Rafa Benitez has stayed very calm over these last few weeks when we have not done very well and given up the top place in the Championship to Brighton and they are now 2 points ahead of us with a game in hand.
It seems that what Chris’ team have that Newcastle need to improve on is a very solid and mean defense.
Brighton have conceded only 15 goals and the next best in that category is Derby County with 18 and then followed by Newcastle with 20.
Dwight Gayle – Championship top scorer with 17 goals
We have scored 48 goals which is the best in the division and 5 more than the next highest scorers Barnsley, and our goal difference is 28 which is 3 better than Brighton and 17 better than the next best – Fulham.
The stat that is not good is we have lost 7 games with those good stats and yet Brighton have lost ony twice.
Rafa Benitez has tried to explain the current situation after we were all over Blackburn last Monday afternoon yet came away with a shocking 1-0 loss.
This is what Rafa has said as reported in the Chronicle:
“Do we need to be more clinical? Yeah, but we have the players to do that.”
“We must be more ruthless, but it’s difficult to criticise too much when you’re top scorers.”
“We have to create more clear chances for them and if you do that, it will be easier to score goals.”
“Change the scenario. If you were in the Brighton Press conference, would you be saying you have to score more goals? Or are you happy with your position?”
“If we have more chances, if we have the top scorer and if we have scored more goals than anyone are you telling me you would like Matt Ritchie or Ayoze Perez or Yoan Gouffran or Mo Diame to score more goals?”
“Yes, obviously, but it’s not that we don’t score goals.” “We have Dwight Gayle who is scoring more than anyone, but the others are creating chances.”
“We will create chances for all the offensive players and maybe we have to sustain the attacks a little bit better.”
“Sometimes you need luck. Sometimes it’s just the other team doing well, but you also need luck.”
We also have the Championship top scorer in Dwight Gayle with 17 goals, so Newcastle certainly have all the stats in our favor.
The only one we don’t have is the best defense, so perhaps that’s one we can improve a little bit.
Of course the only one that really matters at the end of the season is to have enough points to go up in an automatic promotion place.
That’s what we need – that’s the goal.
15 comments so far
Spotlight Kid
Jan 7, 2017 at 12:46 PM
Comment #1Only points win prizes, Ed, not stats.
Jib
Jan 7, 2017 at 12:52 PM
Comment #2Tsunki
Please address me as Boss or Gaffa
pip pip tynemouth old chap
I wish I knew how to do a redfaced smiley
82 Legolas – Disappointed not to make the team
You are part of my rotation
😀
Reading getting a bit of a football lesson
reilly
Jan 7, 2017 at 12:58 PM
Comment #3rafa bingo.
sels
yedlin hanley clark lazaar
ritchie hayden colback goofy
murphy mitro
sparky55
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Comment #4I’d use the cup to try a more adventurous 532 formation.
I’d play
Goalie
Yedlin Mbemba Clark Lacelles Gamez
Ritchie hayden Ginger ninja
Perez
Mitrovic
Yedlin panics the fcuk out of left backs with his speed, Gamez is supposed to be a good wing back so can be told to do the same, Ritchie with a free role pulling midfielders and defenders all over the place, Ninja and Hayden keep it tight in the middle breaking up play and playing it simple, Perez to start but if he keeps up his bad form pull him off for Gouffy or Murphy.
Worth a go and if it works try playing the same formation at home and his tried and tested formation away.
Spotlight Kid
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:12 PM
Comment #5There’s something about Man Utd and Rooney and all the OTT celebrations of a fluke goal that really brings out the worst in me, am I alone in this irrational reaction? Don’t write Reading off yet, just one goal and they are back in it.
Ron Knee
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:22 PM
Comment #6“Reading resemble that Sunday League team who want to play a bit and indeed can play but have no one who wants to defend or put a foot in. It’s like a team of Faustino Asprillas out there.”
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:22 PM
Comment #7Spotlight
Normally
But to be fair to him, he’s just equalled Bobby Charltons record some achievement that
toonincheek
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:26 PM
Comment #8Spotlight –
Just seen a clear dive by a Manure player
to get a free kick with a clear sight of goal.
Didn’t come to anything, fortunately for Reading.
Makes me want to see retrospective action taken in such
circumstances when the ref has been fooled and he was not
in a position to spot the dive/foul.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:40 PM
Comment #9Thought Elliot might have got a run out today, never mind, I’ll stick to the rules and not try to change my selection for the bingo, if it’s running.
Otherwise I’d pick Selsz as the obvious GK choice.
I don’t think the Cup is Rafa’s priority and the ream selection will probably reflect this.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:41 PM
Comment #10If he’s any sort of a decent ref. he should red card a few of Reading’s players. 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:43 PM
Comment #11Ditto for Brighton in their game. 🙂 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:44 PM
Comment #12Or even the Team selection. Comment 9.
WheresSholaNow
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:44 PM
Comment #13Sels
Yedlin Hanley Clark Lazaar
Ritchie Hayden Colback Gouffran
Mitrovic Murphy
toonincheek
Jan 7, 2017 at 1:47 PM
Comment #14I’m sure Rafa will give a few non-regular players an outing but
he will remember the last time he made too many changes and
caused so much disruption, leading to a loss.
Spotlight Kid
Jan 7, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Comment #15Grrrrrrr