The big news coming out of the game on Saturday wasn’t particularly the result, although a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace was a decent result for us.
It was the first appearance at a Newcastle game by Mike Ashley since back in May of 2017.
Things were looking a lot better at that time – after we had just been promoted and Mike Ashley said he would give every last penny the club generated.
It hasn’t happened.
It looks like Ashley turned up without letting Rafa Benitez know – as it seemed a surprise to him when he was interviewed after the game.
Jamaal Lascelles has said the players certainly didn’t know Ashley was going to attend the game.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley
Here’s Jamaal talking in the Chronicle about that and how the defense played really well yesterday:
“We didn’t know he was coming. We were focused on the game,”
“I had an injection in it the other day and it feels much better now,” Lascelles said of his ankle injury.
“Defensively I’m very pleased with how we’re going. Another clean sheet at Palace.”
“Feddy (Federico Fernandez) was excellent, the goalkeeper was excellent, so were the full-backs. Everyone on the pitch was spot on defensively.”
“I had an injection in it the other day and it feels much better now,”
“Defensively I’m very pleased with how we’re going. Another clean sheet at Palace, Feddy (Federico Fernandez) was excellent, the goalkeeper was excellent, so were the full-backs.”
“Everyone on the pitch was spot on defensively.
“It’s about keeping the same intensity and team spirit because we’re at our very best when we play like that.”
“Everybody knows Zaha’s a good player and, on his day, he’s sometimes unplayable”
“But I thought DeAndre [Yedlin] did well, and then Dummy (Paul Dummett) did when he went to the other side, too.”
“In the wide areas they’re very dangerous, but we coped well with that threat and that’s something I’m pleased with.”
“If their players aren’t doing it in the wide areas, then we’ve done our jobs as defenders.”
“I’m pleased with the boys, individually and collectively – and now we go again.”
Good positive comments there from the captain.
The thing that Rafa likes to do is to build on a sound foundation of a good defense.
He had that last season, and we are getting there this season.
But it’s going to be much more difficult for Rafa to work out how we can score more goals this season after we struggled last season in that area.
Maybe we need another striker brought in during the January transfer window and a couple of creative players too.
It looks like we will have to strengthen in January to keep the club in the Premier League, although we are still hopeful we can pull away from the bottom three well before the end of this year.
Comments welcome.
90 comments so far
hibbit
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:00 PM
Comment #1we all know there’s problems both on and of the pitch and we all have our own ideas on how to fix them but when folk on here are putting forward Martin O’Neil to replace Rafa it infuriates me
nothing can/will change till Ashley’s gone that’s the one divining factor
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:03 PM
Comment #2Robleenio,
I’m not saying any of the players are world beaters, and I am far closer to the pragmatism and defensive approach Rafa takes than Klopp or Pep.
He does work with them everyday, but he is very set in his ways. Granted, they have been very successful for him through his management career, but also, when it has been successful he has had the players to make it successful. The players we have and had would suit a slightly more offensive approach. I’m not saying go all out and forego the defensive stability, but there needs to be a balance that better suits the squad we have.
When Rafa has allowed them a bit more freedom because we are behind, we have scored goals against some of the top sides. Why didn’t he allow that same greater freedom against Palace?
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Comment #3I’ll spare the lengthy repost.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:05 PM
Comment #4Hibbit,
I hadn’t seen that people had suggested Martin O’Neill…. That is madness.
You admit there are issues on and off, surely the whole point of the blog is to discuss them? People are happy to discuss the huge off field issues, but if you complain about the on field nowadays you apparently aren’t a real fan….
Optimistic Panda
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:07 PM
Comment #5Martin O’Neill, Jesus wept.
Anyone calling for him should ring a doctor instead.
Rob1971
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:10 PM
Comment #6There are fans on here saying why isn’t Rafa getting stick while Pardew did, for me the simple fact is Pardew had far better squads and under perfomed, yes he had the same problems with Ashley but he inherited a far better team and also had Ba, Cisse, Cabaye, the squad Rafa has now is not a patch on the one Pardew had, simple fact is Collo, Jonas, Tiote, Cabaye, Cisse, Ba, Simpson, Enrique would get straight into our team, even Leon Best would get a game up front as we are that short there
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:10 PM
Comment #7Lilongwe,
Apparently O Neill is the bookies favourite, catchy said he’d rather give him a go than Rafa. Yep, it’s all there in black and white.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:11 PM
Comment #8Jail,
My view on how I coach, or set up a side is far closer to the style Rafa has than how Keegan set is up. But at the end of the day, you need to utilise the players you have to the best of their ability. Has he done that? They aren’t world beaters, but adapting approach would get more out of people. Which of our strikers will our score Mitro this season? Could Rafa have adapted to get more from him?
