Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles talked after the terrific win last Friday night at the King Power Stadium – and it seems some time ago now.
It turned out to be a surprisingly comfortable game for the players and although Leicester had 72% of possession they didn’t threaten Newcastle many times at all.
Newcastle played so well as a team – it was a Rafa Benitez type of performance, and our players worked their socks off for what was a vital win.
After 25 minutes Salomon Rondon hit the crossbar with another terrific free kick.
And after Ayoze Perez put us ahead after 32 minutes with a beautiful header – we could and maybe should have gone further ahead.
Rafa Benitez with Jamaal Lascelles
Lascelles has pointed to the fact that the players have improved this season under the guidance of Mr. Benitez:
“We know we can get better. That doesn’t mean by signing players, it just means by keeping on listening and learning from the manager.”
“We’re still getting to know the league really, not that many players have played that much Premier League football. When we gain a bit more experience, we’ll get better.”
“We still need to get a bit more savvy and streetwise on the pitch. There have been some games we’ve lost through fine margins, and it hasn’t been because of a lack of quality or work ethic.”
“If we’re winning, it’s maybe been because we haven’t got the ball in the corner or committed a little foul at a crucial moment.”
“When we’ve got a bit more experience of the Premier League, I think that will be a big difference.”
“We’re over the moon (with Friday’s win).” “We knew it was going to be a really tough game.”
“Leicester have got a lot of experience, and a lot of young flair players in their team who know what they’re doing.”
“They’ve got a good manager, but we had a game plan that we’d worked on all week in training, and I think we really frustrated them.”
“I think the manager will be over the moon.”
And this will be another season for our players knowing exactly what’s expected of them from the manager.
We now have to hope Rafa is allowed to bring in say five new players this summer.
He will also need to sell the fringe players who are no longer required at the club.
Then hopefully we can have a good season next term where we are always in the top half of the league.
That in itself would be a huge relief for our long-suffering fans.
Next season has to be the turning point and it’s upwards and onwards from now on.
Hope so.
Comments welcome.
173 comments so far
jayphoto
Apr 15, 2019 at 4:26 PM
Comment #1@Jib – not sure it was scouting Schar that was fantastic, hes got 50 caps for switzerland, the world knew about him, it was whoever had the contacts to know hed be available for 3.5m… what a player he is too! Remember at Basel he was linked with a lot of big clubs after champions league performances
DaveD1000
Apr 15, 2019 at 4:28 PM
Comment #2<<<BeckenSchaer fan
cyprus
Apr 15, 2019 at 4:49 PM
Comment #3TBH I’d definitely take knockaert, very talented. We really need players who can dribble and attack opponents head on. Not sure why he was mentioned, is he available, out of favour?
Would definitely take Traore too.
hibbit
Apr 15, 2019 at 5:04 PM
Comment #4is this what we can expect when ashLIE goes or the the problem that’s turning up in the due diligence that frightening buyers off, he didn’t even own Rangers god knows what he has away syphon from nufc into the sd name or his other associated companies
https://www.thenational.scot/news/17574738.rangers-bosses-in-merchandise-battle-with-mike-ashley/
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 5:26 PM
Comment #5Florian Lejeune with his wife and daughter have
flown to Rome today for his op.
Good luck big fella
Pain in the Blog
Apr 15, 2019 at 5:53 PM
Comment #6Catching up on the blog, I see that posters (might have been Rob today) are still asking the question “How can Ashley, a successful businessman, not see that a properly funded NUFC will make more money for him than a cash-starved club”. Well, there was a conspiracy theory a few years ago that proposed that a very successful Utd would potentially put off supporters of other premiership clubs from buying their own club shirts from their local SD store. Damaging to SD turnover and profits. There is a certain logic to it, I suppose.
geordietom
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:05 PM
Comment #7in the chronicle they are saying Rafa is tipped for a big club FULHAM ffs what next …
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:13 PM
Comment #8This exclusive in the French media says Bruno Genesio
replacing Rafa is absolute bollix and Ashley will leave no
stone unturned to keep the Spaniard
https://le10sport.com/football/mercato/exclu-mercato-ol-genesio-newcastle-cest-faux-448009
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:21 PM
Comment #9Roberts is back from injury but on the bench, could be a big boost. No toure though.
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:23 PM
Comment #10Harker, Sterry, Walters, Bailey (c), Cass, Watts, Allan, M. Longstaff, Sorensen, Sangare, Longelo.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:23 PM
Comment #11That post is plagiarised!!
