Rafa was questioned about his future on BT Sports after the great 3-1 win at home to Southampton today.
It means we have won six of our last seven games at home.
And Ayoze Perez gave his best display ever for Newcastle this afternoon with three excellent goals in his ever first hat-trick for Newcastle.
He now has 11 goals on the season with all but one of them scored in the Premier League.
The Spaniard was unbelievable today in what was another very good team display and a massive win for Newcastle.
Ayoze Perez celebrates a brilliant hat-trick with four minutes to play
Here’s what Rafa said to BT Sports after the game and he again the world-class manager has stressed how everything Newcastle is behind the team these days:
“I think the main thing was to win. I think we did quite well in the first-half.”
“Even the second-half we had two or three clear chances,”
“We have to give credit to them, they were pushing, doing really well so it is just a question of scoring the third goal and finish the game and we did it.”
“I have always been talking about him (Perez), he has to be consistent.”
“He is capable to do this kind of thing, he has the quality to do it now he has to be more consistent and he will always be scoring more goals.”
“It is nearly done but I am really proud for this group of players they have been working so hard.”
“Normally we credit our fans away but also at home so that was massive for everyone to enjoy another three points and almost stay up.”
“My plan is to give some days off (for the players) and then after we plan for the next game against Brighton.”
“Today is just enjoy and in the week we will see, but my focus is what I have to do with the players and we have to be competing until the end.”
“In an ideal world I want to compete for something, that is the main thing.”
“I don’t have any problem with that.”
“From the beginning, I can see the potential from the club I can see what the fans watching every single day, a full stadium, a city behind the team.”
“Now you see our position in terms of where it is with transfers fees. We are not competing and we have to compete.”
Comments welcome.
52 comments so far
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:21 PM
Comment #1Leah
Crowd were brilliant most of the game Rafa chants and songs were loud but Geordies, Geordies Geordiessssss rang out the loudest
Subdued second half when Southampton took control control and got frustrated when we gave the ball away
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:22 PM
Comment #2Also
Thought Diame’s cameo performance was excellent
IrishRob
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:34 PM
Comment #3I voted for Dummett. I thought he was just as important to the win. I criticise him enough in the past but he’s been solid all season and very good today. Poor miggy I hope he’s alright looks like a tear in the hamstring or a bad pull.
IrishRob
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:36 PM
Comment #4Charlie, exactly mate. When you need to tighten things up and somone to win the ball Mo is always excellent. In that situation he’s the best we have in the whole squad.
jane
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:41 PM
Comment #5this morning Ed posted some articles with some comments from Rafa but none of them said where and when Rafa said these things. Chronicle and BBC have similar articles but neither say either. this makes me a little suspicious.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47993847
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/maybe-stay-home-wait-rafa-16154027
Toonces
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:46 PM
Comment #6Missed the bus…
Fantastic result today! Over the moon!
First half we were by far the better team. Ward-Prowse should have seen Red – not only was he the last defender he also made no attempt to play the ball.
It also looked to me that they tried to kick us off the pitch towards the end of he first half and Romeu certainly got his extra dig on Almiron’s thigh during the tackle that forced him off – albeit in the second half.
We did not seem ready for Southampton from the start of the second half. Credit to them, they turned it up a notch and their subs right at the half made a difference for them. But luckily not enough and we gathered ourselves at the right time that lead to our third goal.
Great game by our forward three. Maybe not for a complete 90 minutes and without Almiron it wasn’t quite the same, but Perez deserves many plaudits today and Rondon battled and played a few great balls especially for Perez’ second.
Credit to Dummett today. And despite the loss of our composure in the 2nd half, Dubravka made a key save at 2-1.
41 points has us safe – Cardiff have to win their last four to catch us – can’t see them getting a result against Liverpool tomorrow – and Brighton have a nasty run in to close the season.
Now can we just get this sorted to keep Rafa and work to establish ourselves in the PL and operate like a proper club? Too much to ask?
HWTL!
Jail for Ashley
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:53 PM
Comment #7jane,
It was an interview with Mile Starforth from the Shields Gazette.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:55 PM
Comment #8I love Jake Humphreys, he could have made Owen look an even bigger tw@t than he did mind when he said Newcastle have got the 14th lowest wage bill and Owen said but so have loads of other clubs, he should have said , well not really loads Micheal, just six out of twenty, I think his feigned embarrassed silence done the trick mind.
Bambams
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:57 PM
Comment #9IrishRob
Thanks for that fella I replied on previous – didn’t realise Ed had created another thread.
🙂
jane
Apr 20, 2019 at 10:01 PM
Comment #10are you sure it doesn’t say either..
https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/rafa-benitez-drops-big-hint-on-his-newcastle-united-future-1-9723988
beermonkey
Apr 20, 2019 at 10:13 PM
Comment #11jail
14th in wages check that out
https://www.spotrac.com/epl/newcastle-united-f.c/payroll/
i know there are coaches and the kids and i know it is this season not last but i dont think who we sold will have offloaded 40 odd mill from the wages
Mister Tuff
Apr 20, 2019 at 10:16 PM
Comment #12When Almiron was walking down the tunnel he clutch the back of his left leg. Hamstring????
