Rafa Benitez Newcastle side played very well on Saturday and deserved their 1-0 win over the Terriers, but we should have won by more goals.
We are now well positioned in 12th place in the league on 35 points, but Rafa is not thinking anything at the moment other than to get to 40 points.
We had a look up the table, and we could finish in 10th place and maybe even higher if we can keep up our good form but Rafa is having none of that.
Rafa Benitez – on the touchline on Saturday
This is what Rafa said after the game to the local journalists when asked if he was looking up the table:
“Not really, I wanted to know how the other teams around us had done, but I know we have to win at least another game to be safe.”
“I’m not watching more at the top of the table, I just want to make sure we enjoy the next couple of days and we are ready for the next game.”
“To get three points and move even further away from the relegation places.”
“(We’ve performed better in the second half of the season), because it’s the way we train.”
“We don’t just coach, we try to teach players. They are learning what they have to do.”
“It’s not just about this season, it’s for the rest of their lives.”
“You have to do this, they make 10 runs, and they have to make the right ones.”
The players we have are now better than they were at the beginning of the season and that’s good for next season.
The lads have also got some Premier League experience this season too, and they’ll be better for that too.
Four good players brought in during the summer transfer window and some players leaving, and we should have a much better squad come August.
I’m really looking forward to the summer now that we should be safe.
Comments welcome.
5 comments so far
9
Apr 2, 2018 at 9:34 AM
Comment #1I’ll be astonished if we don’t get 40+ points. I’ve fancied we could finish 10th for quite a while: we had a horrendous and long run, roughly while our captain was injured, but that’s a long way behind us now: we are showing what we are capable of recently.
G
Apr 2, 2018 at 9:40 AM
Comment #2Not so long ago I would have said that was a mad idea. Seems very possible now.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 2, 2018 at 9:42 AM
Comment #3David Coverdale
@dpcoverdale
Incredible stat on @AyozePG.
#nufc in the PL when he has started this season: P21 W8 D7 L6.
#nufc in the PL when he hasn’t started this season: P10 W1 D1 L8.
Bigjim67
Apr 2, 2018 at 9:44 AM
Comment #4Didn’t get to see the game as work got in the way again, Gayle missing several good chances wasn’t a surprise which makes two strikers who can score a must. Stating the obvious! Think we will be safe with another win and we will pick a few points up in draws, maybe finish on 42-43 points? We definitely seem to have the momentum and who knows we could even beat the foxes on Sat. Looking good anyway hwtl.
lochinvar
Apr 2, 2018 at 9:55 AM
Comment #5Would really like us to turn over Everton at Goodison. There’s a certain aggressive arrogance about them and we gifted them three points at SJP which would have made the table look different now for both clubs. If Slimani scored a couple and Tosun didn’t that would be useful.