Rob1971
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:15 PM
Comment #9Lilong when you get people moaning that the tactics are too negative after the cardiff game, saying they could understand if they did it against Chelsea but not them, then after the Chelsea game the same people were slagging him off for the negative tactics, it comes across as purely personal, they don’t rate him and want him gone, too many on here don’t discuss tactics/changes etc they just moan about him, one even said they would prefer Pulis
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:15 PM
Comment #10Rob,
I also think that Pardew climbing right in to Ashleys pocket turned a lot of fans against him, Mag52 excepted.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:15 PM
Comment #11Jail,
Incredible anybody would be championing O’Neill. He is a poor mans Rafa, wants his players to work hard and be organised at the expense of a more fluid game.
I don’t want rid of Rafa, even though seems to be the view on here for anyone who criticises elements of his style. I would just prefer him to adapt his style slightly and offer more in transitions and when we have the ball.
Our Toon
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:19 PM
Comment #12Catchy is the only one who advocated Martin O’Neill, one person says it and it becomes more people suggesting it for some odd reason
Our Toon
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:22 PM
Comment #13Jail
Apologies if I offended you, I’m pretty certain you did criticise pards (I know I did) and carr but if you say you didn’t then please accept my apology. You are getting more than I got yesterday with the childish ourtoon oot comment.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:22 PM
Comment #14Rob1971,
I thought we were overly negative in both those games.
We were negative against Man City, but I thought we performed well there as at least when we got the ball there was a bit more intent and control in how we used it.
The first half against Arsenal offered and showed a bit more than Chelsea and Cardiff. Second half changed a bit, but we were forced into a change and that set is back.
I have zero problem with taking the pragmatic approach and building from the back, but you can’t sit so deep and surrender possession so much against teams at this level without being punished. It almost happened against Palace, but their final ball and Sakho’s finishing were awful.
Our Toon
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:23 PM
Comment #15LG
Here here, change the style and try something different as it’s clearly not working at the minute in the final 3rd
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:23 PM
Comment #16Lilongwe,
In the Championship Rafa put too much faith in his squad against Blackburn ahead of a cup game, we lost and he got a fair bit of stick. We then lost Shelvey and hit a rocky patch. It’s easy to forget we equalled our longest winning streak and biggest away win. Ashley again showed a malevolent presence in January turning up with Carr and withholding funds. Had we strengthened in January we would have, imo won the league at a canter. Had we not have after spending in January then he would have deserved criticism.
Our Toon
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:24 PM
Comment #17Keep the manager though as we don’t want him gone.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #18Our Toon,
I did criticise Pardew, something rotten, I donated to the Pardewout.com as well, but only after he started with his not competing with Swansea and Soton shite.
RobLeenio
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #19I think we can probably all agree that the football is frustrating. Rafa could have let the shackles off more, but we don’t know what the effect of that could have been. Yes, more goals, but possibly more goals conceded also for the same number or less points. Granted, we could also have won more points. Who can say for certain?
Our best hope is that Rafa is backed in January to sign some players he really wants, rather than the ones he has to sign because others are denied to him. If this happens and he can finally build a squad in his own mould, then maybe we can start to pull his tactics apart.
The fact that Charnley is Rafa’s conduit to Ashley and he doesn’t meet him often means that the meeting at Palace could be very significant in helping the above to happen
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:29 PM
Comment #20Jail,
Not saying Rafa isn’t hamstrung and held back by bigger problems above. My point is that he has a squad of players that are overly focussed on not losing, instead of trying to win. The style and tactics are by Rafa’s design.
When we went behind against Chelsea, we pushed and showed greater intent to attack and create. We scored. Why weren’t we playing with greater intent and freedom against Cardiff and Palace?
I completely agree that we are held back by Ashley, and that his ownership is a huge problem, but if Rafa wasn’t so stubborn we could get more out of what we have.
Mag52
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:31 PM
Comment #21Ashley Out.
Mag52
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:33 PM
Comment #22Jail.
Pardew set out to ingratiate himself with Ashley in order to get what he wanted – it didn’t work.
Rafa seems prepared to be more confrontational, we’ll see if that works in the fullness of time.
