One player in the Arsenal side – former Newcastle target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – cost Arsenal more than the Newcastle side put together this afternoon.
Bet Newcastle were still the better team and we scored two good team goals and our players simply outfought the highly paid and celebrated Arsenal stars.
We deserved the win and Newcastle today and the club, in general, looked terrific on TV with NBCSN commentator Jon Champion doing his best to sell the club to any listening would-be buyer.
He complimented Newcastle on just about everything – including saying it’s the best place to be for a celebration – as like tonight.
Jon also told fans visiting England to make sure they take in a match at St. James’ Park one of the best places in England to experience the passion of football.
Well, he’s right there.
Rafa has the players playing out of their skins and they look so well coached it could point to a much more successful season starting in August.
Rafa Benitez – on the touchline today
And there was neither sight nor sound from the Newcastle owner Mike Ashley – who seems completely disinterested in the club.
That’s why he needs to sell to somebody who wants to make Newcastle great again.
Newcastle fans were delighted with the result, the display and getting to safety with five games still to play.
Beating arsenal to stay in the premier league another season! Rafa Benitez has to stay! Fantastic job he’s done! buzzing #nufc
— Sam Mott (@SamMott69) April 15, 2018
We are so lucky to have rafa as manager of our club #nufc
— Chris Cossey (@Cosseycj) April 15, 2018
“It will be a long and liquid evening in the Toon tonight.” #htl #nufc
— Brian Sunter (@Retnus) April 15, 2018
Pretty sure with money they have spent, I could’ve won the league with Man City.
Rafa should win Manager of the Year. 100%.#NUFC
— CompleteNUFC (@CompleteNUFC) April 15, 2018
Give that man the freedom of the city… and of the club’s entire budget! #Rafa #NUFC ???
— Matthew (@BigNumberFour) April 15, 2018
Great result
Today’s highlight …
Pedantic referee making Matt Ritchie go back and put the corner flag back in after booting it when he celebrated scoring his goal ?#NUFC— David Foster (@Dfozzy1970) April 15, 2018
I can’t wait for @tfweeklypod to put into words just how much I love #nufc. Is it to much to ask for to hear @LikeTheGoat crying with joy again? I hope not! Howay ya radge beauties!
— Bjørn Westblad (@bjorwesToon) April 15, 2018
Some outstanding #NUFC performances all over the park today. Shelvey, Diame, Perez, Ritchie, Kenedy all stood out but it’s a team game and Rafa has them playing brilliantly. Survival guaranteed. Well done Rafa and the lads.
— KevLew (@Kevlew833) April 15, 2018
@MohamedDiame17 outstanding performance again today!
It is no coincidence that our league form coincides with your own improved performances. Keep up the hard work #ProudToBeAGeordie #NUFC— Philip Hay (@PhilipHay) April 15, 2018
.@LacazetteAlex’s goal today was the first goal conceded at St. James’ Park by @NUFC since the 31st January and the first Martin Dubravka has conceded at home (since his debut, 11th February).
Fortress. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/jdW4iVo3LD
— Newcastle Stats (@NewcastleStats) April 15, 2018
Apart from the goals and the celebrations at the end, my favourite point of the #NUFC game today was when Arsenal scored and everyone starting singing and getting behind the lads. These lads graft like fuck and never shirk a battle, love them. Fully deserved win!
— Ryan Batey. (@_RyanBatey) April 15, 2018
Imagine what Rafa could do with a half decent owner and a bit of wedge to spend…? #nufc
— Mark Baty (@MarkoMkTwo) April 15, 2018
Great win for #NUFC today! Finally starting to look like a team on the pitch
— MattyGargann (@MattyGargann) April 15, 2018
More than one likely candidate for manager of the year, but what Rafa Benitez has done at #NUFC under the circumstances is worthy of recognition too.
— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) April 15, 2018
I went to the match today expecting nothing. We came away with everything.
