Here is one of Rafa Benitez’ interviews after yesterday’s vital 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland, when we came back well in the second half and equalized through a great header from the hero – Aleksandar Mitrovic.
That was after we were very poor in the first half and it’s not at all how Rafa wanted the team to play – but he fixed things up at half time so we were a lot better in that second half.
Rafa continues to believe he has the players to survive relegation – and at the end of this interview he assures fans after they gave him a great reception, filled the stadium and supported the team throughout – that he will do his very best for them in every game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx850_fuTnA
In Rafa We Trust
71 comments so far
toon kk
Mar 21, 2016 at 9:41 PM
Comment #41Tbf we all want us to survive, well I can’t believe someone can call themselves a fan if they don’t. But we all have to accept the reality of we will probably go down. Carr, Charnless and Co have to take responsibility along with Macca and our players, but you can’t give players quality they haven’t got.
SHAME if we do go down but we can only support our club and hope we bounce back up.
In the mean time let’s hope Rafa Can motivate our players and we can get a few wins to keep us in the premier league.
jimmysmith
Mar 21, 2016 at 9:44 PM
Comment #42We have a one in three chance of staying up, so little is the difference in form between the three of us. I personally think Norwich are the most likely to go down, because of a severe lack of goal threat and there relatively small support, despite their win at Brom.
Who ever stays up might do it with as few as 33 or 34 points, which tells its own story of how bad we have been, but I think you’d need a lobotomy to feel positive considering our position, and inadequacies in both defence and attack.
AncientC
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:01 PM
Comment #43beermonkey – you don’t think Newcastle being relegated would hurt SD? if that was the case, then the club would be charging for its advertising space.
Let’s say that the SD advertising is worth 8 million per year – now, let’s say that Ashley keeps that free advertising in place for 20 years. That = £160 million in free advertising, more than even the club debt.
The advertising has a material value, that value goes to SD and not the club.
Even if the advertising generates an extra £5 million per year profits for Sports Direct, SD profit is £180 million per year. What would happen to company shares, when a business that once made £180 million per year, loses £5 million of that?
“The Premier League is broadcast in 212 territories around the world, working with 80 different broadcasters.
The TV audience for Premier League games is 4.7bn”
Moonraker15
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:07 PM
Comment #44I am not saying there’s no chance of us going down, but I think on balance we have more chance of staying up than Norwich and Sunderland; mainly because of Rafa and we shall definitely improve for the remaining games. I think we’ll beat Norwich, Swansea, Palace, Villa and pick up at least 2 draws. Should be enough to stay up ! Howay the lads!
Belfast
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #45I definitely feel more confident that the manager can fix it when we go behind or we aren’t playing well now.
His subs yesterday did seem weird at the time but it definitely worked.
I still find it really bizarre that we didn’t change manager after the Chelsea game though. If we do get relegated that decision to stick by McClaren at that point will have played a major part in it.
Belfast
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:21 PM
Comment #46That would have been a fortnight with the new manager and six extra points to play for. Perfect timing to make the change.
That was a major c*** up.
Jib
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Comment #47Belfast getting scudded away to Chelsea 5 -1 is just not the same as getting molested 3 -0 at home off Bournemouth
beermonkey
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:24 PM
Comment #48ancient
sports direct dont pay a penny its a gift from ashley
and i am sure when sports direct plan there adverting i bet the club are not mentioned
ashley has shown time and time again he doesnt care what his share holder think and more or less does as he pleases
sports direct have had 9 years free advertising if they lose if for a few season will they complain no if it means that much to them they will go and pay for it at another club in the prem
in the championship it win win for sd they dont pay the only losers are the club with loss of revenue
Belfast
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:28 PM
Comment #49I know that Jib but that wasn’t your normal swashbuckling Chelsea. It was a team out of sorts and we made them look like Barcelona.
And it wasn’t the first time we made the opposition look like Barcelona Palace Everton etc etc
21st Century Schizoid Man
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:32 PM
Comment #50Moonraker
I like your optimism, and though it’s a very tough uphill struggle to get points from 6 of our last 8 matches, I think Rafa is one of very few managers who could achieve that.
I’m hoping beyond hope that he does, because I want to enjoy the ride of next season with him in charge.
