Two years ago Mike Ashley allowed some big money to be spent in the summer transfer window and we brought in players like Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba and Florian Thauvin.
And then we signed players like Andros Townsend and Jonjo Shelvey in January of last year, but we were still relegated.
Newcastle got off to a terrible start under new manager Steve McClaren in the summer of 2015, and things went downhill from there.
And even though we had a very decent squad it took 9 games to get our first win (6-2 against Norwich City at home) and that took us up to 6 points for the season.
Jamaal Lascelles – we have drive and hunger
Today we have 14 points and four wins in our first 9 games back in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez.
What McClaren couldn’t do that season was motivate his players and as soon as we were a goal down that was almost it, and we would end up losing the game, often by conceding far too many goals.
That’s not the case since Rafa Benitez joined the club and our players have the will to win, with guts and spirit in great abundance.
McClaren won only 6 games in 28 Premier League games for 24 points when he was finally sacked by Lee Charnley and replaced by Rafa Benitez a year last March.
But it was too late, and we were relegated.
Rafa picked up 13 points in the final 10 games of the season, and 12 of those were in the last 6 games.
That was after he had worked out what the problems with the team were.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles has summed it up nicely in the Chronicle today about this Newcastle advantage:
“A lot of these big teams have a lot of talent and expensive players who play for their countries.
“But if you don’t have that drive and hunger, and whatever else you aren’t going to succeed.
“That’s how we are playing it.
“And you look at Huddersfield and they got a good result the other day, so anything can happen.”
“It is literally about who turns up on the day.”
Rafa is an excellent tactical coach who seems to be able to motivate his players every single day.
That’s one reason he is one of the best managers in the world.
We could even shock ourselves this season by finishing high up in the Premier League.
We hope that’s the case.
Top eight would be an excellent finish.
Comments welcome.
94 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Oct 25, 2017 at 9:08 AM
Comment #1Howay Cyprus,
The lads hardly played and is getting eased in to the team yet you constantly dig him out. You’ve questioned Rafas judgement on transfers more than once in the past yet you can’t seem to grasp that if Rafa had of had his way we’d have an established PL player in Townsend on our books since last January and bedded in very nicely by now.
Jib
Oct 25, 2017 at 9:19 AM
Comment #2Come on now Cyprus
Listen to an expert
Get a grasp on stuff for gawds sake
cyprus
Oct 25, 2017 at 9:23 AM
Comment #3I don’t even know if they’re actually Rafa’s judgement. So how could I question his transfers’ judgement?
Others have dug deeper and found his and misses. But who hasn’t.
I’ve questioned only what I know, reasonably well, since he mentioned it:
Keeper a priority? No Rafa, would do nicely, but a priority is a CF.
Don’t know for sure how disappointed he’s with the transfer money or players, much of that is hearsay.
Anyway, as you well know, I don’t come here for arguments.
cyprus
Oct 25, 2017 at 9:24 AM
Comment #4His-hits
Hooded Claw
Oct 25, 2017 at 9:53 AM
Comment #5hissy fit
Jail for Ashley
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:06 AM
Comment #6Cyprus,
His unhappiness in the transfer market is not hearsay at all, he has given countless interviews about it along with respected journalists close to him. What bit are you missing here a keeper AND a CF were priority, he had both lined up for the sake of a loan fee and was mislead, this is what caused all the unrest in the beginning of the summer.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:08 AM
Comment #7Rafa seems to take pelters on here for his “misses” the only really big one for me which has been a disaster was Selz but he did come with Champions League pedigree so was worth a punt! Some of the other ones like Diame , Hanley etc were necessary purchases and didn’t cost a fortune!
The toon are not used to having a young player eased through we usually stick them in the team and they either do good and get sold or crash and burn because they have been chucked in!
Look at Atsu he hardly played in the championship until near the end of the season and now gets a game every week!He has improved a lot and does look like with more coaching will get better Murphy will be the same he will not be dropped in till he 100% understands what he has to on the pitch I suspect its because his defensive knowledge is being worked on just now! Needs to replicate Richie and Atsu for work rate before he can get in the team
martoon
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:16 AM
Comment #8I understand Murphy is for the future but I’m still not sure why we splashed out £12m for him which left us with no money and we ended up scrapping around in the bargain basement for a striker and keeper. I get the feeling there was suddenly a block put on spending (possibly by Barns) which is what upset Rafa so much!
