Rafa Benitez, as usual, was confident in his press conference yesterday and the squad have done well so far this year.
We’ve had players injured and other players have come in and got the job done for the team.
One such example is the way Ki came in when Jonjo Shelvey was injured in the home game against Watford and has shown what an excellent player we signed as a free agent last summer.
Swiss Center-back Fabian Schar has also played well since he was given a chance during that same game, and he has a chance to become a first team starter if he maintains his good form.
However, the competition at center-back is now intense.
Rafa Benitez – Newcastle manager
Rafa seems happy with his squad so far this season as he had this to say in the Chronicle today:
“To lose players is always bad news but we have to cope.”
“In a whole season you will have players who get injured or suspended.”
“It means you have to have others available who are ready to work just as hard and they know what they have to do.”
“It’s 10 days and then we assess him (Shelvey).”
“We have to see how he will get on we will guarantee how long he will be unavailable soon.”
“Hopefully, we won’t be talking too much about Fede Fernandez because we will be on the attack and looking for goals during the game.”
“We have been lucky in some ways.”
“Ki needed time after the World Cup needed time to settle down and now he’s doing well.”
“Mo Diame is doing a good job, Hayden is working very hard and Sean Longstaff was on the bench the other day.”
“And I was happy with his performance playing in the Under-23s the other day against Norwich.”
“They are all trying to be ready just in case we need anyone.”
Rafa won the Manager of the Month award for November when we won three games in a row after having only three draws in our first 10 games with seven defeats.
We could do with some more wins now having gained just one point in the last three games.
Hopefully, we can do that this afternoon and beat Huddersfield, and then we play Fulham at home next Sunday.
If we can somehow win both games, it should be a happy enough Christmas for Newcastle fans.
After all, we can all expect a new owner coming in next month and Rafa getting some decent money to spend in the January transfer window.
That’s true, isn’t it?
🙂
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:40 PM
Comment #11 Hour 19 Minutes to KO
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:42 PM
Comment #2At a rough count there are four players on each side at the ManC game wearing gloves including the GKs.
Couldn’t see any snoods.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:44 PM
Comment #3De Bruyne, Sterling and Aguero on the bench, 2-0 up with 71% possession, oh what could have been. Thanks Mikey 🙄
Jib
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:45 PM
Comment #4snoods were prohibited in an FA directive
some winters ago
Jib
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:46 PM
Comment #5Actually 7 years ago
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9415721.stm
Moonraker15
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:47 PM
Comment #6Essex
Snoods are banned by the fa
Moonraker15
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:53 PM
Comment #7Jail
Ashley was too arrogant (and probably pissed) when talking to the Arabs!
davetoon
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:56 PM
Comment #8This sounds promising “Hopefully, we won’t be talking too much about Fede Fernandez because we will be on the attack and looking for goals during the game.”
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 15, 2018 at 1:59 PM
Comment #9That’s the reason for none being worn then!
2nd half 6 players with gloves!
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 15, 2018 at 2:00 PM
Comment #1059 Minutes to KO
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 15, 2018 at 2:01 PM
Comment #11ManC that is.
toonbrother
Dec 15, 2018 at 2:02 PM
Comment #12No Ritchie
Lascelles captain
Brilliant