Rafa has been interviewed in the Chronicle today as he looked back to when he first arrived as the Newcastle manager on Friday, March 11th, 2016.
When he arrived he held a training session in the afternoon and that was a message to players that the hard work begins now.
It was a blow when he couldn’t save us mainly because fans thought Rafa would leave.
But after the love affair between Rafa and Newcastle fans had grown quickly, he agreed to stay on Tyneside.
For a manager of his world-class standing that was a massive courageous decision by Rafa and showed the innate confidence, he has in his own ability.
It also shows how he loves a challenge – like trying to get Newcastle straight back up from the Championship.
He did exactly that of course and with little help from Mike Ashley over the last 15 months he has Newcastle now in 10th place in the Premier League.
An amazing two years work from the Newcastle manager and he has guaranteed Mike Ashley will get at least £300M for Newcastle United.
Rafa has looked back at when he first arrived and this is what has said to the Chronicle:
“It was a difficult time back then because we didn’t have players in certain positions.”
“We didn’t have a left-back or a central midfielder because there were injuries.” “We had to change a lot of things after that for the Championship.”
“We did that and did well. Then we were promoted to the Premier League and had to change again.”
“The majority of the decisions have been right, there have been mistakes for sure, but the majority have been right.”
“We’re going in the right direction.” “We still have to guarantee the 40-point mark.”
“For sure. It is massive and where we are at the moment is a place where we can play with more confidence.”
“The risk here is our confidence. Everybody needs to understand the reason we are in the position we are because everybody has worked really hard.”
“The players, staff, fans – they have all worked really hard.” “Now it’s just the final push to make sure we don’t make any mistakes.”
“After that, we can enjoy it and see how far we can go.”
When you see somebody who is the best at what they do – whatever that may be – there’s something about them when they talk about their business.
It’s fascinating and we saw that with Sir Bobby Robson when he talked about football.
Rafa is the same – he’s got that passion and belief and when he talks about anything to do with football people listen.
If they don’t, they should.
Newcastle United are extremely fortunate to have Rafa as the manager.
Comments welcome.
145 comments so far
Magtoonpie
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:13 AM
Comment #121He doesn’t want to come back and can’t see him doing so unless MA is still the owner and Rafa leaves. Then again mr crabs might see gold after WC as im sure he’ll score a few raising his fee.
magscar
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:14 AM
Comment #122As I have touched on previously Rafa is not a manager who seeks to form a team or tactics around 1 player. Some managers have little option. That is not to say he doesn’t look to find pieces that fit the jigsaw.
Fulham have been able to easily fit him into their style which is paying benefits for both. If likes of say Murray can score regularly for Brighton by playing to his strengths and Fulham are promoted and can buy Mitro then I see no reason why he can’t go on to be a regular scorer for them unless they lose other key players like Sseginion ? Cairney etc. Much as I wish Mitro well I would prefer it not to be in PL even if in a lower table side.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:15 AM
Comment #123jesperfuglsang – capt’n awesome of the lemon crew
Apr 10, 2018 at 5:42 AM
Comment #113
I think what most of us have been saying…of course disregarding the likes of Jail,
“The likes of Jail”
What an arrogant, pompous house husband you are Jæsper, the first to whine and complain when you feel you’re getting victimised but then you put comments like that on.
LetuscloneShearer
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:15 AM
Comment #124Rafa has a plan for Mitro, I am sure of it since there is no buy on clause. This kid just needed to play more. Next year I am sure he will either bang them in for us or get us a good amount of money.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:20 AM
Comment #125magscar,
We might find out one day why he wasn’t playing him. Ando was saying last night it’s because Rafa’s game plan relies on every player Stick I g to his plan and Mitro wasn’t doing that, that’s just his opinion of course.
dig-n-dig22
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:23 AM
Comment #126Hellodjo #115
This game can’t be set up any better for a full Slemani debut, Wenger is seeking a C L place through the Europa cup, he will protect his key players. Arsenal are always vulnerable on the break, I am visioning now, Kenedy blasting through the Gunners defence (as he did on MOTD,Leicester,) slotting the ball into the path of Slimani, Kenedy is proving to be a great out ball from defence. Just so hope we can land him in the summer window.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:25 AM
Comment #127I think the Demba Ba Alan Pardew situation is a good example of the player getting one over on the manager. Ok, Pardew wasn’t helped at all by the lack of investement but he had Demba Ba on the wing with Cisse central the season before and it worked a treat. Demba Be spat his dummy so he swapped them, Cisse’s head went down and Demba Be done one anyway. He should have told Be to play where he was told.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:26 AM
Comment #128dig,
It would be good to see what he can do before wanting to buy him, he was pretty far down on Rafa’s options but that might have been price though.
magscar
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:27 AM
Comment #129Jail
I think that is a reasonable assessment on what we are able to see from outside looking in. Would Rafa look to rejig side next season with certain players brought in and vary style a little which might also accommodate Mitro or look to sell him and build on what he has.
Much will depend on if Ashley has sold up and if not how much transfer budget and with what strings are attached to facilitate Rafa’s plans. I presume he is working on more than one given uncertainties.
