Jacob Murphy is taking his time to come through at Newcastle and his first season was only mediocre, but he is young and is still learning his trade from one of the best in the business – Rafa Benitez.
Jacob may get a start tonight at Nottingham Forst, but Christian Atsu hasn’t played much, and maybe the Ghanaian International will get the nod tonight.
Murphy started 13 Premier League games last season and made 28 appearances in total, and the two first-choice wingers at the moment are Kenedy and Ritchie, who has been his usual bundle of energy in the first three games.
There’s no doubt that Murphy has the skills – he just needs to understand the game and the tactics better – and he should learn quickly under Rafa.
Jacob Murphy – in action against Chelsea last Saturday
Rafa doesn’t seem to be too worried and admits it will take time for Murphy to reach his full potential.
This is what Rafa has said in Chronicle Live today when asked about the (limited) progress of Murphy:
“Talking about this team, I think that you have to give credit to all of them because as I have said so many times before they train really well, they work really hard.”
“Every game you can see their application, you can see them in their defensive shape, and still we have to improve in the transition and in attack.”
“Jacob is a young player and he is not playing too many games, but in every training session we work on little things, and he is improving.”
“He is improving every day and he will become a much better player. How long will it take to reach his peak? Still, I think he needs a couple of years to reach his level.”
“But if you analyze him; he has stamina, he has pace, he can show with both feet – so he has a lot of things.”
“But he needs to improve the other things to make sure that he can maximise what he already has.”
“He has the potential, he is doing things much better, but still he has so much room for improvement, which is the positive thing.”
Over the last two seasons under Rafa, there’s no doubt our fans have taken to the team because every player gives his all for the cause.
That’s just one reason Rafa is the perfect manager for the club – because he demands that from his players and he only signs players who want to play for the famous black and whites.
Jacob Murphy was very anxious to join Newcastle because his parents are Geordies and Newcastle fans.
We are hoping he will come through big time to play at his best and maybe sooner than Rafa thinks.
The fans are giving the lad lots of support which is good because he’s said he is a confidence player.
We should see him in action sometime tonight at Nottingham Forest.
Let’s hope we can get the win tonight – one pundit said it would be a 1-1 draw – but the game has to be decided tonight – they will go to penalties if it’s a draw after 90 minutes.
Comments welcome.
19 comments so far
Optimistic Panda
Aug 29, 2018 at 5:31 PM
Comment #1Charlie
I thought Dick Keys would be keeping a low profile after what his wife said about him today..
At least the rest of the country know he’s a knob too
Optimistic Panda
Aug 29, 2018 at 5:33 PM
Comment #2It’s a shame we didn’t get his twin, a bit of friendly family rivalry may have pushed both on…
Jib
Aug 29, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #3Essex Dyer didn’t actually hit the bridge
He was showing off to the doormen at
Julies – fishtailed and hit one of the
Sandstone square bastions at the end
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 29, 2018 at 5:49 PM
Comment #4BBC Newcastle reporting Lascslles and Ritchie have had a bust up on the training pitch – dunno when tho
Jib
Aug 29, 2018 at 5:50 PM
Comment #5There were plans afoot for some of the away fans
to divert their coaches to Shirebrook (about 30 miles North
of Nottingham) this afternoon to demonstrate.
No news at the moment
Jib
Aug 29, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Comment #6Charlie
Lee Ryder is saying according to an insider
it was just a scuffle – no big deal
Jib
Aug 29, 2018 at 5:58 PM
Comment #7Mark Douglas
?Verified account
@MsiDouglas
25 minutes ago
This is going to be the biggest story on Tyneside in that first week of October,
believe me.
Release of Kevin Keegan’s autobiography
Optimistic Panda
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:01 PM
Comment #8Listening to total sport and they’re about to read out a Rafa out message that’s been sent in..
Where’s catchy?
Optimistic Panda
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:02 PM
Comment #9Jib
Sounds like that’s going to fan the flames!
Lindisfarne
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:05 PM
Comment #10Would be good to see a front four of Kenedy, Muto, Perez and Atsu tonight.
Tonyd3b54
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #11Anyone know of a link that will work in the US?
Jib
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:12 PM
Comment #12Rondon needs game time
BeeGuy
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:12 PM
Comment #13All players at all but the top 6 teams feel they “are not good enough” since the big boys have not signed them. Time for a salary cap, roster limits and draft.
Jib
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:17 PM
Comment #14BeeGuy
Different attitude in Europe
Those players outside of the top 6
feel they have something to prove
hibbit
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:26 PM
Comment #15BeeGuy @ 12
sorry mate but that’s never going to happen
Ibizatoon
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:47 PM
Comment #16Team to play N Forest: Darlow, Sterry, Schar, Fernandez, Clark, Atsu, Ki, Longstaff, Kenedy, Muto, Joselu
Subs: Elliot, Yedlin, Dummett, Diame, Murphy, Perez, Rondon
And hey y’all!
Aces-of-Eights
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:49 PM
Comment #17just a suggestion but the protesters maybe when they go away games could go outside that citys sports direct too and protest. might make it more effective than protesting only in the newcastle one
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 29, 2018 at 6:49 PM
Comment #18Not a bad team – expect to get a result putting that 11 out
Graeme
Aug 29, 2018 at 7:14 PM
Comment #19TonyD – try https://www.ronaldo7.net/
You should be able to get the NBC stream