Rafa has done a good job this season of teaching his players what it takes to win games in the Premier League.
And he has pointed out to them it’s the little things that mean a lot in the Premier League.
After that disastrous nine-game streak before Christmas when we picked up just a single point the lads have done brilliantly to get us safe on 41 points.
That’s was three games ago but since then they seem to have forgotten what Rafa drummed into them and have seemed to have gone backwards.
It will be a big challenge for Rafa to get them playing solidly again in our final two games at Tottenham and at home to Chelsea in the coming week.
A hot Rafa Benitez on the touchline yesterday
If we don’t improve we could lose both those games and it would be five successive defeats to end the season.
We cannot have that.
Here’s what Rafa said when asked if it was the motivation of his players that was missing:
“It’s not a question of motivation.”
“We achieved something that was really important and difficult: to stay up with five games to go was a great achievement.”
“The team has been working so hard that sometimes it is difficult to keep this level. We tend to change players, we tend to change things if we can.”
“But we play against teams with quality too and if you don’t make the right decisions a couple of times, then you can fall behind.”
“These mistakes, and the experience that the other teams have, you pay for that.”
“With this in mind, the team is working hard, running, but we are going late into some situations, and we are making mistakes.”
“Because maybe we do not have this concentration, this responsibility and the necessity to get points.”
“So we can just think: ‘If we go now, we can see what happens.’ It doesn’t matter too much if we lose a game.”
“But now we must realize we have lost three in a row and we have to react.”
“The teams in the Premier League are quite good and, if you make mistakes, you will pay for that.”
We think it’s important to try to get 10th place or even higher and don’t subscribe to the notion that it doesn’t really matter.
Rafa knows that a team more professional than we are at the moment would continue winning their games and playing with intensity, but our players have become sloppy.
Yes – it’s human nature to relax after reaching a huge target for the season – but it’s not being professional.
What do you think?
Loading ...Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7 
65 comments so far
Ron Knee
May 6, 2018 at 3:49 PM
Comment #1That must have been some half-time team talk from Rafa yesterday.
DaveD1000
May 6, 2018 at 3:52 PM
Comment #2probably along the lines of…you ,you you and you don’t bother with a season ticket for the Metro
DubaiMicky
May 6, 2018 at 4:05 PM
Comment #3Just watching the Citeh celebrations and thinking, if that twat Ashley had respected the Mansours, they would have bought us.
But no, he got pissed and threw up.
That is yet another reason why he needs to leave
lesh
May 6, 2018 at 4:26 PM
Comment #4Ron Knee
I’m sure that Charnley and Rafa do get on but as you say, Charley’s the one Ashley’s placed in the front line – albeit only with the limited authority delegated by Ashley. It says it all that Rafa’s got no trust in Ashley but the comfort he’ll draw is that he’s not the first nor will he be the last.
Dubai,
As I said earlier, Ashley doesn’t do respect. Ffs, even I know you don’t expect high-ranking arabs to come to you – especially when getting pissed! What a complete tw@ he is – arrogant, ignorant and totally disrespectful.
posada
May 6, 2018 at 4:32 PM
Comment #5Ashley could have sold to the Mansours ?
I don’t think so. It’s a bit of a myth that one.
They bought Man City for 165M from that Frank Sinatra fella. A forced sale.
Ashley would never have sold for that much.
It was never really on.
Essex Geordie Bill
May 6, 2018 at 4:45 PM
Comment #6Glad to see my tip for top scorer next season get another one yesterday.
Put Mitro alongside him and we’ve got a top combo.
Shaquiri whenever I’ve seen him play he puts in a good shift, I’d say buy him.
Rafa has to be able to manage the difficult players as they are often the ones who have the star quality that can turn games in a trice.
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 5:34 PM
Comment #7Ashley was supposed to meet with
representatives of Zabeel Investments
(nowt to do with the Mansours)
who let it be known that £200m was their
top price.
Asheley wanted double that , so it was a non starter
Munster Mag
May 6, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #8Shaqiri looks like he’s got some timber going on but I’d have him once he doesn’t occupy kenedys place?
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Comment #9Munster
Do you mean he’s a stocky fellow ?
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 5:57 PM
Comment #10If Liverpool play like this vs Real Madrid they’ll get moidered.
DaveD1000
May 6, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #11Burnley suffering the motivational thing…
Jail for Ashley
May 6, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #12We’re totally toothless up front, five goals for your joint top scorers says it all.
Munster Mag
May 6, 2018 at 6:20 PM
Comment #13Jail how many beers yesterday? Cans and pints… Myself and dubai had a guessing competition…
Jail for Ashley
May 6, 2018 at 6:28 PM
Comment #14Munster
Fourteen cans three double vodka Red Bulls and about six pints.