If Rafa goes well………
Jail for Ashley
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:33 AM
Comment #130magscar,
If Rafa goes we can reappoint Carr and Moncur to the board and Mitro will come back for sure as we already have a 20M striker ready and waiting, we can then sell him for 30M the year after. Yay.
magscar
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:37 AM
Comment #131Jail@127
All water under Tyne Bridge but Pardew thought he was doing the right thing in keeping both Ba and Cisse on side. What he didn’t quite realise was that Ba was also ensuring that if club wasn’t going to move on as he wanted then he kept himself high in goal scoring charts to make top 6 consider him. And that is what of course happened. Probably affected Cisse but there were also other things going on there as well.
Would be nice to think those days are well behind us but we never seem to be as certain of it as we would all like. Let us hope end of season brings an end to uncertainty 🙂
magscar
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:43 AM
Comment #132Jail
If Rafa goes then Ashley will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat as the implosion and explosion that would result is well beyond any other Ashley appointees including the unlikely re-engaging of KK or Shearer. I doubt there is anyone capable of rescuing the situation though several might believe they could.
I honestly believe that If Ashley is staying for whatever reason he has to do so in tandem with Rafa and that puts Rafa in a strong bargaining position.
DubaiMicky
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:52 AM
Comment #133@magscar #132, well said marra, there’ll be chaos if he does go.
magscar
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:55 AM
Comment #134Mickey
Armageddon!!!
magscar
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:56 AM
Comment #135Micky – sorry
hibbit
Apr 10, 2018 at 8:58 AM
Comment #136magscar
if Rafa does go Ashley will need to pull more than a rabbit out of his hat,
the shit will hit the fan like never before
sing in the corner
Apr 10, 2018 at 9:06 AM
Comment #137I love Mitro as much as anyone when he shows the passion and commitment to the cause we have all seen. But let’s be objective about him, please.
He was fairly average, and unreliable in the PL and now he’s tearing up the championship in one of the best equipped teams there, scoring for fun. That’s great, I hope he continues to!
But it’s not 5 minutes since Dwight Gayle was scoring most weeks in the Championship in a side that wasn’t nearly as all-out offensively minded as Fulham. Now he is finding the week in week out level very different. Different player, different style granted..
SuperShearer
Apr 10, 2018 at 9:08 AM
Comment #138Sky reporting that Bayern and PSG interested in Kenedy IF Chelsea are willing to sell. Doesn’t bode too well from a cost point of view BUT he might feel that having been at a big club and sat on the bench someone like us might be the better option…. one can but dream.
sing in the corner
Apr 10, 2018 at 9:09 AM
Comment #139Is Mitro better than Gayle or Joselu?
That is becoming less and less relevant every week, as we sit in 10th place when the objective was 17th or above. Like it or not, it’s worked out.
magscar
Apr 10, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Comment #140hibbit
Whether Ashley intended it or not his tenure over a profitable stable club is now irretrievably entangled with Rafa. Is there a viable alternative for him to sustain his “asset” if he stays but Rafa goes?
Whatever the short term intention of agreeing to Rafa’s initial terms on appointment was, it has developed into a pyrrhic situation for him. I believe both he and Rafa know it.
lochinvar
Apr 10, 2018 at 9:18 AM
Comment #141Talk of Torres isn’t new as he was touted as being our record signing back in the last transfer window.
He was on record as saying he wanted one final season in the Premiership so no more “seasons in the sun” more a case of “ganning along the Scotswood road”.
He didn’t arrive to we borrowed Slim Jim from Leicester instead.
Who will be out number 9 next season is an interesting debate and the list will be endless before long that’s for sure
Gayle
Das Bost
Slimani
Torres
Mitro
lochinvar
Apr 10, 2018 at 9:19 AM
Comment #142and Joselu, of course
dig-n-dig22
Apr 10, 2018 at 9:36 AM
Comment #143Jail #130
Jail, have you been drinking? We both know that if Ashley doesn’t sell, he will want to cash in a few assets ie Shelvey,Lascelles,Mitro, that must be very close to £100Mill , the F@T TW@T wouldn’t be happy seeing that kind of money running all over the SJP turf next season, Ashley will see Merino as a good replacement for Shelvey after all Ashley doesn’t need 10th or 8th place although he will gladly accept the extra revenue, 17th or above will do. Maybe a few loan deal top up’s in the Jan window, if needed.
lochinvar
Apr 11, 2018 at 6:48 PM
Comment #144So their crowds have fallen this season ?
Wait until next season ….
Newcastle supporters planning to gloat over Sunderland’s possible relegation to League One will be denied access to the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats – six points from safety at the foot of the Championship with four games to play – are aware of the threat of fans from their North-East rivals travelling in large numbers to their remaining home matches.
That was what happened in 1987 when Sunderland were last demoted to the third tier and around 1,000 Newcastle supporters turned up at Roker Park to see their relegation play-off against Gillingham.
But the Wearsiders decided to remove all cash turnstiles for Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Norwich and they are almost certain to do the same for the games against Burton a week on Saturday and the season-finale versus champions-elect Wolves on May 6.
Anyone wishing to buy tickets must do so from the box office and must also have a purchase history, keeping out those who have turned up for the first time.
Talk on social media and popular fansites had raised the possibility of the Toon Army mobilising troops and heading to the Stadium of Light, especially as Newcastle do not play on either date.
But with trouble having flared at a recent Under-23 fixture between the clubs, Sunderland have taken action to ensure the safety of fans inside the ground and restrict the numbers attending, even though crowds have fallen dramatically this season.
lochinvar
Apr 21, 2018 at 5:04 PM
Comment #145The last five clubs in the Championship all begin with the letter B
Birmingham
Bolton
Barnsley
Burton
Bye Bye