It was critically for Newcastle to get our second win in a row against bottom club Fulham on Saturday
But we failed to do that in what was another below-par performance at St. James’ Park when we didn’t manage one shot on target.
One reason Rafa was so disappointed after the game was that before the end of January we have some very tough fixtures coming up.
Four of the games are against the perennial top six clubs in England.
Rafa Benitez – knows Newcastle have tough games coming up
We have to play at Liverpool and Chelsea and at home to the two Manchester clubs before the end of January.
That’s another reason Rafa is starting to send messages to Mike Ashley that we have to strengthen in January if we don’t want to become a Championship club again in May.
Here’s where we are in the league right now.
[table “76” not found /]Here are the fixtures coming up before February.
Wed 26 Dec Liverpool vs Newcastle 3:00pm
Sat 29 Dec Watford vs Newcastle 3:00pm
Wed 02 Jan Newcastle vs Man United 8:00pm
Sat 05 Jan Newcastle vs Blackburn 5:30pm FA CUP 3rd Round
Sat 12 Jan Chelsea vs Newcastle 5:30pm
Sat 19 Jan Newcastle vs Cardiff 3:00pm
Tue 29 Jan Newcastle vs Man City 8:00pm
Both Ki Sung-yueng and Yoshinori Muto will be missing for these games.
We didn’t do well against the top six clubs during the first ten games, but hopefully, we can pick up some points this time around.
It will be essential to do that otherwise we could be lower than our current 15th position in the league table by February.
It’s too much just thinking about it.
Comments welcome.
104 comments so far
Zele
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:30 AM
Comment #41hibbit,
I wish I knew.
What’s interesting is that many fans are convinced that Ashley won’t sell but few consider that perhaps nobody wants to buy the club.
It’s a bit like the house that everybody thinks no fool would buy but one day somebody does.
beefman13
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:32 AM
Comment #42Kennedy Diame Shelvey total under achiever’s, bloody liabilities, I have praised then at times i admit but they want their arses kicking, Rafa, Diame plays every game! Same as donkey Perez, two flash goals of his noggin, Manquillo, frigan terrible, you show no faith in the younger players, oh n Dummett back pass man, yea mate okay play it safe. Depressing.
Zele
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:37 AM
Comment #43L Toon,
Yes he doesn’t look happy (in public).
Unlike the special one at ManU where the players didn’t hold back their animosity towards their manager the Newcastle players look behind Rafa although performances on the field would make you think otherwise at times.
Munster Mag
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:37 AM
Comment #44Rotunda, Fulham are badly off form. It doesn’t matter if they have 10 pele’s on the team. They were there to be got at but we didn’t lay a glove on them. And I’m sorry, the assertion that none of our players wud get in the squads of any other team is utterly ludicrous. We know all about Ashley’s fault but guys like dupravka, Lascelles, jonjo, Kenedy, Fernández, rondon wudnt even feature? That’s probably 80 million of talent at today’s market value. If we are going to be daid and balanced, how can we fairly praise rafa fir Huddersfield, it absolve him for Fulham?? That’s not right, surely?
toon22
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:38 AM
Comment #45Imho Mikey boy just can’t give up the promise of the tv money
He’s got his beady eye on next seasons 100 million
He won’t sell until he’s forced too
Transfer Sage
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:38 AM
Comment #46I still think this season is going relatively well given the quality of player that we have available and with the injuries/lack of fitness of Rondon early on.
I think we could be more positive in our play and take the game to sides a little more, we are still too cautious in many games. Regardless of what we do though, we’ll not get top class football from these players and we won’t get much higher in the table than we currently are.
toon22
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:38 AM
Comment #47Munster
Your blaming Rafa for MAs greed
Hiya
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:40 AM
Comment #48Rondon, Muto and Perez are capable enough starters at this level I think, and also Kenedy on his day certainly, and Murphy I think will become one. We could certainly do with three more better though, more considering two of those aren’t even ours. This has to be the leanest Ashley’s ever run us.
toon22
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:40 AM
Comment #49Who would you buy to play as a striker for about 3 million quid who’s going to get us 20. goals a season ?
