the heat up on his players to improve quickly – that’s a tough assignment for the manager, but Newcastle are well organized and could still get some good results over the final 10 games.
In the previous 10 games, we picked up 14 points ( 3 wins, five draws) and if we can repeat that in the final 10 games we will be safe on 43 points.
It’s a tough game at Anfield on Saturday, and we’ll have to hope the lads play somewhere near their best form, with both Shelvey and Gayle doubts for the game.
Comments welcome.
32 comments so far
Jib
Mar 1, 2018 at 9:13 AM
Comment #1Geordie-john
as Jayfoto and Lilongwe
have both explained
Rafa has no problem with Mitro
other than his playing style doesn’t
suit our set up.
He’s tried him a few times and it’s
never really worked.
Nottooningham
Mar 1, 2018 at 9:33 AM
Comment #2Repost – Not sure what the problem is between Mitro and Rafa but it will be a massive mistake for the club to sell him. He is a proven goal scorer which is obvious due to the interest from other clubs allegedly queuing up to sign him.
The lad really wanted to play for us but was pushed further and further back in the pecking order. Surely Rafa can be professional enough to put whatever disagreement they may have had and push on with our survival in the Premiership, Or at least make it public to the fans what the problem is or was.
Nottooningham
Mar 1, 2018 at 9:34 AM
Comment #3Darn! Wrong repost – I don’t believe there has been a break down in relationship between Rafa and Mitro. I listened to a podcast of an interview with Rafa in front of an audience. One of the audience members asked Rafa about why he wasn’t played and his answer was that Mitro would be great striker in a team that was performing strongly all over the pitch but in the team we currently have Mitro is too attacking and does not offer enough defensively. Mitro has talked very positively about Rafa since leaving and has said in understands Rafa’s position. I believe if (and that’s a big ‘if’ with Mr Cashley at the helm) we strengthen the squad over the summer there will be a place for Mitro next season.
RobLeenio
Mar 1, 2018 at 9:39 AM
Comment #4Can’t believe we’re still talking about Mitro even though he’s out on loan and scoring goals, therefore having fun and enjoying life. He’s happy, Rafa’s happy and we have continued to score goals as before. We have the option in the Summer to keep him or let him go for a good price and buy a striker which fits our team better, with no hard feelings between either party. Where’s the controversy?
RobLeenio
Mar 1, 2018 at 9:45 AM
Comment #5On this weekend’s match, I honestly think we could snag a point. The most relevant result from Jail’s list is the last one, when Rafa was in charge and we were beginning to get used to his style of play in the relegation season. Obviously the squad was stronger then, but the system is embedded better in the current squad. I think a win is unlikely but never say never, a loss is probable but I fancy a 1-1 draw with Gayle our scorer (if he plays)
Mag52
Mar 1, 2018 at 9:54 AM
Comment #6Never mind the spectacle – take the point.
Set up 8 – 1 – 1, with Gayle (hopefully) up front and Merino in midfield.
Jib
Mar 1, 2018 at 10:11 AM
Comment #7Mag52
Ultra defensive vs Liverpool
as Mr Moyes’ West Ham showed
last weekend at Anfield
is to play straight into their hands.
Tsunki
Mar 1, 2018 at 10:12 AM
Comment #8I have the disturbing theory that smashing my head against a wall is going to be preferable to fielding the Chinese water torture that is the constant revisiting of “Why oh Why did Mitro get treated so horridly by Benitez etc” I’m sure most would wish I go ahead with that project but…
Even the player himself in a recent interview stated that the setup of Benitez’s team did not suit his playing style and understood the dilemma.
Let it go and expire of natural causes stop plugging the anti- rafa agenda we need support behind the guy not sniping derision. He has just about the toughest job in the Prem, the weight of expectation being something unique to this club amongst it’s promoted peers.
Tsunki
Mar 1, 2018 at 10:28 AM
Comment #9Can anyone get a snowplough in for the blog? 🙂
bettyswallocks
Mar 1, 2018 at 10:45 AM
Comment #10Jesper…………. Thanks for your concern about mine and Jib’s helmets. Nice to see you’ve finally lightened up a bit and allowed your sense of humour to come to the fore.
beermonkey
Mar 1, 2018 at 10:57 AM
Comment #11good morning peeps
so who is on a snow day
Tsunki
Mar 1, 2018 at 11:06 AM
Comment #12I’m at work 😐
beermonkey
Mar 1, 2018 at 11:12 AM
Comment #13i got sent home and it stopped snowing and rained so no snow its just bloody cold
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 1, 2018 at 11:17 AM
Comment #14dig-n-dig22
About half an hour (and several buses) ago you posted with respect to the Liverpool match, “The two keepers could be the difference on what kind result we get…”
I hadn’t heard that Rafa was going to play two keepers. Could be a good tactic – if a tad defensive.
