Newcastle put in a very sloppy performance yesterday following on from the poor performance at Everton when we lost 1-0.
We lost 1-0 to the bottom of the league side West Brom who have now taken 8 points from their last four games.
Rafa was not happy after the Everton game, and he’s certainly not happy with this one.
The loss snapped our four-game winning streak at home, and it seems that once we got to the milestone of 40 points, the players are just too relaxed and have lost their edge.
Rafa Benitez – very unhappy with the performance
A goal from Matt Phillips after 29 minutes was enough to win the game for the Baggies.
In truth, it was a game that always looked like a possible banana skin for Newcastle.condemned Benitez’s side to a 1-0 loss at St James’s Park this afternoon.
This is what Rafa said after what was another poor game from a Newcastle viewpoint:
“I was not happy after Everton, and I’m unhappier now.”
“When you are safe, you still don’t want to see performances like that. It’s hard to understand.”
“It’s important to stay up. Nobody was expecting we could finish ninth or tenth. It’s important we are giving everything.”
“We had two or three chances that could be different, and we would be talking about other game.”
“That’s football. You have to take your chances.”
“The players were a bit relaxed. You don’t want to see that. We made too many mistakes and made the wrong decision too many times.”
“That’s why we lost the game. “We didn’t play well.”
“They worked hard and needed to win. Everything was wrong from the first minute.”
“We have the ball away every single time in easy positions.”
Rafa will likely make some changes for our next match at Watford next Saturday, and he will demand a much better performance.
We don’t want to end this season playing poorly and losing games.
We have now lost 16 games and won 11 – with three games to play.
On paper, yesterday’s game was the easiest match we had remaining.
We cannot complain too much because we are safe in the Premier League – the only goal for this season.
Newcastle will do better next season with Rafa still at the helm.
Comments welcome.
5 comments so far
Jib
Apr 29, 2018 at 7:28 AM
Comment #1No link again Ed
giimps
Apr 29, 2018 at 7:43 AM
Comment #2Does anyone know if Dummet was injured, this was his worst game of the season and I can only assume he was injured considering the types of player he’s kept quiet during games.
Maybe the players have either heard Rafa will be away due to lack of investment or that’s they are likely to be replaced if we do get investment……either that or it’s just difficult to play in flip flops
kimbo
Apr 29, 2018 at 7:52 AM
Comment #3Normal service resumed. We were terrible in every position, midfield was the area we lost the game. Kenedy didn’t looked interested, Shelvey and Diame were second best to WBA midfielders and Ritchie was useless.
Dummet was the worst player on the pitch followed by Yedlin, we need 2 new fullbacks for next season. A complete new attack is a must as Gayle , Perez and Joselu are just not good enough, just cannot believe what I witnessed yesterday.
cyprus
Apr 29, 2018 at 7:55 AM
Comment #4Reading through the comments from yesterday, quite a few bloggers didn’t watch the game, so it will be hard for them to judge.
I’m assuming they’ll vote for their favourite player. For the record, the flip flops theory isn’t too true, I feel. They all put in a shift, it’s just that we aren’t good enough to break down a team that sits back and waits for its chance… Much like the way we got our wins this year.
A couple points.
Shelvey had an off game and it showed on the field and in the result. He’s a key player. Was Merino not available? Should’ve been put in at half time.
Slimani worth 29 mil? Haven’t seen enough, but yesterday he was poor.
Kenedy may have been the player to unlock the game. When he was moved to left back, some of the fire up front was lost. He does offer something different. If ten million offered, accept. Not my MOM because really he should’ve passed to Gayle for a 99% goal.
So, no MOM. Perhaps their goal scorer 🙂 The ref, good first game.
Bianconeri
Apr 29, 2018 at 7:59 AM
Comment #5Merino had picked up an injury in training,not sure how bad it was