Rafa was calm and collected when he was interviewed yesterday, and he was keen to tell the journalists that he didn’t call any crisis meeting with the players.
The manager said yesterday he was 100% certain Newcastle would avoid relegation but that we had to start winning some games.
Newcastle play at Old Trafford this afternoon, and if we are beaten again, that would be six defeats in our first eight league games and seven losses in our first nine games overall.
🙁
Rafa was asked if the team takes responsibility for where we are at the moment.
Rafa Benitez – we must play without fear
This is how he answered that in the Chronicle:
“The team knows.” “We did not have any clear the air meetings. We always have a meeting on Monday anyway.”
“But the kind of meeting we have is where we talk about what we did right or wrong.”
“We try to encourage the players to do the right things on the pitch.”
“It is normal in professional football. They know and we know that certain players are not performing at a certain level.”
“We know that sometimes we make mistakes with certain tactics or substitutions or whatever.”
“But it is very easy when you have top-class players and make a change and it works, it’s like: ‘Oh great substitution’.”
“When you have players that work together at similar levels every decision can be questioned because everyone has an opinion.”
“At the same time we have to take responsibility.” “We have to analyze what we did and make sure what we do is the best for the team.”
“We all have different opinions. But overall we are right more times than wrong – because how would we finish 10th?”
“Every season is different even for stats!” “The main thing for me is we know that we have to start winning games.”
“It’s not ideal and you can’t go looking for a fixture where you can pick and choose who is doing well.”
“They have a strong team with experienced players so I don’t think it will be an easy one.”
“What I have tried to do with the players is watch what they did in the first half against Leicester and try to replicate something similar because we were quite sharp on the counter attack.”
“We had chances and we were quite close.” “What happened after that?”
“Once you concede against the top sides then you end up being more open and you concede another one.”
“For us, we have to do something similar to how we started.” “We want to see determination and no fear.”
“We have to try to get the result.” “Sometimes you play counter attack and other times you play high up the field and keep them defending.”
“Normally they push you and have the possession and you have to react and do well.”
The records show that a win today is highly unlikely, but on the other hand, it should inspire our players that we have won only one game in the last 36 visits to Old Trafford.
A win would shock everybody in English football – maybe we can pull it off?
Only 18% think we can win this game today.
11 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Comment #12 Hours 55 Minutes to KO
Zele
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:35 PM
Comment #2Fine words, hopefully fine deeds to follow.
We wait and see.
c-dog
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:39 PM
Comment #3Hope to see Muto up top today. Rafa surely knows that when Joselu starts it affects the confidence of the other players.
Geordie-john
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:40 PM
Comment #4IT’S ABOUT TIME WE HAD A WIN LADS ! GET STUCK IN AND GIVE THEM A LESSON !
Jail for Ashley
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #5So according to the BBC Ashley has promised to take a more hands on approach at the club. How on earth is that going to help anything. He should have done that last May.
sing in the corner
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:48 PM
Comment #6C dog
People go on about toon22 being repetitive..yet there’s never a day goes by without you slating Joselu. Why don’t you lay off him for a change. You have made your point, just about every day since he signed. He is a Mag.
crawfordm
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:49 PM
Comment #7PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE no Perez. I cannot understand why this fella is even on the bench .
Give Joselu and Muto a chance today
Mag52
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Comment #8A free holiday with Ashley has to be a massive incentive to the lads to avoid relegation and to put points on the board starting from today.
c-dog
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:52 PM
Comment #9Because in that time Joselu has made 40 appearances. And contributed little. And it’s embar to call him “a mag”
sing in the corner
Oct 6, 2018 at 2:58 PM
Comment #10Joselu is just about all we have in his position right now..he puts a shift in every time he comes out, you don’t see him sulking, hiding with ‘injuries’ or personal problems and he lives on tiny scraps of service. We sign a top striker… fine..he is dropped. Until then, why not get behind him, give the lad a break?
c-dog
Oct 6, 2018 at 3:13 PM
Comment #11He gets paid 30 odd k a week for doing nothing. He’s a poor player. And is a hinderence to club progression. Like Ashley and like fans like you who do not object to his presence in our club.