RobLeenio
Mar 1, 2018 at 11:18 AM
Comment #15I’m working from home – 2nd day in a row. Wasn’t going to chance the metro this morning. Kids are off school so may go sledging at lunch time
🙂
Lindisfarne
Mar 1, 2018 at 11:23 AM
Comment #16U23s have been drawn against Bournemouth U23 in the Cup and on paper should be targetting the semi-final. Their next opponents are not in either division of PL2 and came second to Wolves in their group. Plus, of the teams who are remaining only Liverpool and Leicester are in PL2 div1.
https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/magpies-to-host-bournemouth-in-premier-league-cup-last-16
Lindisfarne
Mar 1, 2018 at 11:29 AM
Comment #17https://youtu.be/jxXbpHeIrUc
“All the way up to base camp”
Bigjim67
Mar 1, 2018 at 11:56 AM
Comment #18Robleenio @5 agree, think we could sneak a point as long as we go for it and get about them as we did against Man U. Here’s hoping anyway.
RobLeenio
Mar 1, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Comment #19BigJim, you’re not wrong. We cannot go hung-ho against the top six at this stage of the season, it could potentially undo all the hard work the lads have put in so far this season. We need to keep it tight, disrupt their play and, if we lose, minimise the damage in terms of goals conceded. If we can keep it level or within one goal into the last 20 minutes, then all results are feasible from that stage.
Average_Contents
Mar 1, 2018 at 12:21 PM
Comment #20I’m stuck in work. The bastardo’s won’t call it off but it’s not safe to work. Figure that out.
Small mercies I suppose, sat in the car getting paid for it. Thumbsupemoji
dig-n-dig22
Mar 1, 2018 at 12:56 PM
Comment #21Pain in the Blog #14
to clarify my post from a previous thread
Sorry for over estimating your intelligence. The key word in the post was “THE,” “THE ” two keepers, not “OUR” two keepers “THE two keepers meaning “OUR keeper and “THEIR” keeper, meaning I hoped “OUR” keeper played a blinder like he did on his debut and “THEIR” keeper having a howler.(either Liverpool keeper) Does that now clarify “THE” two keepers could be the difference on what kind of result we get?
JohnJ
Mar 1, 2018 at 12:57 PM
Comment #22Any one know the outcome of Beardsley’s suspension or is the investigation still ongoing?
Jib
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:02 PM
Comment #23GOAL.com’s selection for Saturday tea-time
G
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:03 PM
Comment #24I’m at home with youngest daughter whos school has shut as all the teachers are wimps… I mean snowed in.
Ron Knee
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:05 PM
Comment #25When I was a comprehensive school teacher I used to pray for heavy snowfalls!
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:09 PM
Comment #26Jib
I can see a lot of sense and merit in that selection.
Can’t see Murphy, Merino or Atzu in the starting eleven but we should see them later in the game after they’ve (LPool) have worn themselves out trying to break us down.
Jib
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:17 PM
Comment #27EGB
Me too
Ron
What subject(s) ?
Olivers Toon
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:24 PM
Comment #28I will be interested to see how Dummett manages Salah on Sat and given his form it will be vital. If he can manage Salah, Yedlin has got the pace for Mane and then Lascelles and Lejeune on Firminho.
It is their movement which is brilliant so they will all need to stay on the ball and track their men, same with our wingers – likely Richie and Kennedy/Atsu as their fullbacks like to get forward. But I reckon our midfield and forwards can cause them trouble. Interestingly, Manquillo did a very good job on Salah at St James.
Ron Knee
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:31 PM
Comment #29Languages, Jib.
Jib
Mar 1, 2018 at 1:37 PM
Comment #30Ron
Same as my missus
supermac69
Mar 1, 2018 at 2:21 PM
Comment #31Yippee, 2nd snow day in a row, well who would want to buy a motor in this weather.
1994 since our last win in the league at anfield I believe, (correct me if I’m wrong) but things have to change, I believe the Rafa returning to Liverpool might just give us a chance, hope so anyway
RobLeenio
Mar 1, 2018 at 2:52 PM
Comment #32Just back from a late lunch sledging with the kids. Tynemouth Golf Course packed with people on all kinds of devices, great to see. Brilliant that they are so welcoming to the local community when it snows too.