After our third home win in a row yesterday Rafa was intervir=ewed by the BBC, and the manager stressed that it was the calmness demonstrated by the Newcastle players that got us the win.
We have a young side, and even after going ahead with 10 minutes to go we could have done a little better maybe at containing Huddersfield and slowing the game down.
But that’s being hyper-critical, and we have seen how many of our players have improved this year.
Mo Diame – in action for Newcastle
Mo Diame in central midfielder looks a master in that position, and he’s leading in our Man of the Match poll.
Mo has been outstanding for Newcastle since the start of the year.
His partnership with Jonjo Shelvey allows Shelvey to go forward more as Mo protects the back four and he splits up the opposition play all the time.
And Mo came off injured yesterday with a foot injury, but since he ran off, we assume it’s not too bad.
This is what Rafa said about the tremendous win to BBC Sports after the game:
“It was an important game and we needed to win. They are a good team, well organized.”
“We didn’t take our chances and in the second half there was a risk we could be caught, but we stayed calm.”
“Ayoze Perez was doing a good job. He needed to stay calm in that position, move around the position and take his chance.”
“It was a great atmosphere and the team and fans together are stronger.”
“40 points is the figure we are looking for and that’s it.”
Here’s where we are in the league at the moment.
[table “68” not found /]Things are looking up at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
149 comments so far
jane
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:13 PM
Comment #81i think it’s because Shelvey doesn’t fit England’s style of play under Gareth Southgate which is similar to Spurs. this is the best i’ve seen England keep the ball. Steven Gerrard used to hit long balls and most of the time possession was lost.
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:17 PM
Comment #82Steady on Jib.
Our Toon
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:23 PM
Comment #83Jail
I’d love to say we are safe but I also remember crazy seasons gone by when Wigan were doomed but managed to go on a daft run of unbelievable wins and same with Leicester and mackems
We have a very good 2 game cushion over those 2 in relegation, we can look up instead of down to see where we can finish. The higher up the more money we get……or should I say Ashley gets
AncientC
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:23 PM
Comment #84Has an English international ever played after receiving a suspension for allegedly making a racist remark. I certainly cannot think of any. Shelvey will probably never play for England again. Look what happened with John Terry and Capello.
Gareth Southgate must be wondering who this Lascelles guy is that is being linked with Chelsea in the papers.
Jib
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:23 PM
Comment #85A Pain in the Blog
Steady on Jib.
In what respect ?
Our Toon
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:26 PM
Comment #86Loch
I agree Shelvey should be off free kicks when we have a chance to get a shot on goal, his passing is great, work rate not quite good enough for England and shooting is pap. He can work at these areas and become a better player
Our Toon
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:27 PM
Comment #87Ancient
Didn’t Terry come back into the England side? I’m sure he did but missed a couple of games mainly for the Wayne Bridge fiasco
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:31 PM
Comment #88Jib
“Jailcocksucka” at #69 and #76. Dropping your estimable high standards a little early tonight.
jane
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:32 PM
Comment #89“Imo it is essential to our progress that the fat man slings his hook.”
it shouldn’t take a huge amount of investment to keep progressing.
AncientC
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:33 PM
Comment #90Our Toon, I am not completely sure. Terry had to go to court, so I think England were possibly waiting for the results of his court case until carrying out their own actions, which then lead to Terry quitting the England side after a lot of meddling.
Jib
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:34 PM
Comment #91Terry’s racism case was Summer 2012
His last game for England was June 2012
Chelsea disciplined him under their zero
tolerance policy and the FA made it clear
he would not get another cap.
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:35 PM
Comment #92Our Toon
I think Jonjo worked hard yesterday. Not hard enough for England?
Agree he needs to work on his shooting – but who at Newcastle doesn’t?
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:39 PM
Comment #93Jib
Given what you’ve just said at #91 it doesn’t look too good for Jonjo;s England hopes with his racism ban hanging over him.
jane
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:41 PM
Comment #94“Agree he needs to work on his shooting – but who at Newcastle doesn’t?”
Henri Saivet – scored with 100% of his shots!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/top-scorers
Jib
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:42 PM
Comment #95Pain
Jail and Lesh
persist in calling me jiblets all the time
just a bit of payback
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:44 PM
Comment #96Fair enough
sing in the corner
Apr 1, 2018 at 7:45 PM
Comment #97Ashley and change..
I don’t think so personally.
He has done the bare minimum financially year on year and managed to keep the embers of fan hope still smouldering. The TV money keeps pouring in regardless. It works.
What would be his motivation to change? Just for the good of the fans?
Why change now anyway?
Munster Mag
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:00 PM
Comment #98Rumour has it that Carver got involved in verbals with fans yesterday 🙂
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:12 PM
Comment #99The one obvious reason that Ashley might change is that Newcastle are now a far safer investment under Benitez than they’ve ever been with Ashley as owner, and Ashley’s prime concern I think is doing his dough. Also he needs to concede more to hold onto Rafa, who is doing so well for us. So I think further change is on, not radical change, but change for the better. It needs to go further, but it doesn’t require an open chequebook either, which obviously isn’t on the cards anyway.
