Rafa Benitez has been interviewed in the Chronicle today, and he seems calm and confident that we can achieve survival in the Premier League – even if he says it will take another miracle – like last season.
Rafa may be overdoing the miracles there.
🙂
We are hoping Rafa can bring in three or four good players in this January transfer window so the squad is strengthened and that will help us survive and get the wins we need to stay up.
Rafa was heavily criticized by Newcastle icon Alan Shearer for the weak team he played against Championship club Blackburn last Saturday in the FA Cup, and now we have a replay next week after the 1-1 draw.
Shearer thought Rafa should have fielded a stronger side to give fans what they want – to win the FA Cup – or at least have a lengthy FA Cup run.
We have a terrible record in the FA Cup over the last several years.
Rafa Benitez – seems confident Newcastle can avoid relegation
But we may not have a strong enough squad for that this season – it will take all we have to pull away from the relegation zone this season – even though that’s what we did last year.
But Rafa seems upbeat and confident we can survive in the Premier League this season.
This is what he had this to say in the Chronicle today:
“Our reaction in the second part of the Premier League last season was quite good.” “We have to realize now it won’t always be like that but we have to work hard.”
“It is better to get the points early and see afterwards how far we can go.”
“I think we are fine, but am I totally happy with what we are achieving now? No, because we can do better.”
“It will be easier for us to manage the second half of the season.” “I’m still quite confident if we do the right things we will stay up. Even if it is a miracle.”
“To be fair I didn’t just manage the squad against Liverpool, I thought we could win the game with fresh legs and doing the right things.”
“I was disappointed because we made mistakes against a very good team to give them the advantage.” “We should have managed the game better.”
“The festive games are not just about managing the squad and having fresh legs for each game, it is to pick the right players for a certain game.”
“Sometimes a player who is classed as better in theory, they can be tired.” “If he is tired he’s worse than the other one.”
“If you had Lionel Messi – OK, he would have to be there no matter what because he can make the difference.”
“But if you don’t have players like a Messi or players of a similar level you need players who can give you something physically in a third game in a row in a short period of time.”
The Newcastle squad travel to Chelsea on Saturday, and in the 7 games we have played against the top six clubs this season we have lost every one of them.
If we can take a point at Stamford Bridge on Saturday that would be a decent enough result.
But our defense will need to be at their very best, and we will need to make the best of any counter-attacks we can create in the game.
It will be a difficult game – for sure
Comments welcome.
302 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Jan 8, 2019 at 11:02 PM
Comment #281AC
As the old saying goes ‘Give ‘Em Enough Rope’
AncientC
Jan 8, 2019 at 11:11 PM
Comment #282Oh yes, I am sure ‘Joe Sophistication’ couldn’t put it any better.
thatmatt
Jan 8, 2019 at 11:18 PM
Comment #283Thanks Lindisfarne, enjoyed reading that. A good find.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 9, 2019 at 12:03 AM
Comment #284Nowt wrong with the lads getting beat tonight, I know it’s a bit of a cliche but they’ll have learned a lot from the defeat and if they take the lessons on board, as I think they will, then they’ll become better player in the longer term.
If Liverpool can have 3 17 year olds in their team then I’m sure we can give 19 year olds a chance, I think they’d cope very well.
By the way that young lad who came on for Sunderland down their left looks a real talent, might be an idea to lure him to Tyneside.
Munster Mag
Jan 9, 2019 at 12:03 AM
Comment #285Jail, strange that you have never once mentioned that I have said, on numerous occasions, that I would prefer rafa here, financially backed, and the move into a DOF role long term. Which goes to show what a complete liar you are, as I have pointed out many times. I have an issue with some of rafa’s ultra defensive football, but have never asked for liverpool style or anything like ghat, because I appreciate the constraints on him. But what I do point out, and will continue to do, is that fans should not be happy with shockingly defensive efforts at home to teams like Fulham who were not in good nick when they came.
