Saturday was a special moment for Newcastle fans becasue it was the first time in just over fifteen years that Newcastle had been two goals down in a Premier League game and came back to win it.
The last time was when we beat Fulham 3-2 at Loftus Road with Sir Bobby Robson in charge back on 21st October 2003.
We were 2-0 down after just 8 minutes in that game, but an early goal from Robert and a second-half brace from Alan Shearer got us all 3 points.
Ki Sung-yueng – we knew we had to keep going in the second half
Sung-yueng Ki started in place of the injured Sean Longstaff on Saturday, and he said this in the Chronicle today:
“Nobody in the stadium was pleased that we were losing 2-0 but then we came back to score three goals and that’s not easy to do.”
“Everybody in the dressing room knew not to give up.” “We showed what we could do in the second half and we’re very pleased to win this game.”
“We all know what the atmosphere is like at St James’ Park especially when we are doing well.”
“Also, the fans didn’t give up either and after we scored the first goal they were right behind us.”
“When we scored the third one the atmosphere was crazy and I was very pleased for everybody.”
“The win was crucial for us.” “We could have easily given up and it could have been heads down.”
“In the dressing room said that if we got one goal that a second and third is possible.” “We’re very happy with the result.
“We’re not finished yet.
“We have to keep going until the last game of the season.”
Once we are safe, we don’t want to let-up as we did last season when we lost four successive games before beating Chelsea in the final match 3-0.
That was the first appearance by Ki since last December, and he needs more playing time to get fully match fit.
It may be that Rafa brings Shelvey into the starting eleven at Bournemouth on Saturday after he looked excellent in the closing 10 minutes of the game on Saturday,
But Ki, Shelvey, and Diame all need playing time, and they will get it before the end of the season with Longstaff out injured.
Isaac Hayden again looked a rejuvenated player on Saturday.
We hope we’re not going to lose him this summer, but it’s looking that way.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
61 comments so far
posada
Mar 11, 2019 at 12:52 PM
Comment #41Jail
He thinks he’s a striker.
I think that’s code for he wasn’t my choice.
Jib
Mar 11, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Comment #42posada
He has previous
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11808661/Lee-Mason-relegated-to-fourth-official-role-after-Coquelin-red-card-furore-in-Arsenal-clash-with-Crystal-Palace.html
Tsunki
Mar 11, 2019 at 12:56 PM
Comment #43Lots of things can happen and apart from a couple of obvious ones I doubt the doors are all fully closed should a top team need a top manager, with a proven record, fast. He’s not got a bad CV. Especially with what he’s managed here with a surplus budget (up until recently)
For instance, if Solskjaers dream wagon loses a wheel and things start to fall apart and he gets sacked, if Man utd came knocking you’d raise your eyebrows but you wouldn’t be entirely shocked. Let’s not forget they thought mourinho and yes Moyes were the answer at one point. When things are going well at the top clubs you can’t imagine any changes, but it’s when the results go awry, champions League places are dropped, failure to win cups etc, all of a sudden anything a possible. And a rescuer in the shape of Benitez would not shock. Surprise maybe but not shock.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:01 PM
Comment #44Seeing Rafa at a financially poorer club than us and being backed with a handful of 20M+ players would surely be enough to unite the fans in trying to force Ashleys hand.
jayphoto
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:03 PM
Comment #45If Rafas not taking Everton because of his Liverpool connections theres no way hes ending up at Man Utd… their fans hate him.
Think for me the key is Rafa says he wanra3to build something over 5-10 years… the only league really where a manager lasts that long at a club is EPL… on the continent its a game of sporting directors and 2-3 year head coaches.
lesh
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:04 PM
Comment #46jayphoto @22
You’re probably right and you can be sure that Ashley’ll be thinking the same way – looking at options available to Rafa thus colouring his view on what he’s got to offer Rafa to persuade him to stay on with us. The result, the inevitable delay and uncertainty that’s typical of Ashley plus the likelihood that in the absence of good will, good faith from Ashley, that Rafa’ll call it a day and move on.
posada
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:05 PM
Comment #47Jib
Yeah I believe he has.
It’s not a good advert for reffing at the top level.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:09 PM
Comment #48jay,
If Rafa doesn’t stay it’s because Ashley wants to run the club his way. After two relegations and countless relegation battles I can’t for the life of me understand why!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:16 PM
Comment #49I can also imagine a lot of top bigger teams wondering how the hell we got Lejuene , Fernandez , Schar and Dubravka for the prices that we did!