Rafa That.#NUFC
— Morgan™ (@paulm1980) April 15, 2018
We can to 8th place and overtake Everton and Leicster City if we keep up our good results.
Would love to see #NUFC finish as high as possible in the PL as possible. Don’t take the foot off the gas. 8th or 9th makes the club altogether a better prospect in every regard going into the summer.
— Michael Martin (@tfMichael1892) April 15, 2018
And the last one from Lee Ryder – just before the end of the game – whta a day for the Toon!!!
Newcastle worked so hard for that until last few seconds. Superb effort. Rafa Benitez’s name being chanted now. Done a great job on a limited budget. Imagine what he’d do with a decent transfer pot? #nufc
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) April 15, 2018
Comments welcome.
189 comments so far
Online Guy
Apr 15, 2018 at 9:52 PM
Comment #81Bloody tablet
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 9:53 PM
Comment #82Munster,
To use Michealangelo being a paedo as an analogy to beat down another poster is just plain stupid as well.
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:02 PM
Comment #83But linking Jib to a far more recent nutcase who lived in the same country as you was pathetic and lousy. If Bobby hadn’t told you to drop it I would have. Anyway let’s leave it. Not worth fighting today. Let’s enjoy the fact that we are staying up by a mile. Great day looking forward to highlights.
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:03 PM
Comment #84Doh its on!!
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:04 PM
Comment #85Filthy by kenedy!
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:05 PM
Comment #86Poor by Dup
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:05 PM
Comment #87“Who lived in the same country as you”
What the foot has that got to do with anything?
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:18 PM
Comment #88Asked if he would extend the remaining year on his contract Benítez, who celebrates his 58th birthday today, replied opaquely. “If everything’s right we have a good opportunity here but everything has to be right. We have to be sure that, next year, we have the tools to compete at the level we want to compete at.”
Does Ashley really have a choice other than to back him, and maybe also a genuine willingness now we are safe and seemingly going into our second season secure in our epl status.
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:20 PM
Comment #89Munster
With you on #63 but what on Earth are you on about in 64-66? I’m in Spain so cannot see MOTD if that’s what you’re referring to.
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:24 PM
Comment #90Top 8
jane
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:26 PM
Comment #91Rafa would prefer to work with Ashley than a new owner if possible. i will explain why.
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:26 PM
Comment #92Pain do u mean 84-86? I am watching sky highlights
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:26 PM
Comment #93Nicky,
He made a statement about not leaving the players he persuaded to join his project when his future was being questioned. So I’m not sure how our transfer business will go if his contract isn’t sorted, he’s not going to convince the right kind of player to join if he doesn’t know whether he’s staying or not.
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:26 PM
Comment #94EGB some time ago…
“I wonder if we could get Boris to act as a mediator, he’s got good diplomatic skills, hasn’t he?”
Diplomatic skills? He’s a good liar. And a buffoon. That’s all.
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:31 PM
Comment #95Yes Munster. It’s the eyes. And possibly the whiskey.
jane
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:31 PM
Comment #96because with Ashley he can be left in charge of everything whereas this is unlikely with new owners and as Ed quoted this morning he has had a bad experience of new owners coming in.
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:32 PM
Comment #97More leverage then. I also think he’d like to get his backing and guarantees from Ashley rather than someone new and unknown. I suspect, at least in Rafa’s mind he can see a future for the club under Ashley. Ashley, well who really knows, but you’d have to be perverse not to go with what you’ve got, being so clearly on the cusp of something so good.
toon22
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:32 PM
Comment #98Sadly it wouldnt matter how much anyone bid for the toon
MA would always want more,he would play hardball if someone offered him a billion for it.
Imho Stavely is playing the same game and realizes you cant simply up your bid every time,as MA has and will.
So whats left is Rafa playing his part in adding pressure,he either gets backing in the summer or hes off.
Its twist or stick for MA and nobody is ever going to be able to say which way itll go,not even MA imho.
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:34 PM
Comment #99Go on then, Jane. Explain why.