Okay so 4-2-3-1 isn’t always pretty and we’ll get the tacticians on here arguing for 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, but we have to put our trust in him to get it right. There is no-one else. Relegation would mean what ? Who would be our Championship manager if he walked ? Scary prospect.
toon22
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:33 PM
Comment #51When we are religated lets hope Rafa can be pursuaded to stay with a mountain of cash and total free reign of every aspect of our club.
AncientC
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:36 PM
Comment #52beermonkey – The subject of SD free advertising must be “The love that dare not speak its name” when it comes to talks between Ashley and his Shareholders. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Nobody talks about it, but everybody knows.
beermonkey
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:45 PM
Comment #53ancient
for us fans its a real problem because the way the club is run
also no1 can seem to agree its true worth
i saw a piece in the paper the other day about topgear and one of there stunts and the car had advertinsing on it and they reckon it was worth around 2 mill top gear shown all over the world like the prem and for a 5 10 min bit on there they reckon 2mill
does that mean our advertising is worth nearly 80mill no way its a complicated thing to work out
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/7007258/Sick-Top-Gear-stunt-worth-millions-in-free-advertising.html?redirect=true
we are a benefit to SD i think thats where it ends
they have no say as we have no say
JamesToon
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:49 PM
Comment #54Bit worried about Ashley’s interview where he says he regrets buying us, and that we’ve completely emptied the bank this season…
And says he won’t increase his stake in rangers because he doesn’t want to be involved in football anymore, OK…so why still own a football club??!!
AncientC
Mar 21, 2016 at 10:57 PM
Comment #55This is from 2014:
“In the last season before Ashley arrived the Commercial revenue at Newcastle was £27.6m, after six years under Mike Ashley‘s ownership the Commercial revenue in the recently released 2012/13 figures was £17.1m. A shocking state of affairs that sees the club turning over £10.5m less per season than United did six years previously. Astounding.
What makes it so much worse though is that EVERY other Premier League club has seen their commercial revenue go up.
While Newcastle’s commercial revenue has dropped by almost 40% in that six year period, all of our competitors have benefited from a rise.”
Commercial revenue is up since then, but nowhere near as high as it should be, imo.
Jib
Mar 21, 2016 at 11:01 PM
Comment #56James Toon
You’d be less worried if you didn’t make shit up
beermonkey
Mar 21, 2016 at 11:06 PM
Comment #57ancient
we are shockingly badly run if it wasnt for the tv money going up we would be right in the sh1t but the owner seems happy with it
with the like of west ham spurs liverpool any advantage our 50k stadium has in terms of revenue will soon fo with them all set for new stadia or upgrading
Fostino
Mar 21, 2016 at 11:30 PM
Comment #58I Look around at players like rashFord. .the arsenal young lad iwobi..ibe..Ward prose to name a few and wonder why we are letting d young talent like Armstrong on loan ..or arrons on the bench…young guns like that can create moments of genius and really get the crowd going.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2016 at 11:36 PM
Comment #59Fostina
Is that comment in response to what I said earlier, if so thank you, glad someone is responding.
U.S Magpie
Mar 21, 2016 at 11:51 PM
Comment #60Jib, on your team selection. Isn’t Colback suspended now for two games for his tenth yellow card?
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 22, 2016 at 12:28 AM
Comment #61Dead on here tonight, the international break is so boring.
stuart no9
Mar 22, 2016 at 12:57 AM
Comment #62for the people on here who didnt think the 1-1 draw on sunday was good enough and believe nothing has changed over the last 2 weeks — would macca have got 1 point or 3 against the mackems.?? yes or no ?????
Mister Tuff
Mar 22, 2016 at 1:02 AM
Comment #63Jib Jibberish see you were having a pop earlier on – trying to goad. Surprised non of the gobshites appeared to tick you of for your behaviour.
Well not really surprised at their selective targets for a rebuke (hypocrites comes to mind).
Anyway whats the post at number 1 on this thread :-
“Jib // Mar 21, 2016 at 5:35 PM
I had a feeling about 10 minutes into the game if we could hold on until halftime that Rafa would sort it out .
I also thought exactly the same as Shearer that give Defoe more than a couple of chances he will punish you.”
Wow – impressive stuff – not only do you offer a Google searching service, usually misinterpreted, but now you are offering psychic predictions and mind reading Shearer. (the bloke yopu were slagging off a few weeks
ago).
so what is your secret -tarot cards, ouija board, reading the tea leaves ?
