Rafa has talked about pre-season in his press conference this afternoon for the game on Sunday at home to Chelsea – the very last game of the season.
Newcastle will go back to Ireland this summer, which is where the squad has trained for the last two pre-seasons and Rafa can get some good coaching done.
He has also praised the flags that have been seen at the Gallowgate end all season, and the manager says they are very good for the players.
Rafa Benitez – in Ireland last summer
Rafa was again upbeat this afternoon:
“The atmospheres have been great all season. The flags help, it is great to see the fans delivering this. We want to win for them and the positive atmosphere from the flags behind us then it is good for the players.”
“It’s important to finish on a high. The players and fans deserve that. We want to win on Sunday.”
“We are training normally, then we will have some time together as a squad next week and the players will go on holiday.”
“We have to be quite busy in the transfer market. We need more experience. We also lose a couple of players, we have three loans.”
“We need to add some quality to the good players we have already.”
It’s going to be an extremely interesting transfer window and we will see what kind of talent Rafa can attract to the club this summer.
A win would be good on Sunday because we’ll likely finish 10th with 3 points and that will help us to attract some good players to the club.
We now have to get Mr. Benitez signed up to a long-term deal – and just as quickly as possible.
89 comments so far
twotonearmy
May 11, 2018 at 7:57 PM
Comment #41Any links for the Fulham game?
lochinvar
May 11, 2018 at 7:59 PM
Comment #42Tsunki – I’d seen that you were eleventh on that rich list but in respect of your privacy didn’t tell anyone
Munster Mag
May 11, 2018 at 8:11 PM
Comment #43Really good season after a big stress hit in the middle. The improvement in some players has been great. In general I don’t remember players improving under other regimes but so see even an iffy player like yedlin improve is great. As for Diame, what can you say. I was thrilled when we bought him, then Disappointed, now thrilled. Lacks the pace to be world class there but he is so strong. So if we only got a v good striker and 2-3 more players of say 10mill each, would people be happy. Say 55mill spent, before player sales?
Pottsclock
May 11, 2018 at 8:12 PM
Comment #44How many of The Sunday Times Rich List actually live in the North East. Ellis Short? Mike Ashley? It’s not really a good list from that perspective.
Jib
May 11, 2018 at 8:34 PM
Comment #45Half time Derby 1 Fulham 0
chicousa
May 11, 2018 at 9:00 PM
Comment #46McDonald should have scored after ball put on a plate for him from Mitro….hit crossbar. 🙁
cyprus
May 11, 2018 at 9:06 PM
Comment #47“We need to add some quality to the good players we have already.”
Well put.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 11, 2018 at 9:34 PM
Comment #48Yedlin defensively has come on leaps and bounds since earlier in the season teams were catching him out with a ball over the top quite a lot when Lascalles was out injured !
I can’t remember a game recently where he has let the team down defensively! If he can just improve his final ball in attack he could be the complete full back!
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 9:50 PM
Comment #49I still don’t think the play offs are fair but given they’re roundly accepted for a long time now then they’re obviously palatable.
Why not have a play off for fourth to sixth and the FA cup winner for CL.
stan anderson
May 11, 2018 at 9:52 PM
Comment #50Just watched Derby v Fulham and Mitro was no better than when i,ve watched him playing for us. H e was well managed by the Derby defender Davis i think he was called.
ASHLEY OOT
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 10:02 PM
Comment #51Stan Anderson,
The few times I’ve watched him for Fulham he hasn’t seemed to do much except assist, nearly score or score, apart from that he’s been very quiet. The nearly elbow in Cahills temple wasn’t his best effort either mind.
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 10:35 PM
Comment #52So was the 54K with a sold out away following a true Spurs crowd with no weekend tourist from Milan, Barca etc, we could have 60K guaranteed if the fat man føøked off.
