NBC Sports reported before the game today at St. James’ Park they were hearing rumors that Rafa Benitez and captain Jamaal Lascelles had a fall-out in training this week,
The news is Rafa wanted Jamaal to play on the right of a back three for the Chelsea game and Jamaal is reported to have refused.
We assume Rafa would play Federico Fernandez in the middle.
If that’s true then it’s the very last thing we want to happen – problems within the squad – self-inflicted.
Especially between the manager and captain who have both been outstanding over the last two successful seasons.
Rafa Benitez and Jamaal Lascelles in happier times
When you look at it – if the news is true – then Jamaal is at fault because he should play where Rafa wants him to play.
And Rafa seems to have quickly put his foot down and didn’t include Jamaal in the squad for today’s game against Chelsea.
There were even rumors this morning that Jamaal would not be in the squad.
Oh my – now we really need a win today.
Comments welcome.
173 comments so far
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:42 PM
Comment #121Nice to see how we have responded to being one down! Kudos
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #122Didnt someone pick joselu as top scorer
Toon Tang
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #123Bollocks
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #124Hmm!
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #125Yoi.
Canuck Mag
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #126FFS typical
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #127Ffs never a free kick either
Our Toon
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #128Unlucky yedlin, he’s done really well today
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #129Well that didn’t take long.
TomaKaThor
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #130Ref has been shambolic far all from a free kick that wasn’t
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #131Yedlin, a stray leg and it trickles into the net.
Been our best player too.
Cruel, cruel football.
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #132As I was saying, ksy is awful
Toon Tang
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:45 PM
Comment #133The returns on O2.5 goals just before that pen woulda been huge
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:46 PM
Comment #134This is an upgraded champo ref i remember him from our time there all in all shocking
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:46 PM
Comment #135Perez is a master of winning free kicks. The new Jonas.
davetoon
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:46 PM
Comment #136Ahh cmon
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:46 PM
Comment #137Yep Ki is no Jonjo.
ilovetoon8788
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:46 PM
Comment #138Ki has been hopeless today. And so was rondon.
Either way our football today deserves a loss. Just absolutely pathetic by Rafa.
jimiley
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:49 PM
Comment #139IT was just great to see a Toon goal. I would have been happy with a shot on goal. Not bothered about the results anymore.
jimiley
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:50 PM
Comment #140The same team played Chelsea off the pitch a few months ago. Anything to say Rafa about 90 per cent possession?
Rotonda heights
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:51 PM
Comment #141why does yedlin always let his man go
TomaKaThor
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:51 PM
Comment #142Ref has been totally inconsistent. Wasn’t a penalty in a million years and too add insult one of the many free kick that he gave that wasn’t even a free kick lead to there second
Rotonda heights
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Comment #143jimiley
no lascelles, no shelvey and the fact that chelsea’s players cost 8 times what ours do.
cyprus
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:53 PM
Comment #144So our worst start for 13 years.
The only justification for that would’ve been a result.
We can do better.
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:54 PM
Comment #145Rafa now has a face like a slapped arse but we were a joke so he can moan all he wants re the useless ref. Yedlin elbow cud easily have been a free kick to them
toon kk
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:54 PM
Comment #146Outclassed by a premier league club.
Unfortunate about the pelanty and own goal but that was unacceptable football.
ilovetoon8788
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:55 PM
Comment #147Get used to it. We will be seeing this football next week too.
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:56 PM
Comment #148Story of the day is ref undid all our fastidious defensive work.
Until then Dubravka had 2 comfy saves to make and they hit the bar from range – that’s it.
Joselu’s well taken header was the only well-crafted chance by either team all match.
Then Yedlin with a fatal stray leg.
The fact we can keep matches like that so tight with those personnel is heartening, but that will become disheartening for the players unless they start getting rewards for their efforts.
I’m more concerned with how we look in more even contests, that’s where we need to gather points in the main.
cyprus
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:56 PM
Comment #149MOM for me:
The much maligned,
Joselu. Amazing goal.
ilovetoon8788
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:56 PM
Comment #150I’m glad the match is over. But I’m dreading next week. Another 90% possession that I need to endure.
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:57 PM
Comment #151Rotunda how can you accept that type of performance. As I said, we ain’t Halifax. If pardew had done that with the same team you would kill him. I know they have better players but that was awful. Shelvey wud have made little difference on those possession stats.
Our Toon
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:57 PM
Comment #152If yedlin hadn’t got his foot on it then Barkley would have tapped it in. We deserved nothing though, anti football bollocks, I’d rather get relegated than to watch that shite served up by rafa today
Jib
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:58 PM
Comment #153No wonder the bent bastards don’t want VAR
He would have been shown up as the incompetent
that he is
Black and white armpit
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:58 PM
Comment #154Rafa must love setting teams up to play like this, he’s gone after this season, It’ll be hurting him even more than most of us.
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:59 PM
Comment #155Jesus who would have made us play more expansive football?
Our 1st choice cb cm and lw were out ffs probably our best players
A strike force worth 5 million ya know the same as a league 1 strike force!
If you have any anger it should all be directed at mike ashley and the kurnt of a ref!
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2018 at 5:59 PM
Comment #156Match had 0-0 all over it until ref decidied to give a penalty for a defender tackling the ball. Not sure what people were expecting, we don’t have the forward and attacking players to go toe to toe with Chelsea. Average cost of line up £4.something million and £35m. I’ll let you guess which was which.
Mister Tuff
Aug 26, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Comment #157Dummett lost his man again.
There was no way we were going to win that. Joselu – tremendous header – and thats about it.
Games like this shows true levels – Dummett, Joselu, Rondon, Ki, Ritchie (forget about his work rate) are not high levels players at all.
Down to Tubbs not providing funds. Expect more of this rubbish.
Slank
Aug 26, 2018 at 6:02 PM
Comment #158Did Benetez select the wrong tactics and formation ?
After we went a goal down we started to compete and more than match Chelsea.
I was impressed with Yedlin, Diame, Dubrafka and Rondon.
Don’t know what to make of Fernandez and Schar as it wasn’t a defensive unit we have seen before and hopefully not again.
Was Ki on the field ?
ilovetoon8788
Aug 26, 2018 at 6:04 PM
Comment #159Even wolves gave city a go and had chances to win the game. Todays set up by Rafa was coward football.
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2018 at 6:05 PM
Comment #160ILoveToon
You should be thrilled, you predicted 5-0 to Chelsea. Why you so upset now that it was only 2-1 and why you complaining about Rafa? He did better than you predicted.