Munster Mag
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:12 PM
Comment #100Anyone fancy Rondon? Did I read somewhere yesterday about some centre half really rating him?
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:15 PM
Comment #101Ashley must have realised by now that Rafa really is very good. A master in the results business. He delivers.
magpie6699
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:20 PM
Comment #102Charlie in the Gallowgate – fixtures, minor correction. We don’t play Arsenal till 1.30 on Sunday 15th April.
dig-n-dig22
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:26 PM
Comment #103It’s interesting that the closer we get to safety the Ashley worshipers come out into blossom
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:29 PM
Comment #104dig
Are you referring to everyone who has posted since the Huddersfield match?
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:31 PM
Comment #105Thick as mince.
Jib
Apr 1, 2018 at 8:42 PM
Comment #106dig-n-dig22
Aug 24, 2017 at 9:31 AM
Comment #18
I don’t want to give the impression that I am a pessimist
the Kennedy loan deal, don’t be surprised if he is holding
out for a better move elsewhere.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 1, 2018 at 9:06 PM
Comment #107Well as long as the wearer of silly glasses keeps up his sterling record at WBA his visit here gives us the opportunity to inflict their biggest losing streak in their long history. He’s already broken their longest in PL but we know this man just loves setting new records, should be a fun day out.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 1, 2018 at 9:11 PM
Comment #108I’m not sure Ashley is capable of long term change. We,or a lot of us thought he had changed by persuading Rafa to stay, it didn’t take him long at all to set his non footballing minions in to undermine the manager. Nope siree we are better off with him slinging ‘is hook.
Bambams
Apr 1, 2018 at 9:42 PM
Comment #109Ashley will never change. He still hates us.
He wants out but until someone offers what he wants he will continue to run us like he has for the last 10 years
Imo
Our Toon
Apr 1, 2018 at 10:24 PM
Comment #110Munster
I like Rondon, he certainly has alot of good attributes, feel a bit for him for the managers he’s played under in the prem. Certainly worth a look / punt in the summer. He’s a better player than Jorgensen.
Our Toon
Apr 1, 2018 at 10:27 PM
Comment #111Nicky
I’ve heard the whole Ashley might change debate for long enough, it’s not going to happen…..ever!! I don’t get why you think he will change or even contemplate it?
He sold us down the river in both windows this season when arguably we needed the most investment!!
jane
Apr 1, 2018 at 10:40 PM
Comment #112simple…if it’s going to earn him more money.
martoon
Apr 1, 2018 at 10:45 PM
Comment #113Ashley might loosen the purse strings a bit but he’ll never invest in the club heavily especially using his own money. He hasn’t attended one game this season which shows he has lost interest – for these reasons I think he will sell this Summer to the first reasonable offer.
Munster Mag
Apr 1, 2018 at 11:05 PM
Comment #114Leicester will be a good test. They are a team I rate highly and got me seriously worried when they seriously embarrassed as earlier in the season. I love their searing pace and teamwork and this cud be our second hardest game of the run in. Looking at motd, stoke must have a player or two that we can chase?
beefman13
Apr 1, 2018 at 11:10 PM
Comment #115Nice to hear Rafa Benitez talk about how important the fans are, as you see, at home, no fear, and things happen, many said it on here, play to your strengths, SJP.
Munster Mag
Apr 1, 2018 at 11:12 PM
Comment #116Rafa may have got lucky in the transfer market. He nearly got the Liverpool crock who went to pardew and would apparently have spent 20mill on jorgensen. Obviously we don’t know how he wud have done but looks like he lacks mobility and operated in a very average league. Hopefully slimani will offer more which I think he will and at least rafa can take time to analyse him closely.
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 1, 2018 at 11:25 PM
Comment #117OT, I think he will change, if it’ll earn him more money, and if it’ll keep Rafa in situ, and if it can help make his life easier without loss. These are significant inducements. I’m amazed that some people simply refuse to entertain the notion that he even MIGHT change, as if to do so then characterizes you as an Ashley man, when there isn’t a single Ashley man on here, and when Rafa has already changed so much, and appears resolutely determined to try and finish what he’s started.
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 1, 2018 at 11:35 PM
Comment #118To my mind Newcastle is not quite Newcastle without an imposing number 9. I’m delighted we’ll have Slimani for the run in. He showed good movement. Shelvey will hit him with ease, and we’ll be a handful from now on.
Munster Mag
Apr 1, 2018 at 11:37 PM
Comment #119In fact there are plenty of players we cud chase this summer but as usual cost will be the issue. I think slimani will help us and if we can get him for 20k wud secure a deal. Either way I suppose the priorities have to be a big pacy target man and a number 10 and a right wing back, assuming we can secure Kenedy on the left. I hope we move to 3 at the back as dummett is tailor made for that. We may also need to find a player with more pace that Ritchie if we are going to kick on. Jeez it’s quiet here tonight. Are u lot in the pub? I’m away with my extended family and it’s booooring…..
Munster Mag
Apr 1, 2018 at 11:39 PM
Comment #120Nicky any more on the Algerian assassin? Any pace? Whats the touch like? A proper threat in the air?