Or is it just getting sloshed and making up any old shyte.
Your crap post destroyer would kill you off in a day.
What a knacker – but always good for a laugh (ridicule).
jimmysmith
Mar 22, 2016 at 2:26 AM
Comment #64……………………………..Elliott…
Janmaat………Mbemba……Collocini………Haidarra…
Sissoko…….Shelvey……..Widjnaldum…..Townsend…
………………………..DeJong…
………………………………….Cisse
Possibly Tiote in for Shelvey, who appears to be trying too hard, if anything, and rushing his football. But there is plenty of quality and experience in that side for Rafa to work with.
To be frank, the likes of Perez, Mitro and Lascelles don’t fill me with confidence in this intensely pressurised, almost desperate, situation.
jimmysmith
Mar 22, 2016 at 2:33 AM
Comment #65Bench, Mitro, Aarons, Perez, Anita, Taylor, no one else would really seems that much use, and the Saivet and Doumbia signings appear pathetic.
Veltman
Mar 22, 2016 at 4:21 AM
Comment #66I don’t care whether Janmaat gets injured or not.
He has been poor the whole season.He is one player I like to see shipped out and replaced by the likes of Keiran Trippier in the summer.Anita can do a better job than him at right back.I like to see Haidara back at lb.At least he is more flexible and can make good crosses down the wing than Dummett and colback .
Saivet and Doumbia must have been poor.I haven’t impressed by Saivet the way I saw him against Everton.Doumbia has been poor in top leagues (Italy).No surprises here as well.Two poor signings and looked panic buys.Luckily,
Doumbia is on loan.Is carr’s eyes run out of juice?
EllaGuru
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:09 AM
Comment #67Mbemba looked especially nervous in the first half against Sunderland. A number of stray passes and dodgy, rushed clearances. Lascelles on the other hand I thought looked quite composed and calm. I think we have a decent CB partnership here if we can bed the two of them in. The matter that remains to be solved is the wingbacks.
@jimmysmith 64
You say Lascelles does not fill you with confidence, yet Colo does? Colo is the most dishonest CB in the Premier League. He has no fight, desire nor leadership skills. Yes he has a decent first touch, but lacks all the other attributes required of a CB in the Premier League.
firebug666
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:10 AM
Comment #68It would seem Carr is weighing up his options, If Rafa keeps us up he will leave Newcastle as Rafa will stay and have total control over transfers.
But Rafa may leave if we go down.
I think Carr should ship out now (he is 71) and take that Charnley fella with him.
http://www.footballinsider247.com/newcastle-news-scout-carr-considers-position-after-benitez-arrival/?
EllaGuru
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:11 AM
Comment #69Does anyone know what the situation is with Mbabu and Hairdryer? Are they both still injured?
Ian Toon
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:16 AM
Comment #70I see the usual incoherent rants against all things Ashley without any balance or a case being made. What mistakes has Ashley made this season.?
Belfast – Though lays the blame quite rightly at the hands of the Board. There was a clear case of dereliction of duty by the board in dithering when after the Chelsea game Macca should have been sacked.. Again urgency was in short supply. We weren’t supposed to lose at home to Bournemouth and there was no contingency plan. The Board were caught on the hop yet again.
They are to be congratulated on the appointment of Rafa Benitez a first class appointment. This though doesn’t alter the fact that their dithering cost Benitez vital weeks on the training pitch; if they’d bit the bullet on Macca when they should have.
It also impacted the players mindset that the board might plan to stick with Macca, to give him another game or two to turn things around. It was complacency, a dereliction of duty and hindered our chances of still being in the PL next season. Tbe Board wilfully neglected their duties. Whatever happens between now and the end of the season Macca and Ashley should not be scapegoats for the failings of others.
Jib
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:29 AM
Comment #71Ian Toon
If press rumours are to be believed , it was Benitez’ people that actually approached the Toon.
If that is true then possibly Charnley had decided to limp along until seasons end with McClaren.
So the question of getting Rafa in before the La Manga trip had never entered anyone’s head.
For Manuel García Quilón to believe NUFC would listen favourably to an approach and contemplate sacking SM , someone would have had to to put it out there on the grapevine , Ashley associates perhaps ?