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:24 PM
Comment #12Bill will be ecstatic
S O R E N S E N is playing
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:24 PM
Comment #1335 mins to KO
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:25 PM
Comment #14Ronaldo
All my posts are !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:27 PM
Comment #15I missed the chat about scouting players etc earlier on. Got to say there’s a lot of talent showing up in the championship this season. My favourite although not exactly young is Said Benrahma. Their left looks decent too like but I’d like to see us take a punt on Benrahma, guy looks quality and gives out nutmegs like they’re going out of style. Exciting player.
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:30 PM
Comment #16Huge fire at Notre Dame!
toon22
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:36 PM
Comment #17JIB
Is the leave no stone unturned the same as every penny ?
MA is a liar
lesh
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:38 PM
Comment #18RobLeenio
You’ll remember the post left by DubaiMickey and the Torygraph outlined how his staff are trusted or otherwise and it referred to the roles of his trusted lieutenants among whom is Justin Barnes – NUFC’s de facto MD. Part of their brief is to shield Ashley from distractions to allow him to focus on the bigger picture.
Now as NUFC is a drop in the ocean that is Ashley’s empire, Rafa’s pleas’ll get nowhere near Ashley. Barnes’ll be one of the conduits to Ashley after Charnley’s listened to Rafa. So, like most things wrong at NUFC, Barnes is Ashley’s fixer and thus responsible for our problems.
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:40 PM
Comment #19Ron
Just before Easter !
I hope it’s not what I think
lesh
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #20Hibbett
I’ve no doubt that the merchandising model Ashley foisted on Rangers will have been based on the arrangements he’s got in place at SJP.
His greed and lack of morality and a sense of fair play in his business dealings is unbelievable.
NY Mag
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:45 PM
Comment #21Lesh,
There’s no such thing as fair in business 🙂
Bambams
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:45 PM
Comment #22Lejeune will be in good hands, the Italians are world renowned for knee surgery. Some fantastic surgeons.
NY Mag
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:45 PM
Comment #23Fair play even..,..
Lindisfarne
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:56 PM
Comment #24I doubt Norwich would sell Emiliano Buendía when they are sure of promotion and a greater fee next season.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:59 PM
Comment #25There’s that quote isn’t there something along the lines of behind every fortune lies a crime, bugger the fortune bigger the crime.
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:59 PM
Comment #26Notre Dame has just about totally collapsed
World tragedy
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2019 at 6:59 PM
Comment #27Sounds like another Windsor Castle, Jib.
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:01 PM
Comment #28Yeah
The restorers were in
Ron Knee
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:01 PM
Comment #29Let’s hope they save the facade.
lesh
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:02 PM
Comment #30NY Mag
Yes, business isn’t necessarily carried out playing fair but one would expect a company to recognise the point when it’s not wanted. Ashley’s a case in point, he’s not wanted at Rangers yet still pursues the club through the courts to have the benefits of contracts set up in bad faith, set up by him and between two of his businesses when he was Rangers’ owner, for him – in perpetuity!
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:02 PM
Comment #31I thought the u23 game was supposed to be live on the nufc site?
jane
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:02 PM
Comment #32“Rafa’s pleas’ll get nowhere near Ashley”
lesh you are forgetting one important thing. Ashley wants Rafa to stay!
“Part of their brief is to shield Ashley from distractions to allow him to focus on the bigger picture.”
i see many comments attributing things to Ashley that most likely he is not involved in at all.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:03 PM
Comment #33I can’t get logged into the NUFC site, is the match being shown?
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:03 PM
Comment #34RIP Ivor Broadis.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:04 PM
Comment #35Essex
I can’t get logged but for some reason could still watch highlights of Leicester game. Can’t find a link for the Man Utd match, only match preview screen.
Jib
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:05 PM
Comment #36600 year old oak roof trusses clearly burn very well
RobLeenio
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:05 PM
Comment #37Turns out I coudn’t get to the ground tonight – family issues (nowt serious) so thought I’d tune in on NUFC TV. I can’t find the link on the site though and the log-in server seems to be down.
Something else that needs upgrading and soon!
🙁
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:05 PM
Comment #38https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/live/live-video
ronaldo aarons
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Comment #391 nil down already!
lesh
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Comment #40Oh for the days when Ed could post threads about ambition.
http://www.nufcblog.com/2012/02/18/newcastle-will-try-for-top-four-next-season/
At least we’re spared such lies these days – they’re less far-fetched.