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 6:32 PM
Comment #15Don’t forget El Clasico in a little over an hour
Jail for Ashley
May 6, 2018 at 6:39 PM
Comment #16That Chelsea result isn’t great for us, they’ve got everything to play for now.
Jail for Ashley
May 6, 2018 at 6:42 PM
Comment #17I think we’ll end up blowing tenth unless we can get something from our last two.
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 6:52 PM
Comment #18Jail
We’re going to rip Spuds a new one at Wembley
Keep the faith
beefman13
May 6, 2018 at 6:54 PM
Comment #19Looks like 3 more years of Mike! 96m out 104m in since Rafa arrived, suits Mike to a tee.
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 6:59 PM
Comment #20Eeh let’s bang on about the owner again
f@ck the footy
cyprus
May 6, 2018 at 6:59 PM
Comment #21Fans are saying no thanks for Shaqiri and Allen?
Do we have any players at that level?
Still, I suspect Allen will stay on, help them get back up. Shaqiri too, despite the clause.
We need serious reinforcements all over. People who can make a difference.
cyprus
May 6, 2018 at 7:01 PM
Comment #22Jib
Will El clasico be worth watching or since it is all done and dusted, no one will really be arsed?
ilovetoon8788
May 6, 2018 at 7:02 PM
Comment #23Our top scorer is 5 league goals. There’s where the serious problem lies.
cyprus
May 6, 2018 at 7:11 PM
Comment #24I see Real will want to halt unbeaten season 😉
And Barca to achieve it.
Apart from pride and all that.
cyprus
May 6, 2018 at 7:12 PM
Comment #25True 8788. It’s a wonder we survived, with no CF.
jane
May 6, 2018 at 7:22 PM
Comment #26“Our top scorer is 5 league goals.”
it’s 6
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/newcastle-united/2017-18/top-scorers.html
jane
May 6, 2018 at 7:24 PM
Comment #27as a team we have scored more goals than
Burnley
Brighton
Huddersfield
Swansea
West Brom
Stoke
and same amount as Southampton
lochinvar
May 6, 2018 at 7:27 PM
Comment #28Our top scorer has 6 goals….maybe, but it’s not enough and we might happen to need more next season
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 7:36 PM
Comment #29I’m watching El Clasico on US beIN sports
One of the commentators is Ray “Rocky” Hudson
It’s so funny to hear it with a broad Geordie accent
😀
Mag52
May 6, 2018 at 7:38 PM
Comment #30For me, in a team without a decent regular goal scoring CF, Ayoze Perez is the nearest to a no.9 that we have. A far more instinctive goal scorer than Gayle and as for Joselu………..
jane
May 6, 2018 at 7:54 PM
Comment #31“but it’s not enough”
but it has been enough 🙂
ronaldo aarons
May 6, 2018 at 8:03 PM
Comment #32I’m a fan of Perez playing up front, think he’s been a victim of playing out of position. Natural striker, good work rate, clever movement and decent finishing ability with some good touches. Since his first season he’s played on the wings and behind the striker. Rafa seems to be moulding him into a #10 and he is imporiving at it but he’s not a natural.
ronaldo aarons
May 6, 2018 at 8:05 PM
Comment #33No to shaqiri. Type of character we used to sign but hopefully we’ve moved from that. Has quality but inconsistent. When he’s not on his game doesn’t have the work rate to help the team and is like playing with 10 men.
ronaldo aarons
May 6, 2018 at 8:07 PM
Comment #34This Classico match is a good match so far but I swear the bein sports commentator comes out with some crazy lines.
jane
May 6, 2018 at 8:10 PM
Comment #35“Hudson’s commentating style, which mimics fellow Geordie, famous darts commentator Sid Waddell, consists of metaphors and excited, romanticized descriptions (e.g., “magisteeerial”) of players and goals, has earned him both praise and ridicule.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Hudson
jane
May 6, 2018 at 8:13 PM
Comment #36i predicted Perez would be tgs in the blog competition…although i think i said 15 goals 😐
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 8:19 PM
Comment #37What do you expect Hudson went to Dame Allan’s
ronaldo aarons
May 6, 2018 at 8:30 PM
Comment #38Jane
Didn’t know who he was or his name but that is very accurate.
ShirebrookToon
May 6, 2018 at 8:38 PM
Comment #39Can see that being the first of a couple of red cards in the el Classico tonight
Jib
May 6, 2018 at 8:38 PM
Comment #40ronaldo aarons
He’s an ex Toon player