Rafa has written his piece for the program for today’s final Premier League game of the season – against 5th top Chelsea, who were last season’s Premier League Champions.
Rafa has taken the opportunity to thank everybody at the club and also he thanks every single Newcastle fan and mentions how good a job members of his team have done behind the scenes.
Rafa Benitez – Newcastle’s proud manager
Rafa thinks that everybody connected with the club should be proud of what the team has achieved this season when it looked in mid-December we would be fighting relegation right up to this final game of the season.
This is what Rafa has said:
“I don’t know anyone who thought at the beginning of this season that we could finish near the top 10.”
“If things worked out differently we could have been going into this fixture under pressure to avoid relegation.”
“Fortunately we aren’t and we have to realize how important this group of players’ efforts have been in last 10 months.”
“It is important for us to keep the good memories we have taken from this season.”
“It has been a great one from a very professional group of players and along with the staff, fans, city, everyone has come together to get behind us.”
“We have to be proud of that.”
“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank every single fan who has supported the team all the members of my staff – coaching and medical staff – and everyone who has worked so hard behind the scenes.”
“I’d also like to thank the players for their commitment and passion.”
What we need is for Newcastle to win this game against Chelsea and finish in the top half of the table.
That’s also a tough task – but you never know – not with Newcastle.
Howay The Lads!!!
279 comments so far
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 13, 2018 at 2:30 PM
Comment #1Looking at that bench only probably Merino and Darlow there next season? Need some serious quality into the team
Tsunki
May 13, 2018 at 2:30 PM
Comment #2Ancient thanks for the social interaction advice but i also used to find jesper engaging until he totally lost his humour and now spends every introduction name dropping me. I don’t really care much and don’t really engage with him as he’s just too touchy so I don’t get the bit about me reacting to him.
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Comment #3Woah Ed
The team listing is usually the last thread on match days. We’re all going to have to start again.
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Comment #425 Minutes to KO
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:36 PM
Comment #5Newcastle United: Martin Dúbravka, DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejeune, Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Mohamed Diamé, Jonjo Shelvey, Jacob Murphy, Ayoze Pérez, Dwight Gayle.
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jesús Gámez, Javier Manquillo, Massadio Haïdara, Isaac Hayden, Mikel Merino, Joselu.
chicousa
May 13, 2018 at 2:37 PM
Comment #6Jib,
Being up at 7am is nothing compared to 4:30am on games starting there at 12:30pm!
Here in Chico we don’t drink Budweiser. We drink the local brew, Sierra Nevada. Chico’s number one export!
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 2:37 PM
Comment #7repost
You’re up early Chico
It must be weird watching a live
footy match at 7am
Budweiser on your Cornflakes ?
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 2:38 PM
Comment #8whoops
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:39 PM
Comment #9chicousa
Must admit I’m disappointed with the last few games, but by getting us to safety it fulfilled it’s main function.
Even magic can’t compensate for poor finishing by our main strikers. 🙂
Nowt wrong with our performances otherwise.
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 2:40 PM
Comment #10Blooming heck !
Sierra Nevada do IPA !!!!!
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:40 PM
Comment #11Do people actually drink Budweiser?
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 2:41 PM
Comment #12A Hazy little thing called booze
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 2:42 PM
Comment #13Some must Essex their sales are huge
I don’t like it myself
Munster Mag
May 13, 2018 at 2:43 PM
Comment #14Bloody hell, strong Chelsea team. Their wealth is so different it’s scary. I said 2_1 so better stick with it htl
chicousa
May 13, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Comment #15EGB,
Agreed, your Rune did it’s main job and we are safe! Now you need to spin another to have the following occur in off season:
1. Ashley sells club
2. Rafa signs new long term contract with new owners
3. Team has brilliant transfer period.
4. England wins World Cup!!!
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #16Jib
I’ve always thought of it as the closest thing to carbonated p!ss. 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:46 PM
Comment #17chicousa
OK I’ll get another black chicken out of the hutch.
davetoon
May 13, 2018 at 2:49 PM
Comment #18Hopefully murphy can make up for that horrible miss against spuds
chicousa
May 13, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Comment #19EGB
Thanks mate! If any 2 of items on my wish list occur I’ll send you a case of Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo! Goes great on cornflakes! 😉
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:51 PM
Comment #20chicousa
Cheers mate I’ll look forward to it. 🙂
Lindisfarne
May 13, 2018 at 2:52 PM
Comment #21Jib
I did wonder if I should be clearer about my meaning and as you have a hard time accepting others opinion I shall attempt to make myself more easily understood. The goals scored against us in this recent losing streak have not been of the outstanding variety where there has been an unstoppable shot or tricky. They have been more down to momentary lapses where players have been caught out or sucked in and found themselves not in the right place to intercept.
However, on the whole our defence has been good, but I was just saying we should not get carried away.
HWTL
Essex Geordie Bill
May 13, 2018 at 2:54 PM
Comment #225 minutes to KO
So I’m off to watch it on the Murdoch yacht funding channel.
Catch you all at half time.
HWTL HTWF HWTR HWTBRS
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 2:55 PM
Comment #23Lindy
So we don’t have a flappy defence
In other words
you were
spouting shite
griff
May 13, 2018 at 2:56 PM
Comment #24Very diplomatic response Lindisfarne. Well done sir!
griff
May 13, 2018 at 2:57 PM
Comment #25JIB on the other hand. Sigh.
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 2:59 PM
Comment #26Munster it’s on Skysports PL SD
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 3:01 PM
Comment #27Bill I think you are right about those mozzies
I trimmed some shrubbery this morning
and me arms are chewed to bits.
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 3:03 PM
Comment #28Bright start
ilovetoon8788
May 13, 2018 at 3:06 PM
Comment #29Good start though, but we will end the season with 5 straight defeats.
JP...from The Rock
May 13, 2018 at 3:06 PM
Comment #30Hey guys any solid good working links please? Can’t find any.
Hail Wor Ashley
May 13, 2018 at 3:07 PM
Comment #31Those situations where Murphy should be doing better if he;s gonna make it here. On his heels and a bad touch on the edge of the box with plenty of space.
ilovetoon8788
May 13, 2018 at 3:07 PM
Comment #32Prediction.
Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2.
ilovetoon8788
May 13, 2018 at 3:08 PM
Comment #33http://ripple.is/football/2694-newcastle-united-vs-Chelsea
link JP
Hail Wor Ashley
May 13, 2018 at 3:08 PM
Comment #34Ref is letting us touch their darlings, Diame allowed to bulldoze Hazard.
davetoon
May 13, 2018 at 3:09 PM
Comment #35Def a few goals in this one. Open game.
Jib
May 13, 2018 at 3:09 PM
Comment #36Spurs 1 Leics 1 after 7 minutes ffs
Hail Wor Ashley
May 13, 2018 at 3:09 PM
Comment #37Nice dig Jonjo!
manxpie
May 13, 2018 at 3:10 PM
Comment #38Ahhh so so close!!
Hail Wor Ashley
May 13, 2018 at 3:12 PM
Comment #39Diame in the zone, helps when your main midfield combatant can also play a bit and pass with both feet.
JP...from The Rock
May 13, 2018 at 3:12 PM
Comment #40Thanks ilovetoon you’re a star!