After putting a game plan together that got Newcastle our fourth win in a row this afternoon and the first against Arsenal in eight years Rafa seems relatively happy after the game today.
After the 2-1 win Rafa and the players walked around the ground celebrating the great achievement that we had reached 41 points and in fact, we now have a decent chance to get to 8th place if we can keep up our good form in the final five games that are left to play.
Rafa paid tribute to the players, the city and the fans for sticking together this season through thick and thin.
Kenedy with Rafa Benitez after the fabulous win today
And although it’s been thick for the last few months, it was very thin when we went nine games with just one point.
This is what the Newcastle hero – also known as the Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez said after the game today:
“People dreamed we could do this, this season. But we had to stay awake in order to do it.”
“We’re really pleased to achieve this. It has been a difficult season. We deserve to be where we are.”
“I think we are safe with 41 points. It’s a massive achievement for the players, the city and the fans. I want to congratulate everyone.”
“Today we didn’t play amazing football because we played an amazing team but you have to manage how you play and compete for the win.”
When the final whistle blew this afternoon, it was a culmination of success the club and surviving a tough first season back in England’s top league.
But as long as we have Rafa in charge of the club, we are sure he can take us from success to success.
Absolutely certain about that!
It’s a fantastic feeling of success and achievement after the win today – many thanks for that Rafa.
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59 comments so far
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2018 at 4:59 PM
Comment #1Did anyone else see these two joking on the pitch afterwards. It was almost like rafa was saying “you know you could get used to this!”. I definitely could.
Jib
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:00 PM
Comment #2Mr Random
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1446774875545738/?multi_permalink
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:01 PM
Comment #3I’ll spare the repost.
toonbrother
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:01 PM
Comment #4Without lascelles we conceded 15 goals in 5 games
With lascelles we’ve conceded 28 goals in 28 games
Tells you everything really
Rotonda heights
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:02 PM
Comment #5lochinvar
ferry and roxy music are awesome. should be a great night.
ronaldo
great minds think alike. exactly what i thought.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:04 PM
Comment #6Rotonda
I guess we can quote a very popular former manager then, “thank god we never qualified for Europe” 😉
toonbrother
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:05 PM
Comment #7The only thing that worries me is what happens if lascelles gets injured again
Would we go into free fall mode again?
Lejeune has come on leaps and bounds in the second half of this season so maybe we wouldn’t miss him as much
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:05 PM
Comment #8sorry rotonda i realise you were talking about my post on kenedy and not the europe part i mentioned last thread.
Mister Tuff
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:07 PM
Comment #9Great result.
Great performance.
Great Goals.
Eventually beat Arsenal after many years.
Confidence booster.
Safety.
To cap it off Agent Cob is an Arsenal fan – up yours Jezza.
https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/868567732027052034
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:08 PM
Comment #10Blimey Ed the bus must be running on fumes! 🙂
Repost.
Cos as with Vask I think my opinions are a really valuable asset to the blog. 😉
Eds bus is rattling along I’ve missed 3 of them, has he stopped now?
First post match chance I’ve had to get on blog as my son and grandaughter have just invited themselves over for tea so all hands to the pumps to do something for them.
🙂
MOM for me Perez, brilliant goal and a great assist.
We won despite the ref given 70% at least decisions in their favour as I mentioned earlier and which others have mentioned since.
And is it just me but did all of the loose balls and rebounds always go to an Arsenal player and don’t anyone say it’s down to harder work cos we easily outworked them.
And Jib I’m a pacifist, most of the time anyway! 🙂
hibbit
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:08 PM
Comment #11proud to be a geordie today
the crowd were amazing today 100% support from start to finish even when we went one down they stayed with the team great performance and a well deserved 3 points`
these are the days you go for well done one and all
great team effort
just loved it
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:09 PM
Comment #12Thats what I wonder about next season. If lascelles gets injured for a period we dont have anyone to come in for him. Either Mbemba or clarke will be sold this summer I reckon, likely mbemba. I think Lejuene and Clarke are both good to compete. I think defensive reinforcement needs to be made by adding someone who will offer what lascelles does to the backline, preferably with experience. The partnership of lascelles and lejuene needs to be developed further and should be our no1 pairing.
Mister Tuff
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:10 PM
Comment #13Southgate surely must have a look at Shelvey and Lascelles – especially if they continue their current form.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:10 PM
Comment #14By the way did anyone watch Henry gritting his teeth as he tried to explain how the Arsenal defenders failed to stop our 2nd goal. lmao 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:15 PM
Comment #15Surely I love toon 8976 or whatever must be ashamed of himself. And what’s happened to catchy.
hibbit
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:18 PM
Comment #16Jail for Ashley
what’s he said today ????????
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:20 PM
Comment #17He predicted a 0-4 defeat at the start of the game.
hibbit
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:22 PM
Comment #18THINK I’VE FOUND IT
ilovetoon8788
Apr 15, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #36
I think lacazette iwobi and aubamayeng upfront will be too much for us.