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:26 AM
Comment #9Could it be that jib is being moderated for liking his own posts.
If someone else is liking them I think a visit to the local shrink is due
Ron Knee
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:34 AM
Comment #10martoon
Perhaps the block on spending coincided with Ashley’s decision to sell the club.
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:36 AM
Comment #11There’s a piece in the mag today about Murphy and Joselu.
Basically saying we could have got a better forward using the money from those two.
The interesting point in the article is how many young players have failed here due to being thrown straight in with expectations of them performing to a high standard straight away.
Fortunately with our decent start Rafa hasn’t had to that which is giving Murphy the chance to acclimatise and bed into his new club.
That should be a good thing as expectations aren’t to high and he shouldn’t feel as much pressure as he would had he been thrown straight in.
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:37 AM
Comment #12Had to do that
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:38 AM
Comment #13Martoon #8…I think that’s the problem most of us have beside the selective few…
I still think it hard to argue that Rafa was misled…he wouldn’t stand for that one minute! Something did go wrong in the summer and something wasn’t clarified back in May…
Regardless a prolific goalscorer was more important than a winger for the future
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Comment #14OP…I don’t ppl are writing Murphy off…but simply questioning the signing as it wasn’t urgent this season!
As for Hoosey Loo I think most will agree it was this years Murphy (not the young lad but the forward we bought from Ipswich).
But he’s just not panning out as well (I am not going to say I told you so…but…)
Rafa wanted Abraham but someone pulled the plug on that on…hardly Rafa’s fault! Rafa has that one right all along…kudos to him!
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Comment #15If we were struggling I could understand the Murphy argument but we ain’t.
I think Rafa thought or was told he’d get more money, then found out after the fact he wasn’t.
I’m happy with our signings but like every football fan in the world would have like more players with more talent, it’s a normal wish for any fan
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:46 AM
Comment #16Jesper
If we’d thrown Murphy in straight away and he struggled like I believe he would certain fans would have hounded the life out of him.
He’s still a bairn, best to take things slowly and have him force his way into the team rather than throw him to the wolves like Pardew would have.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:47 AM
Comment #17Morning Ron…that’s actually a fair point as well!
For what it’s worth I am just glad we got out on top despite the poor transfer window! It’s definitely not because of Ashley (well the poor window was)
Jib
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:50 AM
Comment #18Martoon
NUFC were in Ireland for pre-season
On here folk were debating whether Rafa had £30m or £70m to spend
Then Murphy arrived at Carlton House to join us for £10m in July
Wow this looks serious – eveyone thought
Then 3 weeks later Ashley gives his Sky interview and things
suddenly change.
It was about then I think that a sale became a serious possibility
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:52 AM
Comment #19Questioning his signing isn’t far off writing him off, he could be the catalyst that has Joselu banging them in for fun.
We don’t know yet and really shouldn’t be in a rush to judge until the end of the season.
I do feel Rafa was sold a dud by Ashley, another slight of hand. I think but don’t know that if Rafa had known how limited funds were he would have passed on the lad, I can’t say for certain and neither can anyone else.
If he starts getting games in next few weeks and provides many assists and goals a few on here will have egg on their faces.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:53 AM
Comment #20OP…I have no issue with the way Rafa is handling Murphy…just think the purchase was premature
Jail for Ashley
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:53 AM
Comment #21I don’t see how getting a winger in wasn’t a priority, we had to bring back Sammy Ameobi in January, we have two wingers in Ritchie and Atsu with Aarons fitness being a major doubt, how well would Atsu apply himself if he couldn’t be dropped, even Ritchie to a certain extent. None of us know why the spending stopped after Murphy. What is not my opinion but fact is that Rafa was mislead in the summer. What is just my opinion is that Rafa wanted Townsend but showed that he is not inflexible to the original blueprint of bringing in U25’s with sell on and compromised with Murphy, if that’s the case as with Abrahams or Joselu, I think we all know who was right.
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:57 AM
Comment #22Maybe Rafa bought Murphy so he could play Rich Tea in the number 10.
He may just feel the lad isn’t quite ready.