Our Toon
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:35 PM
Comment #23Jail
As much as I hate pards he wasn’t wrong though was he? We can’t couldn’t compete financially with Southampton or Swansea. Now we’ve fallen behind wolves and Fulham
hibbit
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:35 PM
Comment #24Lilongwe
i’m as puzzled as you with some of Rafa decisions and his substitutions drive me mad,
but we also haven’t had the easiest of starts to the season both on and off the pitch and for so called fans on here to call for his head after six games is just ridiculous
of course Rafa can be criticized but certain posters have gone way beyond that
because of this many poster are now on the defensive with any criticism of Rafa being robustly defended
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:36 PM
Comment #25Mag52,
He signed an eight year deal after being fully briefed by Llambias and maybe Ashley himself that he was not expected to win anything and cups were a distraction.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:38 PM
Comment #26Our Toon,
He said that while inferring they had more clout than us, we all know that is not true.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:38 PM
Comment #27Didn’t Rafa say we couldn’t compete in the cups and had to be realistic by focusing on the league? Wasn’t Pardew (and Carver) vilified for saying the same? Rafa gets his 3rd or 4th choice signings, Pardew didn’t even get to pick.
I wouldn’t swap Rafa for Pardew ever, I’m just trying to understand why it is unacceptable to criticise Rafa, when it was okay to criticise previous managers, who, if anything, worked under more constraints by not being in charge of who was signed.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:41 PM
Comment #28Alan Pardew was totally complicit in reducing our expectations where as Rafa has spelled out what we could be capable of.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:41 PM
Comment #29Hibbit,
I’ve not once called for his head. I just discuss the approach and tactics and want him to adapt as he hasn’t got the players to make his usual style effective, and could get more from them by changing the approach, even if only slightly.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:43 PM
Comment #30Jail,
You could argue that Pardew was being honest about where the club was and the limitations of the club under the Ashley regime.
Rafa says similar, but does speak of how much could be achieved under a different owner.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:43 PM
Comment #31Lilongwe,
Because Pardew and Carver picked weakened sides while pretty much safe in the league, We had about twenty eight points when Carver took that team to Leicester.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:44 PM
Comment #32Neither of them are wrong. Most fans on here echo Pardews talk of where we are.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:45 PM
Comment #33And you could also be playing the devil’s advocate that you like to do Lilongwe.
DutchontheToon
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:46 PM
Comment #34Rafa seems to turning into a yes man. He said he knew the boss was coming to watch the game. The players say they did not know. No doubt he will sign another contract before the January window then complain when he gets no money from Cashley. Times are changing fast.
c-dog
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:47 PM
Comment #35OP hit the nail on the head. Our Squad is p!55 poor. Every transfer window the same faces come on here justifying cheapo signings and are desperate to try and find a positive. Our transfer business has been deplorable since Rafa has been at the club. Because of Rafa? Absolutely not. Because Mike Ashley doesn’t back him with the tools needed to get the right players for our club. Dubravka is the only good signing we’ve made. All the others attracted zero interest from premier league clubs. Because if one other premier league club shows an interest, we cannot compete because we haggle while other clubs get the job done.
Fancy a look at the deadwood?
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafael-benitez/spielertransfers/trainer/1522/plus/0?station_id=130579
hibbit
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:47 PM
Comment #36Lilongwe
i never thought for one moment you had/were i was just trying to explain the problems the blog was having, and why there was so much hostility going on,
no offence was intend or implied
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:48 PM
Comment #37Jail,
Did we pick our strongest side in the cup games in any of our cup matches under Rafa? How many cup games have we won under Rafa?
You keep missing the point and avoiding any comment on how the team are setup or play. I’m not and haven’t claimed that either of Pardew or Carver were successes here, or that I’d prefer them to Rafa. There are issues with our performances which those two would have been lambasted for. I’m offering fairly mild criticism of Rafa, and it is apparently too much.
Our Toon
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:49 PM
Comment #38Jail
Doesn’t rafa after every game talk about our limitations as a squad or playing XI, is that not reducing expectations?
Bottom line is rafa has done alot of good but he’s also not infallible, he will probably walk at the end of the season as it is. Let’s change it up in terms of tactics for Leicester at home and give them something to think about rather than looking at ways to stop them and nullifying ourselves in the process
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:50 PM
Comment #39Hibbit,
No offence was taken, ive seem some of the hugely exaggerated criticism of Rafa, but just cause some go over the top, doesn’t mean that there aren’t issues that could be discussed. It feels a lot like talking about football isn’t welcome on this football blog…..
Rob1971
Sep 24, 2018 at 1:53 PM
Comment #40Lilong in the Chelsea game we were minutes from getting a decent point after falling behind to a very dubious penalty and an own goal, we frustrated them until the penalty, the Spurs game we did not deserve to lose that game, Man City I thought the tactics were correct, I can understand being dissapointed with the performances against Cardiff & Palace, but not the others, we did the same tactics against Man Utd, Arsenal last season, difference was we took our chances, before kick off I would have taken a point against palace no matter how we played, I still say it is a decent away point