Mister Tuff
Apr 20, 2019 at 10:18 PM
Comment #13clutched
ben.g
Apr 20, 2019 at 10:25 PM
Comment #14Northern echo…
An initial round of talks broke down before Christmas, and neither Lee Charnley nor Mike Ashley have attempted to restart discussions in the last few months.
Benitez said: “We have to talk. Everything that will happen between now and the 30th of June has to be good for everyone. One way or another way, still I am the manager until the 30th of June. I have to decide if we sign anyone, so we have to talk any time.”
Newcastle’s transfer policy remains a major sticking point in Benitez’s talks with the club, both in terms of the finances that will be available to the Spaniard if he signs a new deal and the extent to which he will be free to spend the money as he likes.
Earlier this week, Charnley reiterated the board’s desire to recruit players aged 24 or under, and extreme reluctance to sanction deals for anyone approaching their 30s. Clearly, Benitez has serious misgivings about such a policy.
He said: “It is very clear that we have been improving, but at the same time, we know that we have a limit. If you are in the Premier League, you have to compete with other teams in the Premier League depending on your level.
“Our level has to be between seventh and tenth, and we have to compete with these teams in the transfer market, with the wage bill, with everything.
“We need to find the balance. We signed (Martin) Dubravka last year, and he won the first game he played for us against Manchester United. He is older than 24.
“We have (Miguel) Almiron doing well, but we also have (Salomon) Rondon, who is older than 24. At the same time, you have (Isaac) Hayden, (Jamaal) Lascelles and even (Sean) Longstaff. So the balance is the key. I think we have to analyse this and try to do what we have to do to compete in the Premier League.”
In terms of this afternoon’s game, Benitez was delighted with his side’s performance as they swept aside a Southampton side who are now four places below Newcastle in the table.
He said: “I am really pleased. The players did really well during the whole season, and the fans, both away and at home, have also been really helpful for the group. There are a lot of positives.
“To have 41 points at this stage of the season means we are nearly safe. We cannot say mathematically we are safe, but we are nearly safe, and now we have three games to try to do our best and finish as high as possible in the table.”
bettyswallocks
Apr 20, 2019 at 10:33 PM
Comment #15Great win today and Perez finally realising some of the early promise he showed. Maybe the criticism he got on here delivered the kick up the Jacksie he needed.
Rafa is delivering an ultimatum now with his comments regarding having sufficient transfer funds to compete but fatty doesn’t want to spend the club’s or his own money on the team. He made this clear when asking Chi Onwurah if she would spend her money on the club.
9
Apr 20, 2019 at 11:34 PM
Comment #16What a shame to lose him: bye bye, Rafa, you know we love you, but, unfortunately, somebody richer than us has bought all th NUFC rights there are and nobody’s willing to give him asking price (yet). Y
lochinvar
Apr 20, 2019 at 11:38 PM
Comment #17See that Little Richard Keys is twatting about Rafa and like Owen doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Perhaps they should get married and then they’d be Dick Owen.
DaveD1000
Apr 20, 2019 at 11:41 PM
Comment #18Owen knows dick….thick as mince
RobLeenio
Apr 20, 2019 at 11:54 PM
Comment #19I’ve been watching from afar and trying to keep up with the blog but my focus has been on the team and the match.
I was really pleased to see an unchanged team from the Leicester match. All those lads did well last time out and none of them let us down today. Another cracking result to see us over the line barring some weird results.
So well done Rafa and well done the lads. They deserve our plaudits tonight.
Particularly well done to Ayoze Perez. What s superhero today. First home hat trick since Matt Ritchie in the promotion season. Done achievement in a team which spreads the goals around. I hope he continues in this vein to the end of the season and then takes that form forward to next season. Twenty goals beckons if he does.
We need to get Rafa signed now. No messing, no fuss. Rafa has set out his markers and they are not unreasonable. I honestly don’t care what players we sign in the summer at the moment, the only signing which counts is that of wor Gaffer.
Let’s bask in the result tonight and the implications for next season and hope that when Ashley and Charnley get back to work next week the only thing in their in tray is Rafa’s contact.
HWTL
stan anderson
Apr 20, 2019 at 11:56 PM
Comment #20Safety in the P/L is achieved and it is called a good season buy the pencil sharpener.
If Ashley still owns this club at the start of next season the fans need to rise against him.
No matter who is the manager we need to get rid of this slime ball some how.
I hope the Gaffa stays but i have serious doubts.
If i was the boss of a top class boss of my business i would move heaven and earth to keep him in my employ.
ASHLEY OOT
stan anderson
Apr 21, 2019 at 12:07 AM
Comment #21What price Perez now .
I think some big club like Leicester or Watford or Bournemouth mat make an offer that THE SLUG cant refuse.