30 million for Pickford or 3.5 for Dubravka ? No brainer really
35 million for Mangala or 9 million for Lejuene? If he didn’t get that bad injury there would be rave reviews about him
RobLeenio
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:19 PM
Comment #50tsunki @ 16, very good, thoughtful post, particularly on the space Almiron creates for others. I think this is something we all hoped would happen before we signed him, to see it actually transpire is great.
The fact that he covers space and makes tackles on top of the attacking attributes makes him invaluable.
RobLeenio
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:21 PM
Comment #51For what it’s worth, the more I think about it and the more I read on here and elsewhere, the more convinced I am that Rafa is going nowhere and that it’s just a matter of time.
What’s prompted this today? Jail insisting justifiably that any manager worth his salt would not come to replace Rafa and Jay insisting justifiably that Rafa would struggle to find another club which would suit him quite so well.
Whether they like it or not, Ashley and Rafa need each other.
jayphoto
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:23 PM
Comment #52Said numerous times in dec, Almiron is simply the best player Newcastle could sign that would come here, stand by it now! Reckon hes going to be phenomenal next season! Also, if we switch back to a 4-2-3-1 like Atlanta play, you’ll see an even better Miggy
RobLeenio
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:33 PM
Comment #53jay, it’s interesting to hear the tales of the North American fans who’ve been recruited along with Almiron. I think Charlie in the Gallowgate said he met a few of Miggy’s fan club in one of the pubs ahead of the game and I read an article last week full of quotes from Atlanta fans about how NUFC are now their chosen Premier League team.
I bet it’s made a few of the other teams sit up and take notice, eventually Miggy might pay for himself in NUFC shirt sales in the USA alone, purely down to his popularity over there.
sing in the corner
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:33 PM
Comment #54jayphoto
On the Rafa situation..
People are still assuming that in order to go to a decent job Rafa HAS TO finish at the Toon one week and move to a big job the next.
Rafas a supposed workaholic, but there’s no desperate rush. Jobs will free up, they always do.
If I takes 2-6 months or more, no real problem.
He even said himself that though he is prepared to work abroad. He said in England longer projects are normal, but on the continent plenty of scope for jobs n the shorter term. The right job would come along in time.
I think he was countering the argument you, others and the media make about there not being suitable jobs to go to..
sing in the corner
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:36 PM
Comment #55By the way, I sincerely hope Ashley works it out, (or fcuks off preferably) and that Rafa stays with strong enough guarantees on finance and that there is a workable amount of ambition..
RobLeenio
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:46 PM
Comment #56Sing in the corner “Rafas a supposed workaholic, but there’s no desperate rush. Jobs will free up, they always do”
That’s a fair point if Rafa was to be considered in isolation, but he is very much the head of a team. He may be able to afford to be out of work for an undetermined period, he may even welcome it, but what about Mikel Anita, Paco and the others?
Rafa will only leave if there is a clear plan for him and his coaches, which he may have had at Leicester. The fact he didn’t even entertain them at the time is interesting.
Mag52
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:48 PM
Comment #57Against my better nature I’ve been pleased at the progress Man.U. have made under Skoljar (or however you spell it ). He’s got to start at Old Trafford next season whatever happens now.
No, I think the only worries we might have about Rafa leaving of his own accord, is if the Spanish FA come calling for someone to take on the national team.
carltoon
Mar 11, 2019 at 1:51 PM
Comment #58Did you notice when Perez scored the third goal the 2 Everton defenders crash into each other hilarious
ben.g
Mar 11, 2019 at 2:01 PM
Comment #59It’s not so much the facilities at the academy that need updating, it more coaches and players for competition brought in.
Academy is “more or less fine” according to Rafa
Jib
Mar 11, 2019 at 2:03 PM
Comment #60Got to love the Independent’s
James Moore
Chief Business Commentator :-
Debenham’s announcement , via an unscheduled “refinancing update”, that it was in “advanced negotiations” with its existing lenders over a £150m rescue package. was intended to tell Ashley that he should come and have a go if he thinks he’s hard enough.
Ashley does so he will.
The company will almost certainly get the money it wants, and on rather better terms than the ruinously expensive £40m emergency bridging loan the lenders ponied up to keep things ticking over while a rescue plan was worked up.
They badly want such a plan to work because they know full well that they’ll get stiffed if Ashley wins.
Munster Mag
Mar 11, 2019 at 4:40 PM
Comment #61Ron knee, yes I do agree with jay’s statement. Rafa us top class, and I gave also been saying fir quite some time that we may be the best gig available to him in England. My occasional criticism of rafa was about over defensive plsy on certain occasions against average / below average teams and I stand by those comments despite what other people tried to infer. No manager is beyond criticism or crith Al analysis. Doesn’t mean the commentator doesn’t want him here.