Rafa Benitez has been accused of using negative tactics at Newcastle at times over these past two seasons.
Such as defending against the top six clubs and trying not to concede.
That’s kept us in the games, and we have beaten Man United, Man City, and Arsenal over the last couple of seasons.
But at times it was all out defending, and pundits wanted to see Newcastle attack more.
But when you go head to head with top teams, you can end up being taken apart.
We have kept close to the top side during games and won some.
Adrian Durham at TalkSPORT believes Newcastle should have gone toe to toe with the top teams.
Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez celebrate winning goal on Saturday
But he hasn’t the responsibility of ensuring Newcastle stay in the Premier League.
This is some of what has said on talkSPORT:
“I think criticism for his negativity has been a fair criticism,”
“Celebrating losing games 1-0 or 2-1 against bigger opponents because it means the goal difference hasn’t been hammered that much, I’m not into that.”
“This is the Premier League where you should be trying to compete and should be giving it a go, especially when you go 1-0 or 2-0 down.”
“You should be trying to at least get back onto level terms not just settling for a minus-1 on the goal difference.”
“However, I’m looking at Newcastle now and that trio up-front – Almiron, Perez and Rondon – they are going to be entertaining.”
“These three have a link-up play that everyone is going to love.
“So I’m not going to say it’s football Keegan was playing first time around because that was sensational but they’re just getting to be that little more attractive, easy on the eye.”
“And he’s (Rafa) spotted a player, he wanted Almiron, they’ve gone to get him to be fair and broken that record, but he wanted him.”
“Benitez knew what that player could bring to that first eleven and boy has he done it. They are a really entertaining watch.”
It’s so easy to criticize when you are a pundit – you don’t have any responsibility for the clubs you criticize.
Yes, it usually makes for better games for the fans when you try to attack the opposition.
But not to be stupid about it and subsequently, be torn apart by teams who are worth more than 10 times what the Newcastle team cost to put together.
Did I say it was easy to be a pundit?
Comments welcome.
49 comments so far
martoon
Mar 13, 2019 at 12:07 PM
Comment #41Lindisfarne @39 – Are you saying we should rest our South American players so they can fly home early for their International duty? If so NEVER going to happen!
posada
Mar 13, 2019 at 12:14 PM
Comment #42Just looked at our squad on Nufc com.
Apart from a couple of no hopers out on loan we have no problems with any of our players.
In the sense that they are worth what we paid for them or more.
Previously we have been lumbered with the likes of Riviere. Sometimes as many as half a dozen like him. On top money and making no contribution at all.
martoon
Mar 13, 2019 at 12:23 PM
Comment #43posada @42 – Apart from Joselu 😀
posada
Mar 13, 2019 at 12:38 PM
Comment #44Oops I forgot about Joselu.
Actually though I still think we could get a couple of million for him.
Someone in Spain.
Some of the No Hopers we have had have been a lot worse than that.
We could not give them away on loan.
They never played for us, but we had them on so much money we could not find them a club in the whole of europe.
Riviere springs to mind. Also, the Xcisco Kid.
They hung about on the pay role for years.
DubaiMicky
Mar 13, 2019 at 12:44 PM
Comment #453% of ashLIE’s investment perhaps, but as a marketing opportunity for all his tat shops – must be well over 50%.
toon22
Mar 13, 2019 at 12:48 PM
Comment #46LoL
Like anyone believes a thing MA says
ashleysmate
Mar 13, 2019 at 1:06 PM
Comment #47I see vardy’s wife is wondering why the comments about her on twattergram (is the chav ever off it) are a little terse . What does she expect when in the company of phattman and chucky.. Just another piece of plastic arm candy who will do a runner and find someone with deep pockets once her old man retires
DubaiMicky
Mar 13, 2019 at 1:11 PM
Comment #48ashleysmate aka hooker – goes after the money.
A sad indictment on society these days where posing in bra and pants is seen as a career choice, as is screwing anyone who’s rich so they can sponge off them.
martoon
Mar 13, 2019 at 1:27 PM
Comment #49I’ve just read that article by Martin Hardy on the Offthepitch.com and in my opinion most of it I could have written about facts and figures of the loans and financials – which have been well documented on here.
There were two bits that were new that I hadn’t heard before:
1) Leicester had a definite interest in Rafa before they appointed Rodgers
2) Ashley is staying and going back to his policy of signing young players to sell on for profit.
In my opinion the guy is just guessing and speculating – yes it was rumoured Leicester might have an interest in Rafa but there was never any statements from either party even after Rodgers was appointed – Hardy is quoting speculation as fact! On the second point again I think Hardy is guessing – it looks like Ashley can’t sell so therefore he is staying and it therefore follows he will revert back to his transfer policy – again pure speculation.
Some good eye catching headlines for click bait for a new website’s introduction dare I suggest?