Nicky the ball tosser
May 11, 2018 at 10:36 PM
Comment #5375% of airplane accidents occur when the pilot and co pilot are on their first flight together. Which perhaps also demonstrates the importance of getting the transfer business done early and quickly so you can effectively bed the new lads in. You don’t need 11 great players. You need 3 or 4 on the pitch in key positions, and 6 or 7 technically proficient, hard working pro’s who know their jobs and make good decisions.
We need some real quality up top at 9 clearly, and a 10 to compete with Perez, a quality addition on the wing, a top young central defensive mid, and Dubravka. Players of the calibre of Arnautovic, Lanzini, Joao Mario play at West Ham, and Shakiri at Stoke. That sort of quality would surely be within our grasp this window and allow us to go at seventh and Europe next term, and we’ll want to get them in early.
jane
May 11, 2018 at 10:42 PM
Comment #54i like this graphic
https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/newcastle-united/league-progress
Newcastle have remained 10th despite losing the last 4
jane
May 11, 2018 at 10:48 PM
Comment #55Jail how do you correlate the size of the crowd with Ashley leaving? this illustrates how much you are obsessed with Ashley and how you have to bring him into everything. just be normal.
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 10:54 PM
Comment #56Jane,
You’re as bland as unsalted, and most definitely unsweetened, plain boring porridge. I can’t think of a better example of you except teletext !
jane
May 11, 2018 at 10:58 PM
Comment #57hmm what would be a good example of Jail let me think.
Nicky the ball tosser
May 11, 2018 at 11:00 PM
Comment #58I’m projecting I know, but I’d love Arnautovic up here, with a reset Mitrovic back to compete with him. To me they are proper Newcastle type centre forwards, and I can’t help wondering if Rafa hasn’t been playing a long game with Mitro, and if he still might just have a future with us. I’d have Carroll and Arnautovic in a heartbeat, clattering defenders, but that really is projecting.
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 11:07 PM
Comment #59Nicky,
Who knows, there’d be nothing better than Rafa giving a ringing endorsement of Mitro and saying how he’s welcome back. Then Mitro getting the Serbs single handedly to th WCSMF
jane
May 11, 2018 at 11:10 PM
Comment #60Jail if i’m porridge you are mashed potato, processed and boring.
jane
May 11, 2018 at 11:17 PM
Comment #61oh the West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation
https://twitter.com/hashtag/wcsmf
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 11:18 PM
Comment #62Jane,
You’d be compared to daytime television, actots one of those hospital mysteries where the actors cant even make Eastenders or the Bill!
jane
May 11, 2018 at 11:25 PM
Comment #63i touched a raw nerve didn’t i. about your obsession.
A Pain in the Blog
May 12, 2018 at 12:09 AM
Comment #64Jane
I preferred the yellow look.
Oldgit1
May 12, 2018 at 12:22 AM
Comment #65It looks like our Rafa is really putting the pressure on Ashley and edging him into a corner by wanting to spend on players he want, if Ashley gives him 50m and Rafa wants to spend it all on one player or buy 5 players at 10m he should be allowed.
Can’t see this ending well, knowing Ashley, he is a control freak and won’t let go of his power,
One interesting point we were well aware of but was never confirmed, was the amount of red tape Rafa had to go through by going through Charnley, Baines and the other guy before it being put to Ashley who made the decision. Bloody stupid.
The set up is in line with the workings of the retail trade not a football club.
Oldgit1
May 12, 2018 at 12:23 AM
Comment #66Well that’s my contribution for the day, night all.
A Pain in the Blog
May 12, 2018 at 12:27 AM
Comment #67Nicky @ 53
I agree up to a point, except that Perez is a striker not a No. 10. We need to lose Mitro, Gayle & Joselu and get in a top striker with Perez & Armstrong as backups + a real no. 10.
We don’t need the likes of Arnautovic, Lanzini, Joao Mario or Shakiri because there’s nothing wrong with our midfield.