Newcastle 0 arsenal 4.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:26 PM
Comment #19Wow
Great result in the sun at St James’s lads battled if their lives depended on it.
Great atmosphere all game.
Well done Rafa, players and supporters.
Under the cosh first half – Arsenal played some lovely football but usual Arsenal waste chances galore and when we got in their faces became niggly and argumentative.
Diame was immense today from start to finish and in the last ten minutes when the rest of the team were wilting he fought for and won nearly every ball.
Diven’t kna what the Toon watered the pitch with but players were slipping all-over the place first half.
Merit marks
Dubravka 7 – had decent game nothing much to do tho like last week flapped at a cross.
Dummett 7 – did well but got over-run at times they got around the back of him but stuck to his task with some great last ditch tackles
LeJuene 7 – another excellent game some of his long passing was superb but caught in possession a couple of times.
Lascalles 7 – Decent game and got in some last minute tackles blocks but looked a bit lethargic today
Yedlin 7 – had loads to do and acres to cover and left isolated to many ties by his midfield today
Ritchie 8 – great winning goal battled all day and got in some great blocks
Diame 10 – Man he was brilliant except for one slip which nearly cost a goal – but his work rate tackling running in the last 15 minutes was superb.
Shelvey 8 – Another excellent display with superb passing first half second half didn’t have as much room and was forced to play a more defensive game
Kenedy 7 – not at his best today got caught in possession to many times but stuck to his task and nearly scored when hitting the bar with a deflected shot. Ran out of steam last ten minutes – suprised he was not substituted
Perez 9 – put in a hell of a lot of work today with his running and closing down of their defenders. Showed some ball skills and clever flicks one of which led to our winning goal and dribbles today – top it off with a superb strike
Gayle 7 – got into some great positions but needs a goal. His running and closing down of their defenders cannot be faulted.
When Gayle and Perez both went off we let Arsenal defenders more space and time on the ball
Slimani 6 – laid on second goal with his header to Perez who’s flick set up Ritchie – still looks a bit off the pace – hopefully when gets up to speed will be a great asset.
Joselu and Murphy not on long enough
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:27 PM
Comment #20According to the two lads on Talk Sport, Dwight Gayle has sixteen goals this year and Arsenal handed us three points.
Reilly
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:27 PM
Comment #21youngest squad in the prem.all rafa has to do is get a few in this summer that will push us on.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:28 PM
Comment #22Southgate’s got his number, he’s taking him to Russia.
Jib
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:28 PM
Comment #23I wish I was a ref
If Jesse Lingard came screaming in my face
like that – I’d deck the little scrote
Jib
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Comment #24flippin heck
ManYoo 0 – WBA 1
Reilly
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Comment #25west brom 1 up
Pottsclock
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:30 PM
Comment #26ManUre 0-1 WBA lol
Manure have been pathetic all match
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:30 PM
Comment #27Well, well, well!
Jib
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:33 PM
Comment #28WBA
Have to keep on Darren Moore
when they go down
The players clearly play for him
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:37 PM
Comment #29What a shame we have Spurs away or I could see us winning every game from k ow until the end of the season.
Rotonda heights
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:37 PM
Comment #30not sure about clarke
yes we do better with lascelles playing, but equally seemingly we do when clarke isn’t.
Lejeune has been fantastic and some of his long passes were Hoddlesque today. Can play it out far better than Clarke.
Dennis Twice
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:40 PM
Comment #31Attack Toon attack, attack!
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:42 PM
Comment #32And this pearl is from a self proclaimed intelligent poster.
Munster Mag
Aug 10, 2017 at 8:33 AM
Comment #26
Part of the problem is that Rafa is a bit like Sam allardyce. Likes to dabble in the market and feels he can improve players. But often he doesn’t.
Jib
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #33If Romelu Lukaku is worth an initial £75 million,
plus £15 million in add-ons
Ayoze Perez must be worth £50 million
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:47 PM
Comment #34Jib,
A player is only worth what someone’s willing to pay. I think Perez lacks that extra quality to be a 50M player.
Pottsclock
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:47 PM
Comment #35Jib…and how much was Pogba?
Jib
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:50 PM
Comment #36Swathes of empty seats at Old Trafford
It resembles the Stadium of Plight
Jib
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Comment #37Man City Champions because the Red shite
lost to a relegated team
I’m loving this
How are SkySports going to cover this ?
Pottsclock
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:53 PM
Comment #38Let’s see who Mourinho blames for this one.
Jib
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:56 PM
Comment #39The lads beat Arsenal at Home
The Falcons win vs Sale
Sunlun turn a win into a draw
ManYoo play like twats
If Carlsberg did weekends
😀
Shoulders knees
Apr 15, 2018 at 6:07 PM
Comment #40Well done lads, great 3 pts, still have an unopened bottle of lagavulin waiting for takeover to be done? could be 20 year old by then?