With two wins on the trot since the warm weather training in Murcia Spain and Newcastle seem to be off again and up the table.
Newcastle have won 8 games this season and four of those have been in the previous six games so things are most definitely looking up.
In the two home games against Huddersfield and Burnley, Rafa has shown a masterclass with his coaching and match plans.
And the result has been two fairly easy 2-0 wins at home and four wins on the trot at St. James’ Park.
With players like Schar, Hayden, Longstaff, and Almiron now starring for the team, it looks like a new team.
Notice that only Lascelles and Perez were first-team players from last night’s starting eleven when Rafa arrived in March three years ago.
And Lascelles had hardly played under Steve McClaren.
Rafa Benitez – it’s thumbs up from the manager
So even though Rafa has had little money to spend it looks like this Newcastle team can become a test for any club.
We are too many players short of having a good team and a strong squad with Ki, Shelvey, and Diame now fighting for their places.
If we can keep winning games this season then who knows – we may have a second successive top ten finish.
If that happens it will show once again just what a world-class manager Rafa really is – and he’s been up against it at Newcastle with little investment from the owner.
There’s just no way Rafa should be allowed to leave the club in the summer.
No way at all.
Here are some comments about Rafa from appreciative Newcastle fans.
Back in the day we used to be unreal going forward but always weak at the back. Scored loads. Conceded loads. I mean Bramble and O’Brien in the Champions League? Howay! ?. Never have we looked as strong and tidy at the back than we do now. #Rafa #NUFC
— Chris?? (@chris87_tyne) February 27, 2019
With our GK and CB’s, the emergence of Longstaff and the signing of Almiron, Rafa has taken the self-harming under-investment of Ashley and given us a team.
We aren’t far off being competitive. A couple of wing backs and more creativity and #NUFC could be next seasons Watford.
— StripedBeats (@BeatsStriped) February 27, 2019
We’ve never had a better defence than Rafa’s well drilled Mags in the 43 years I’ve been going. Imagine where we could be if the club supported him properly? #nufc
— WhitleyLodgeSnooker (@WhitleyLodgeSno) February 27, 2019
That’s like saying the new Huddersfield manager (He’s been there about a month or so) is to blame for Huddersfield being bottom of the league all season. A season isn’t defined in 10 games. You have to judge the previous 28 as well so to say Rafa got #nufc relegated is just silly
— Adrian Langley (@adi_bizzle) February 27, 2019
Wouldn’t it be nice, and sensible to give Rafa the deal and assurances he wants and sign his top 3 targets before pre season starts.
That’s definitely going to happen right? #NUFC— Steve McKenna (@SteveMcKenna_) February 27, 2019
Alot of credit has to be given to Isaac Hayden! Thought he was really good last night. Can see why Rafa wanted to keep him. Wants to leave but he is giving 100% every minute of every game. Him and Longstaff are going to be hard to shift out of team. #NUFC
— Karl Muirhead (@KarlMuirhead) February 27, 2019
Unreal feeling waking up after a Toon win. Massive couple of results and more masterclasses from Rafa and Longstaff. ???????? #NUFC
— JT (@JordanT513) February 27, 2019
It’s mad what a new signing like Miggy Almiron can do to a club, Rafa looks happy also?
Need to push on and get top half finish. Haven’t enjoyed watching Newcastle like this for a very long time. #nufc
— thomas allman (@tomallman1993) February 27, 2019
As much as like Ritchie and Yedlin, you look at our team last night and think that if we’re going to invest properly in the summer (after sorting Rafa and a striker), then a top pair of wing backs will transform us to challenging for a top 8 place #NUFC
— Nick (@23nsg) February 27, 2019
Boring boring Rafa…
Last 4 premier league home games:
Played 4
Won 4
Scored 9
Conceded 1 #NUFC pic.twitter.com/1B8So8YXPK— James Knowlson (@jimknowlson) February 27, 2019
Also – well aware last year that #NUFC went through much of the season with so few injuries. Even after giving Rafa & his team credit for that – I felt we couldn’t be so lucky twice. We weren’t – but Rafa took what he was left with and worked with it. Miracles again.