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:42 AM
Comment #50Reading between the lines
Ashley is not going to sell by the end of the window and Rafa will not have any money to spend unless he sells.
Don’t know if you would get any money for any of our players.
So here is my team for 2nd February against the Spuds
Dubravka
Dummett
Lascalles
Fernandez
Yedlin
Ritchie
Diame
Shelvey
Atsu
subs
LeJeune
Schar
Woodman
Joselu
Perez
Rondon
Murphy
yes not one new face in the team
Against Fulham
I know we have not got the strongest squad but Rafa has got to take part of the blame for playing defensive more worrying about the opposition than our strengths – by putting Dummett, Lascalles and Manquilla in the back 3/4 we went back to playing sideways backwards hoofball which is all to easy to defend against. Not once did we get behind their defence and put crosses in for Rondon always came back on our selves and flawed crosses in.
Yeah sorry to say it will be a miracle to stay up as other teams will spend or change their manager which seems to give a team lift i.e. South
hibbit
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:43 AM
Comment #51Zele
that house you refer the one we call NUFC could have collapsed and fell down by May (relegated) by then the owner wouldn’t have anything to sell even if he wanted to 😉
Transfer Sage
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:45 AM
Comment #52Munster
I agree with part of what you’re saying. People can’t praise the manager when things go well and not criticise when things don’t, providing that it’s balanced. The same goes the other way too where some don’t credit Rafa for anything he is doing in difficult circumstances and seem to feel he should be doing so much more.
As always, the cause of the vast majority of our problems is Ashley and his chronic mismanagement of the club.
Regardless of the money that’s (not) spent, we need a much better structure above Rafa to support him. For a club that wants to operate on a tight budget, I can’t understand why Ashley never looks at having a good scouting network to pick up cheaper players with sell on value.
Surely that’s better for the fans, the team and ultimately Ashley as he gets more money into the club to either reinvest or take out for his department store purchases.
Zele
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #53Transfer Sage,
I agree that we should be more adventurous at home and yes we won’t get top class performances from these players.
Much of the problem in home games is Rafa. Far too negative and cautious. He appears more focused on not losing as opposed to trying to win.
Saturday was a classic case in point. Fulham only had Mitrovich upfront so why not move to a back three and bring on a striker or an attacking midfield player ?
Transfer Sage
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:48 AM
Comment #54Toon22
Why 3 million? 8 million was made available for Muto, 10 million for Murphy, so there has been some money (I agree it’s much less than our rivals) but we should have spent that better.
This comes back to my point above. I can’t understand why the infrastructure is not invested in properly, in terms of a solid scouting network. Buying, developing and selling players benefits everyone. It makes me think that Ashley isn’t half as clever as he thinks he is.
Transfer Sage
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:50 AM
Comment #55Zele
I do think Rafa has changes out formation over different weeks to try and get results. I think he does try to win games (other than the couple of top teams where I see only trying for a draw) but we attacked man utd, we tried to keep arsenal and spurs games tight and get a goal to get back into it, he does try.
I think it would be nice to see us go for it a little more, especially at home to fulham. But the season is going ok for now, we’re doing as well as we could expect, we’ve had a couple wins I didn’t expect, so it works both ways.
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:52 AM
Comment #56Rafa has let Mike Ashley off lightly with his latest comments.
He knows all about Mikes (erm cough cough) small problem in the manhood department.
He could of let the whole world know about his microscopic tiddler.
Yes – he is getting an extension in the USA costing $50,000
But that will only make it 2 inches (that’s when he is fully aroused)
So well done Rafa , even though you are stuck in this dead end job he didn’t feel the need to resort to below the belt comments !!