Its Rafas team and his buy, I’ll trust Rafa
hibbit
Oct 25, 2017 at 10:59 AM
Comment #23OP
Rafa bought Murphy then somebody moved the goalposts and the money dried up.
how can people write this kid off when we haven’t seen enough of him to judge him yet
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:04 AM
Comment #24OP…why is thinking a signing is premature the same as writing someone off?
You can form an opinion a lot quicker than having to wait 38 games…Everton has just fires Koeman 9 games in…
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:04 AM
Comment #25Hibbit
I agree 100%
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Comment #26OP…personally I don’t think Rafa is planning on playing Richie in the #10 spot (neither Gayle nor Hoosy Loo)
Optimistic Panda
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Comment #27Jesper
People are writing Joselu off and questioning Murphy its one and the same.
Everton is totally different the sums involved are like chalk and cheese
Ron Knee
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:09 AM
Comment #28jesper
As hibbit says, the game changed at some point in the transfer window. I think we can all guess why!
AMEOBI
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:10 AM
Comment #29Cyprus.
Your posting and negative craic is proper boring. Give it a rest you muppet, there’s a reason these are professionals at their jobs, you’re not on every yet judge every decision Rafa makes, get a grip!!
AMEOBI
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:10 AM
Comment #30You’re not one^*
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:11 AM
Comment #31OP…”People are writing Joselu off and questioning Murphy its one and the same.!”
Making that comparison is your opinion…
Hoosey Loo was a poor buy in my opinion…it was such a long short to begin with. Imagine spending #15M on a forward instead and loaning a winger for the season (maybe even with the option to buy as with Merino)
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:11 AM
Comment #32*# = £
Jack Root
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:13 AM
Comment #33I see Jail is still ignorant of the following
Jack Root
Sep 3, 2017 at 9:57 AM
Comment #31
So Jail wants to know – Where’s the money gone?
I posted at the beginning of August On the question of player amortisation, accounting practice and the calculation of player Costs. There is a lack of transparency in football over the transfer market. Football journalists generally report what they’ve be told. Take Neymar joining PSG for £196 million whereas PSG look at the cost as £500 million. Reportedly 5 year deal at £596/- pw and signing on fee etc.
Any buying club records the player cost over the term of the contract. It’s a fundemental practice in Europe. So players NUFC want to sell but can’t find a buyer for are an ongoing cost and a reduction at this time in the transfer kitty money we have available to bring in new players. There is no sharp practice by Ashley he is abiding by what he had said to Rafa. The only surprise to Rafa is transfer/ wage inflation and the inability to move players out. As the window closing approaches there could well be sweeteners to move players on. As pointed out, any player leaving and joining another club but on inferior financial terms would expect an appropriate financially negotiated settlement from us. Causing a dilution to our transfer kitty.
I would be very surprised if Rafa is not familiar with the accounting treatment and calculation of player costs and how the transfer fee,wages and any agent fees, over the term of player’s contract.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:13 AM
Comment #34Ron…we can guess all we want mate!
Ron Knee
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:15 AM
Comment #35jesper
Perhaps when Charmless publishes his memoirs we’ll get the full story!
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:16 AM
Comment #36Ron…perhaps 🙂
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:17 AM
Comment #37Rafa is doing much better than I ever thought possible with the hand he was dealt (and the players he bought) and for that I am thankful!
…Isn’t it time to be thankful anyway?
sing in the corner
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:18 AM
Comment #38I also think people are often too ready to judge players too early.
Jesper…@14…re: Joselu… I see you have finally given in to the temptation to say you told us so, even though, as you put it, you’re ‘not going to say…’ it..but..
I recall you disliked his signing from day one and had declared he wasn’t good enough. The guy has missed one or two chances, and has been fed scraps in terms of service. He’s done pretty much the same as most other players we could have signed IMO.
The way we play, largely through necessity in the circumstances we find ourselves, we don’t create too many chances.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:18 AM
Comment #39Did Rafa have any idea that our net spend would be almost 30M behind our two promotion rivals who also had to wait for the TV money.
OP,
Not sure if Joselu and Murphy can be compared mind. He’s 27 and hardly pulled up trees wherever he’s been. Looking at his misses so far hardly fills you with confidence and his two goals are worse confidence denters than his misses, also there’s a reason strikers like Troy Deeney and Josh King were being touted as 20M+ and he was let go for five after making 22 appearances.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 25, 2017 at 11:21 AM
Comment #40Did somebody actually read all that never mind like it 😮