— ????????? #nufc #AshleyOut (@HanoiToon) February 27, 2019
Rafa Benitez is doing absolute bits at Newcastle. If they had a decent owner that would spend some money they would easily push for a European spot #NUFC #EPL
— David Northcott (@Northyy001) February 27, 2019
More credit for Rafa, he’s been tinkering with this formation for a few years now but definitely has the right players in there now. Couple of ball playing centre half’s, grafters in the middle, a bull up top and quality on the wings. Matt Ritchie has been immense. #NUFC
— Terry Martin (@T_martin_11) February 27, 2019
Rafa is genuinely the only manager I can remember at Newcastle who has had the bottle to play an academy graduate in Centre Mid for any extended period of time. Who was the last one we had? #nufc
— Alistair James (@aliclow) February 27, 2019
Rafa is achieving what he is despite of Mike Ashley. Ashley has done little other than take from this club and has held us back for over a decade. All the good work Rafa has done will all be undone if Rafa is allowed to leave. The sale needs to get done asap. #Nufc #ashleyout
— Mr Err0r (@5yntax_Err0r) February 27, 2019
Another win for Newcastle. Rafa is doing an incredible job. Top coach. #NUFC
— Dipesh Agarwal (@dipeshagarwal) February 27, 2019
Owa the moon with that result! Absolute dinger from Schar! Back to back clean sheeeeets, back 3 looking sollllllid. Not to mention an actual academy product geordie who’s been running the show for weeks! I swear Rafa can turn water to wine man, GET IN! #NUFC
— Matthew Thomas (@TattyMhomas) February 27, 2019
A lot is going right at #NUFC at the moment, but this purple patch begun when key players were out injured and things seemed incredibly bleak. It’s hard to imagine any manager but Rafa being able to navigate through such a tough period and get this team playing like they are now
— Jake Oliver (@jolivernyc) February 27, 2019
Comments welcome.
6 comments so far
JohnJ
Feb 27, 2019 at 2:39 PM
Comment #1Delighted with the wins against Huddersfield & Burnley…….
Now hoping for a win against West Ham 3 – 0 would be good (recalling our defeat at St James’ Park)
But……. I’d settle for any score as long as we score at least one more than the Hammers!
🙂 🙂 🙂
geordietom
Feb 27, 2019 at 2:43 PM
Comment #2so glad my post drew the FROG out NOT …
good convo going and out jumps the frog …
be really glad when WOR CLUB gets sold to get rid of the GREEN ONE …
Munster Mag
Feb 27, 2019 at 2:47 PM
Comment #3Was saying same to another mags supporter last night. I can rarely remember trusting an nufc defence. Maybe in the championship where colo was imperious. Think he woukd gave liked playing in this defence at his peak. But I never really recall a solid nufc defence. In all the years I am supporting them? And as for the passing, must be a pain in the bum for other teams when miggy is hovering and schar is on the ball ready to hit one long. Maybe we don’t need to spend too much? Could we get two pacey wingbacks for 20 mill. Surely we can? Maybe another loanee if barreca doesn’t work out and then fing a young rangy fast striker to understudy rondon.
RobLeenio
Feb 27, 2019 at 2:56 PM
Comment #4We’ll be due all the Sky money again in July. People are saying that we won’t need to spend much, but we should be aware that there will in theory actually be a fair amount to spend. If NY Mag is right, we’ve already put aside a fair amount to cover the potential HMRC fine and repayment, so anything that comes in should be reinvested (minus costs)
Ashley should have enough cash to back Rafa the way he wants, which is not extravagant after all. Any investment in the club facilities is actually just that – an investment which he should see a return on either through club value increasing or by producing better quality players for higher resale value.
I know logic doesn’t always win out with the fat man’s fingers on the purse strings.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 27, 2019 at 3:13 PM
Comment #5@Robleenio
Thing that also annoys me is where is our transfer money from the last few big sales ? Seeing as we are selling players over 4 and 5 years there should be about 30 or 40 million worth of installments every season!?
Also Fun 88 money and the other sponsors we have?
Not sure why that money can’t be used to improve the facilities and scouting team
Bambams
Feb 27, 2019 at 3:25 PM
Comment #6LCBP
Adding onto that about where the transfer profits went and ash reluctance to give Rafa some coin…..
Why the hell did he give about £80 million to ‘Wally with The Brolly’ yet nowt for Rafa.
I honestly believe he must have creamed over £150 million since we came back up, minimum.
Commercial, Sky, Player sales, sponsorship….
Unless he is saving up to give Rafa the lot ? Nah its went on high street purchases