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:55 AM
Comment #57All Over twitter
Keith Bishop is getting a copy cat ( tiddler operation)
To make his minature tiddler stick outwards , instead of it being inverted into his belly /balls
yorkymag
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:55 AM
Comment #58Transfer
I think you make an excellent point
Clearly wages need to sit alongside transfer fees but
I don’t think many can argue that rafa has waisted £18m on Murphy and muto
Compare these two to other signings in the premier league
Maddison for one
L Toon
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:57 AM
Comment #59Zele
I agree that we should be more attacking at home, but i simply believe that rafa does not trust the player’s to do it.
Transfer Sage
Dec 24, 2018 at 11:59 AM
Comment #60Yorky
I’m reluctant to blame Rafa too much for that. As you say, he’ll be working with a tight wage bill and it’s historically difficult to attract players to the North East as most want to be London based (unless manchester/liverpool where wages are good).
Also I imagine he will need to buy players with potential sell on value, not ready made players as that has always been the constant under Ashley.
I think as I’ve said before, the scouting network seems non existent, there have been some real gems picked up from eastern Europe and South America, particularly by Italian and German clubs. If Ashley is going to put these constraints on Rafa, he should be putting the network in place to give him a fighting chance. Rafa is one man, he can’t scout around Europe.
Ron Knee
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Comment #61Murphy was bought in the previous season when Rafa thought more funds were available.
Lindisfarne
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:01 PM
Comment #62Charlie in the Gallowgate @50
2 strikers?
yorkymag
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:03 PM
Comment #63Yes I realise but still hard to justify £10m I would say
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:03 PM
Comment #64Two strikers
Ashley and Bishop with they had two inches between them !
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:04 PM
Comment #65Mike Ashley might get a super pump in his stocking tonight to give him a few extra milimetres.
Keith will be jealous
Hiya KBA
Lindisfarne
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Comment #66Zele
we did play three at the back
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:13 PM
Comment #67Lindisfarne – whoops
So here is my team for 2nd February against the Spuds
Dubravka
Dummett
Lascalles
Fernandez
Yedlin
Ritchie
Diame
Shelvey
Atsu
Perez
Rondon
subs
LeJeune
Schar
Woodman
Joselu
Perez
Murphy
Hayden
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:15 PM
Comment #68From Rafa….In the chronicle
“It was a miracle last year when we found out about Mikes Tiny sausage, People were thinking, ‘Oh, because he’s a billionaire it must be 10 inches …’, but when everyone saw it they couldn’t believe it was real , “how can it be inverted” (was one of the clean comments we heard from a newcastle fan drinking in the black garter)
“If we go to the USA , we can get someone with tweezers to prise it out, it will cost $50,000 but it might give you two inches, it will be a miracle.”
READ MORE
Liverpool Vs Newcastle United
General view outside Anfield
TV details
Rondon confident
Privately, Benitez was furious when he heard of the todger operation , but he is no quitter and wanted to honour his contract in the summer.
Whether he signs another one will be the big talking point in January with transfer activity almost certainly set to be the decider on his future.
Benitez added: “I know how small mikes tiddler is now and I know where we are.
“You can not see it without binoculars but I know mike is trying a lot of things, but still it’s not enough to stick outward , and it will be like that sometimes
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:30 PM
Comment #69Keith Bishop
Ironic name – he hasn’t got a mans ‘Bishop’
It’s a few centimetres and that’s being generous , also it points into his belly/balls
Inverted bishop
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:31 PM
Comment #70Murphy was bought because the man at the top thought Townsend was too old and have no resale. Ironically he’d probably fetch 25M in January where as we’d be luck to loan out Murphy without paying his wages or a big part of them.
GeordieinOhio
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:33 PM
Comment #71Morning ALL!
not looking forward to the Liverpool game, a team full of confidence, a desire to win, and a quality manager, I hope they dont make us look like complete fools!, hopefully I am wrong and liverpool players eat and drink wayyyyy to much tomorrow……
Oldgit1
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:36 PM
Comment #72@ JFA it’s not often I agree with you. Can’t understand why Murphy has not made it. He had him well scouted so something is missing. Waste of money.
