Rafa Benitez has decided at this time that Newcastle will not go away to get some warm-weather training in sunnier and warmer climes.
Rafa loves nothing but to be on the training ground with his players going through moves and talking to the players as he tries to make them better.
And he believes he can do that at Benton over the two-week break, and then the players can spend more time with their families before the game at Bournemouth a week come Saturday.
Rafa Benitez – will get the work done at Benton
This is what has said in the Chronicle today:
“Our idea is to train and keep the players happy with their families.”
“Some people prefer to go away at this time of year.”
“But when you are traveling away throughout the season in the Premier League and the cups and you are also training most days I don’t think players get the time to spend with their family.”
“So if you can give them that time back it is much better for them.”
“If you go abroad there will be good facilities and maybe it will be sunny.” “But then you can go there and it will be raining.”
“The families may then get upset that the husband is away for one week.” “It’s about creating the right atmosphere for players and families.”
“I think that is much better than just getting a couple of days in the sunshine.”
“When you are on the grass in short sleeves and shorts and a pair of boots players don’t want to stop training and don’t want to stop playing football.”
“In fact we have to stop them. That is what you get when you get out in the right climate.”
Newcastle’s last trip abroad was ridiculous when we had just been hammered by Chelsea 5-1 at Stamford Bridge, and it was almost the opposite of what the lads did on Sunday against Manchester United.
At Stamford Bridge, the players meekly submitted and we were 3-0 down after 17 minutes, and the players just wanted the game to end – and Townsend scored the consolation goal in stoppage time.
It was a disgraceful display.
But McClaren convinced everybody all was well and that he could solve the problems in sunny Spain.
But it was a lost opportunity because we had 18 days before the next game – and Mr. Rafa Benitez was available for hire.
When the team returned the talk was over and we lost at Stoke 1-0 and then 3-1 to Bournemouth at home and McClaren was fired.
But it was far too late, and even Rafa couldn’t save us from the drop.
When Rafa came in on March 11th we had 24 points from 28 games, so we are little better off now with 28 points from 27 games.
[table “70” not found /]But the difference this season is we have a team who tries in every single game for every single minute.
And it’s always difficult to convince hard-working fans that trips to sunny climes are necessary and it’s really R&R – rest and relaxation – which the players can get by being with their families.
Comments welcome.
175 comments so far
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:28 PM
Comment #41Hello hello ? anyone there ?
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:29 PM
Comment #42Testing..testing
RobLeenio
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:29 PM
Comment #43😉
RobLeenio
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:30 PM
Comment #44Must be bedtime for the wums
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:30 PM
Comment #451,2,3 hello can you hear me on the blog ?
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:31 PM
Comment #46yeah they off to bed with there hot water bottles
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:32 PM
Comment #47Didn’t really wanna talk to anyone anyway !…so there !
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:39 PM
Comment #48what you doin tomorrow tommo ?
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:41 PM
Comment #49tommo
hi mate thanks for asking i am off to B&Q to get some wallpaper
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:41 PM
Comment #50tommo
oooh thats nice can i come ?
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:42 PM
Comment #51Isn’t it true that if we survive we will be in a relatively stronger position financially than other sides in the bottom half because they have a higher existing wage bill, and so much of their revenue is already committed just to continue to pay existing wages, whereas we will effectively have more to play with as our existing wage bill is quite low? Are we potentially looking at having 30, 40 million more than the poorer performed more established epl sides, like Palace, Watford, Swansea, West Brom, for example? Shouldn’t we expect to make a great stride forward in the off season, relatively speaking?
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:42 PM
Comment #52erm no sorry i don’t do mates !
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:44 PM
Comment #53we will survive not if
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:52 PM
Comment #54That’s what Rafa told Ashley last time. He isn’t saying it this time.
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 10:57 PM
Comment #55Do you think we will go down then?
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:05 PM
Comment #56I desperately hope we will survive, but we are in a real scrap along with 9 other committed sides. We have good character in the group and a top coach, so I’m optimistic, but I think relegation remains a very real possibility. A lot hinges on how well Slimani settles in.
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:09 PM
Comment #57that is true but Slimani surely has got to be better than Joselu when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net and as far as another nine teams being involved in the relegation scrap that is better for us i predicted Stoke to go down before a ball was kicked and i stand by that with WBA and one other but i think we have enough fight in us to stay up
RobLeenio
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:13 PM
Comment #58Nicky, we spoke about this last night. Ashley has no interest in splashing money, unless it’s in order to fulfill his stated ambition to chunder down his front and singe his eyebrows off in fireplaces with his mates. Therefore, it matters not a jot how much cash the club is saving on wages if the roly-poly dough ball is unwilling to spend it
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:13 PM
Comment #59Need to fight tooth and nail till for it.