Otherwise I agree with your first para
chicousa
May 12, 2018 at 1:47 AM
Comment #68Jail @51
Good bit that post! 🙂
chicousa
May 12, 2018 at 1:51 AM
Comment #69Anyone know what has become of the inimitable Belfast lately? Gotta say I’ve missed his wit…
Nostradamus the Geordie
May 12, 2018 at 2:25 AM
Comment #70Bianconeri: Comment #14 About Facundo Ferreyra. This was a case of not ready for the premiership, that’s in his words, he admitted although he loved the club he couldn’t handle the physical part of the Prem. Not sure if that has changed and you have to remember who was manager back then, Alan Pardew, yes to Tardy for the Pardy, not really a manager that could see with a little care and some time he would make good. Also the issue was he was on loan for 6 Million with the option to buy, but he didn’t really get going so they didn’t sign him, also John Carver took over from Pardy around December/Jan so the club didn’t really have a manager to make the big decision on the kid.
Nicky the ball tosser
May 12, 2018 at 3:41 AM
Comment #71Pain, I guess I’m thinking we need something more than Hayden pushing Diame in that holding mid or box to box role. I like both but I would have Hayden as more defensive cover and bring in a player to offer stiffer competition for Diame in the middle of the park.
To me Perez is a second striker, but who can really function anywhere in attack, and so is very handy. Certainly we need a winger, Kenedy or otherwise, and of course an imposing number 9, with pace, power, movement and real goal threat. An Arnautovic type to my mind would be great.
A keeper of course, but other than that the defence looks alright to me, assuming the budget won’t be limitless.
Nicky the ball tosser
May 12, 2018 at 3:44 AM
Comment #72Another option to push Perez of course would be great. Perhaps a more natural number 10.
The next Mike Williamson
May 12, 2018 at 4:37 AM
Comment #73It would be interesting to see a where are they now from some of our players from two years ago. Williamson has just been released by the mighty Oxford.Taylor has been transfer listed by Peterborough. Collocinni is retired I assume. Gouffran is barely getting his game at Goztepe. Can’t believe just two years ago that lot were our defence! No wonder we went down.
Nicky the ball tosser
May 12, 2018 at 5:34 AM
Comment #74Actually rereading my last few posts it occurs to me that I must consider myself something of an expert.
How ridiculous!
Jib
May 12, 2018 at 6:27 AM
Comment #75The Guardian has us reverting back to 4 – 2 – 3 – 1
with Perez withdrawn to help the midfield – the subs should
be interesting.
Jib
May 12, 2018 at 6:31 AM
Comment #76Don’t forget powerful as that Chelsea team looks
they will have next Saturday at Wembley vs Man U
at the back of their minds plus it’s an open secret
that Antonio Conté is down the road this summer.
Jail for Ashley
May 12, 2018 at 7:06 AM
Comment #77Jiblets,
Spurs on the last day of the season two years had absolutely everything to play for and we stuffed them. Because of this contract malarkey I’m not sure the atmosphere will be the same, I hope it is mind.
Jib
May 12, 2018 at 7:25 AM
Comment #78Jail you do know you and Jane coined a new phrase
last night ?
Instead of pot / kettle
It’s now
The dish of mashed potato calling the bowl of porridge
bland.
😛
dish / bowl
Bianconeri
May 12, 2018 at 7:56 AM
Comment #79It’s all right people saying lets get rid of Tom,Dick,and Hairy Balls but who is going to buy them.
We will be stuck with joselu,Zuckerberg,Sels,and a few others.Unless ofcourse mikey boy has a sports direct sale 2for1.
It reminds me of an old Italian guy on Morpeth Market years ago
“Hey Mrs woman,I will give you some bargain,got the best a woolies on the market.I not sella them for 10 bob,not a 9 bob not even an 8 bob you can have them for a 5 bob,tiz a true mind crossa ma heart”
Lindisfarne
May 12, 2018 at 7:59 AM
Comment #80CHOO-CHOO!!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5719385/Newcastle-boss-Rafa-Benitez-targets-control-transfer-funds-spent.html?ito=email_share_article-masthead