Transfer Sage
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:37 PM
Comment #73GeordieinOhio
It’s a total free hit for me. These players know they can’t compete with liverpool if they are on their game so just go out, make it hard for them and see what happens.
I’ve played games myself where we are up against teams clearly better and you just have a go, might be rubbish if you get a stuffing but the next day you realise there was nothing you could do.
Transfer Sage
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:38 PM
Comment #74Jail
Totally agree, we always seem to need to buy potential but never have a decent network of scouts to find real hidden gems, we even buy bottom of the barrel of potential.
The sooner this “sale” happens the better… so much for it being done for January ey.
Zele
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:39 PM
Comment #75Lindisfarne,
If we did play three at the back I must have missed it. Must have happened when I dossed off.
Which defender (Dummitt, Schaar, Lascelles, Manquillo) came off to be replaced by a forward ?
kc2012
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:39 PM
Comment #76What exactly are people expecting any manager in World football to achieve with our current squad? We have an ok squad but money talks massively in football. People are kicking off about the Fulham result, a draw against a team that spent over £120m in Summer and includes Shurrle (World Cup winner, multiple title winner), Seri (who was very close to joining Barca and pretty much every huge club in Europe was after him), £18-20m Mawson (a fee that beats our record), Mitro (£27m who everyone keeps raving about but was kept silent all game). Fulham were awful under Jokanovic but are improving under Ranieri and we just didn’t have the creativity to break them down which has been the same in many games. Maybe if Rafa put his boots on he could’ve played a 40 yard wonderball with the outside of his boot to Rondon. Would Rafa be challenging for titles if he had players like Salah, Aguero, Sane, Sterling, De Bruyne, Kane, Van Dijk etc….yes, but he doesn’t, he has Manquillo, Hayden and Perez.
For us to be where we are is a miracle in itself. Blame the manager all you want but even Pep and Klopp would be fighting relegation with our squad against the quality players the other teams have. We have to play defensive, boring football because if we didn’t we’d get smashed to bits like Cardiff, Huddersfield and Southampton have been this season whilst trying to go toe to toe with teams. We are surviving because of this and this only and that’s how it is for Rafa.
When Rafa walks in the Summer and we end up with someone like Nigel Pearson people will realise.
Be careful what you wish for.
Oldgit1
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:41 PM
Comment #77@ Geodiein Ohio be interesting how Liverpool suppporters feel, they won’t want Rafa team to be slaughtered as they respect him too much. They will be happy with a 1-0.
Happy Xmas and good health to everyone on this blog esp Dr Ed. Been an interesting year.lets hope for the best, come Jan.
Transfer Sage
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:45 PM
Comment #78kc2012
I know fulham spent 120 million but they have been awful, money doesn’t mean everything. You can’t have success without spending a lot but just spending it doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed.
I think that people were disappointed we were the first team not to score past them, and not only not score, not really look like scoring.
I personally don’t think we should be any higher up the league, we’ve had a couple of surprise wins and a couple surprise defeats, it evens out. I just wish we’d have been a bit better saturday, but never mind, on to the next one.
Bladey
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:46 PM
Comment #79ASH IN RAFA IN
Mag :P
Dec 24, 2018 at 12:50 PM
Comment #80Lmao instead of attacking rafa for how he set us up. Why not try and understand his thinking?
If we had lost that game, because he made us more attacking… What would people be saying?
I get that we are at home, but let’s not forget about the size of this game. It was huge, one that we could afford to draw but couldn’t afford to lose.
Our home form has been terrible, stopping the rot with a draw gives us something to build on.
Yes, we looked poor, awful infact. But that was down to two things.
One, the huge lack of quality in our squad.
Two, there defensive set up which proved difficult for our poor quality players to break down.
We get our points on the counter attack when there is space, we have never been good at breaking down an opposition team which is set up to nullify us.
Odds are we attack more with the same lack of quality and in turn leave ourselves open on the counter attack where Fulham have proved to be very good.
I think he got the balance right and I’m not disappointed in the draw.
A win would have been nice with the upcoming fixtures but I can totally understand his thinking.