Munster Mag
Jan 9, 2019 at 12:07 AM
Comment #286I also stand by the comments that there woukd have been a lot of backlash from spurs of arsenal if they went for rafa. Surprise surprise arsenal didn’t even go there. This doesn’t mean that he is a bad manager jail, you twisting little toe-rag, it just means that teams at the top level don’t want him, as far as I can see. That winds you up doesn’t it, because you see nufc as rafa v Ashley, which is a pointless logic. Rafa suits us. His defensiveness suits us right now and we need that. To say I hate the manus bonkers, but I criticise him ifi think it’s warranted.
Munster Mag
Jan 9, 2019 at 12:11 AM
Comment #287Jail, you also lied that I said I wanted us to play like Liverpool a play gung ho. Stop lying jail, smart people know you can’t reason, but stop lying about what I say. You are a lying toe-rag Jail who xannot entertain other points of view on anything. You shouldn’t be on the blog because you are a liar and you can’t debate.
Oldgit1
Jan 9, 2019 at 1:06 AM
Comment #288I think you killed the blog Munster mag. A lot of hate shown, calm down mate.
Nicky the ball tosser
Jan 9, 2019 at 3:29 AM
Comment #289Good read that article in “The Blizzard”, even if the title is quite a distraction.
It constantly reminds of the old Jewish joke that begins with a psychiatrist saying, “I’m afraid, Mrs Goldstein, that your son has an Oedipus complex.”
“Oedipus schmoedipus!” comes the response. “What does it matter as long as he loves his mother?” 🙂
Lindisfarne
Jan 9, 2019 at 6:23 AM
Comment #290Now that’s a joke you can laugh at.
Lindisfarne
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:11 AM
Comment #291Bidding war between Villa and WBA for the services of Hayden!
Moonraker15
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:15 AM
Comment #292Charlie
Good point! I think on this occasion the keeper got no where near the ball and took him out. He probably thought he was offside!
toon22
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:16 AM
Comment #293Still
0 takeovers
0 transfers
toon22
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:18 AM
Comment #294But he’s selling the club
Honest
He’s mugging us off
Jail for Ashley
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:36 AM
Comment #295Munster,
Will you answer my question, you’ve stated that you want questions asked of the manager and questioned when the fans are going to stop letting him off the hook. What are you hoping to achieve with this.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:39 AM
Comment #296Also Munster find me a post where I have lied.
c-dog
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:43 AM
Comment #297Day 9
Takeovers – 0
Incoming Players – 0
lochinvar
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:51 AM
Comment #298Lindisfarne
Bidding war between Villa and WBA for the services of Hayden!
Considering his story is that he wants to be with family in South Wales then he needs to be talking to Cardiff or Swansea or maybe a Bristol club.
Or on the wages he gets move the family to Tyneside unless there’s some exceptional personal reason why that’s not possible which would be understood.
lochinvar
Jan 9, 2019 at 7:55 AM
Comment #299Toon22
0 takeovers
0 transfers
Still nil nil
Divn’t fret, we’re still in open play in normal time.
There’s extra time and even penalties to decide this.
Or it’s a replay – but we’ve been there before
martoon
Jan 9, 2019 at 8:25 AM
Comment #300I’ve just been reading through the comments from last night especially during the game – some of the negative comments from the usual suspects beggars belief. We were always going to be the underdogs with out U21 team verses their first team with about 6 changes but still seasoned pros.
I think 4 – 0 was harsh but it will be a good learning experience for the lads. I think this shows that a few of them could maybe be given a chance in the cup against Blackburn but are certainly not ready for a relegation scrap in the Premiership!
Jail for Ashley
Jan 9, 2019 at 8:52 AM
Comment #301martoon,
I was hoping to listen to it but never got the chance, would it have been allowed to play any of the first team squad.
Munster Mag
Jan 9, 2019 at 12:36 PM
Comment #302Jail I’m not about to start chasing the messages that show the lies you have spouted but for example, you said I wax pissed off re Liverpool and slagged rafa off for that. I did no such thing. You have also used stuff I have said selectively. For example, I said rafa had small hands and an orthopaedic glove on when I met him. It wasn’t a slight on him, but u have used it ever since. The only reason I said it wax to verify that I met him. So you are happy to manipulate and tell lies all day to suit your sad agenda.