Nicky the ball tosser
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:35 PM
Comment #100You want BS Bishop out of the loop. Benitez and Charnley running the show. Ashley signing the cheques.
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:37 PM
Comment #101OK Jane, I missed the boat.
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:37 PM
Comment #102Jail I was referring to a sicko who is more relevant than Michaelangelo because he was from the same general part of the world and recent. Admittedly not very well explained. Anyway was just answering up question. Let’s leave it be. Grim topic on a good night etc
jane
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:37 PM
Comment #103the commentator on the stream i was watching made an interesting comment that Rafa had done a good job of playing the fans but staying in with the owner.
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:38 PM
Comment #104Rondon looked good there a few mins ago
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:38 PM
Comment #105Jane
Just a tiny query. Why do you capitalise proper nouns – names of people, places and teams – but not the personal pronoun ‘I’ or the start of a new sentence? You stand accused of being grammatically inconsistent
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:40 PM
Comment #106Jane,
He has been shat on in three consecutive windows since Ashley knew promotion was assured. Why would you want to continue working with a man that continually lied to you?
jane
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:41 PM
Comment #107Ashley and Rafa could be a good match if Ashley trusts him and lets him get on with it.
good question Pain in the Blog!
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:41 PM
Comment #108Does anyone know if Rafa got an agreement in writing from Ashley re funds when he signed up? I guess he will now. Although wud fats honour it anyway??
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:43 PM
Comment #109Munster,
You brought it up, so you let it go, ok.
lesh
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:43 PM
Comment #110Pain
You’ve been very very naughty…… Johnson’s tact is renowned – he’s as subtle as the Blitz and would be as welcome as a turd in a swimming pool. He’d get on very well with Ashley though.
Seriously though, I’m sure if the will was there, there’s no reason why the parties representatives couldn’t have been in some soundings out with a view to identifying ways of restarting talks. Maybe this time though, if negotiations do start again, Ashley might just take a more active role rather than leaving his son in law to negotiate on his behalf which was what was reported he’d done.
jane
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:43 PM
Comment #111Jail maybe Rafa alludes to being lied to because he knows that is what the fans want to hear but maybe the truth is different if he is in with the hierarchy.
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:44 PM
Comment #112Jail because I think Rafa knows this cud be the best job he will get in england.
lesh
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:46 PM
Comment #113Nicky
Bishop’s Ashley’s PR thug. The one that needs reined in or kicked out is Justin Barnes, his fixer thug!
jane
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:47 PM
Comment #114what other club the size of Newcastle would give him autonomy to do things his way.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:47 PM
Comment #115Munster,
I think he got lots of things in writing first time round, It would have took him walking to enact them. Ashley counted on him not walking while he calculatedly shafted him.
A Pain in the Blog
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:50 PM
Comment #116lesh – hope you’re right.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:50 PM
Comment #117Munster,
Arsenal fans would gladly have him right now.
RobLeenio
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:51 PM
Comment #118What a day. What a result. What a team. What a squad. What a Manager!
Not quite the over-optimistic 3-0 I predicted in the morning sunshine, but the score is WAY less relevant than the result. Absolutely over the moon here, can’t wait for us to show Hippo Heed the way this club can play football when it stands by its name and is United.
Even Ashley can’t stand in the way of the momentum Rafa is building. We’ll enjoy our success, despite him, for the rest of the season. He’s irrelevant at this point, completely secondary to the club’s real main man, Senor Benitez.
HWTL
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:51 PM
Comment #119I merely answered your question Jail. I brought it up earlier today because it stank. But your hatred of Jib is so bilious that you can’t help yourself. As I said earlier get some fresh air. My last comment on it. Back to the footie. Rondon or Jorgensen? Rondon looks decent. Mobile and strong and willing. Any idea of a price on him? I think Rafa will want prem experience?
Munster Mag
Apr 15, 2018 at 10:52 PM
Comment #120Fergie 🙂