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:16 PM
Comment #60The players have the fight in them to survive unlike other seasons when we have been relegated
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:18 PM
Comment #61Rob, with all due respect you don’t know what Ashley will do. After the bills have been covered Rafa may well get everything that’s left to strengthen.
RobLeenio
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:21 PM
Comment #62Nicky, you’re right, I don’t know. As for relegation, I was confident of survival previous to the Man U game, which I hoped for 1 point from. Seeing as we got 3, I’m now very confident. Tommo, I agree Slimani should help with placing the ball in the net more regularly, which should help us move away from our rivals. We shall see
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:22 PM
Comment #63rob
do you honestly believe that with Ashleys track record over the last 10 years
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:23 PM
Comment #64sorry last post should have been directed to Nicky
jane
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:25 PM
Comment #65we might not spend as much as Wolves who are owned by ..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosun_International
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:26 PM
Comment #66Two simple things that will keep us up…1, we need more goals…2, our home form has to improve…hopefully the result against manure will just be the start
RobLeenio
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:27 PM
Comment #67Just on the subject of better quality strikers, Batschuayi has 5 goals in 3 games for Dortmund including 2 tonight vs Atalanta. I was really keen to get him on loan in the Summer and in January, thought he’d be great for us but I think that ship has sailed.
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:34 PM
Comment #68Well its Slimanis chance now to prove himself our other two loan players have started off better than we could have dreamed of,plus he has a point to prove
RobLeenio
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:40 PM
Comment #69Tommo, you’re right, no regrets, Slimani is our striker, Batty boy is not even worthy of consideration. And if Slim’s debut is as good as the other Kenedy and DubStar, we’ll be singing his name from the rafters.
jane
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:47 PM
Comment #70getting the right players is more important than how much they cost. so far Rafa has bought wisely.
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:51 PM
Comment #71ROB
We will be ok this season we will stay up but then what ? After that our biggest hope is Ashley selling up then we can look forward to being the Newcastle United that we used to be… like Keegan ses he is only one man but god that one man has made a mockery of our club YES OUR CLUB !!!
tommotoon
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:53 PM
Comment #72jane
you must be a night owler like me
RobLeenio
Feb 15, 2018 at 11:55 PM
Comment #73Jane, you seem to be obsessing over financial matters lately, but I partly agree with you here. Rafa’s greatest triumph so far has been uniting our dressing room. He’s been ably assisted by Lascelles and that unity the pair of them have encouraged is worth more than anything else to our chances of staying in the Prem. That said, if he’d had more cash, he could have still bought players that fit the club ethos and kept the harmony in the team, but would also have had a chance of hitting a barn door from two paces. That’s where his frustrations have laid this season and this is where fat Ash needs to learn for next season if he hasn’t done one by then
tommotoon
Feb 16, 2018 at 12:03 AM
Comment #74ROB
Just been looking at blogs etc about Lascelles being called up for England even if just for up coming friendlies good for him but possibly bad for Newcastle ,if he impresses his value will shoot up especially in today’s financial climate and IF we are relegated you can bet your bottom dollar Ashley will sell him and Rafa will be gone
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 16, 2018 at 12:06 AM
Comment #75Tommy, My best bet based on Ashley’s tenure so far will be that the money that the club generates will be made available to Charnley and Rafa after running costs have been covered, but that Ashley will as always want value for money in the transfer market, meaning the usual problems for the manager, but we will have substantially strengthened by the end of the window.
jane
Feb 16, 2018 at 12:08 AM
Comment #76more money can’t be a bad thing but we don’t know exactly what has gone on this season behind closed doors, how much is Ashley and how much is Rafa and how much is others.
my time is up now tommotoon.
jane
Feb 16, 2018 at 12:10 AM
Comment #77a good guide will be how happy Rafa is. i don’t think Ashley will want to upset Rafa.
tommotoon
Feb 16, 2018 at 12:12 AM
Comment #78Nicky
Well hope you are right but i am not that confident at all in fact sorry to say i think you are wrong i have no trust in Ashley at all he has no interest in the club apart fro his own gain,,,sorry have to go now,,,night everyone
RUNAWAY777
Feb 16, 2018 at 12:30 AM
Comment #79Hi guys just got back to the toon, i see not alot going on time for some kip.
Jib
Feb 16, 2018 at 5:32 AM
Comment #80I’ve been thinking that it is no coincidence
that Mike Ashley’s surprisingly sudden
contentious statements about PCP came
about shortly after a visit by him to the States.
Dr Ed will and US posters will confirm that
there is a burgeoning interest in PL footy
stateside.
We learned midweek two further PL packages
remain on the market, with internet giants Facebook
and Amazon rumoured to be interested in a deal.
MA heard something in the USA over Xmas I’m sure.
Whether this has merely pushed up the price
or
rekindled Ashley’s own interest in NUFC
remains to be seen