ASHLEY OOT.
stan anderson
Apr 21, 2019 at 12:09 AM
Comment #22Might not mat sorry, am popped.
carltoon
Apr 21, 2019 at 12:11 AM
Comment #23Great first half. Ki wasn’t in the game. Definate red card. Atmosphere great first half. Rondon never stops hope we keep him. Perez what a game really mature performance. Doesn’t get pushed around. Great goals. Been quite impressed with Manquillo. Felt for Almiron he was upset going off. Ha ha Raffa jumping up and down shouting at third official. Well done lads.
RobLeenio
Apr 21, 2019 at 12:14 AM
Comment #24Oh, also thirtieth June is the deadline for Rafa leaving. Not end of may. Small detail maybe but perhaps an important one.
RobLeenio
Apr 21, 2019 at 12:16 AM
Comment #25Carltoon no prediction from me again you’ll have noticed.
😉
Bobbybee
Apr 21, 2019 at 12:18 AM
Comment #26Thoroughly enjoyed today’s game. Looks like I got something right when I said the player who would benefit most from the arrival of Miggy would be Perez.
Since Miggy arrived Perez has been a different class and his hattrick today capped it all off.
So Perez was motm for his goals, but other players earned their spurs as well. Miggy ran them ragged and their defence was terrified of him. IMHO they should’ve had a red card when they took Miggy out. He was away and nobody could catch him. He also had Rondon with him. Definite goal scoring chance denied deliberately.
Rondon was magnificent again. Dummett proved his worth once again. Ritchie never stopped running.
Took our foot off the pedal second half which is dangerous and nearly cost us. A great save kept it 2-1 after they’d scored a neat goal.
But we held on and finally finished them off. Great win. Great atmosphere as well. Lots of noise and appreciation of Rafa.
So, we are safe. Forget maths, Cardiff can’t catch us now. Liverpool need the win.
We beat Spurs last game to stop them finishing second. Beat Chelsea to stop them getting CL football. Liverpool can’t be looking forward to playing us last home game. I think we’ll stop them winning the league.
Anyway, happy day. All smiles. Howay the lads!!
carltoon
Apr 21, 2019 at 12:55 AM
Comment #27Yes Rob I always notice. Hope we beat Liverpool. Just don’t like Klopp. Not bothered who wins the league. Just pleased we’re safe. Surely they will sort Raffas contract out. Still didn’t sound to happy about things in his after the match interview.
Nostradamus the Geordie
Apr 21, 2019 at 1:01 AM
Comment #28Holy Black and White Fcuking Army, you know how hard it is to play in a Golf Tournament when you know your beloved Newcastle United are on TV and I have to record it.
And not look at results and the blog until you get home around 4pm my time sit and watch the game.
Thank god, well worth it, Perez I was giving him shite for losing the ball and then that little sob scored three, you Beauty Perez. Love you lol.
lesh
Apr 21, 2019 at 1:16 AM
Comment #29Charlie
Thanks for your thoughts on today’s crowd. And of course you’re right when you said that ‘Geordies, Geordies Geordiessssss’ was dominant. Thinking back to the radio commentary, that was the chant that was most noticeable and even the TalkSport commentary team were in awe. Stuart Pearce suggested that he and his two colleagues be quiet and take the noise [‘Geordies, Geordies Geordiessssss’ in. Brilliant.
DubaiMicky
Apr 21, 2019 at 4:04 AM
Comment #30By Joe Bradshaw for BBC Sport
“Benitez has done a remarkable job on limited resources but, with Premier League survival almost certainly secured, it is surely imperative that they keep hold of him and back him significantly if this club is going to return to where it belongs, challenging at the higher end of the table.”
.
.
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
DubaiMicky
Apr 21, 2019 at 4:46 AM
Comment #31Perez also seems to be putting himself in the marketplace after his comments the other week about playing for Spain, Champions League etc.
We need to get £40-50m for him, and then invest it back into the club (even in rebuilding the training ground) , let’s face it, we aren’t in a position to give him what he yearns for so we may as well maximise our profit.
lochinvar
Apr 21, 2019 at 6:17 AM
Comment #32Silly season has already stated.
Palace reckon Zaha is worth £80million.
Rashford too expensive for Barcelona.
What price Joselu ?
Nostradamus the Geordie
Apr 21, 2019 at 6:39 AM
Comment #33Loch, Newcastle are offering 5 Million to anyone that takes him. So far no one has come forward and Charnley has said he ain’t going to Six.
NY Mag
Apr 21, 2019 at 6:44 AM
Comment #34Nostradamus,
That was actually quite funny…..unfortunately it’s also true 🙁
Jail for Ashley
Apr 21, 2019 at 6:50 AM
Comment #35As for this U26 policy there’s no consistency to it, it’s hypocritical. Dubravka was signed because he was cheap, Fernandez because we were desperate. Collocini, who was a disinterested busted flush was kept given extensions because he was worthless and his replacement would have cost money. If true about Matt Ritchie, he will be sold because he is still decent, he could definitely do a job for us off the bench, he will be replaced by a Murphy type who may or may not work out. We have seen first hand that this policy gets you relegated. I think the wider footballing world know where Rafa is coming from.
jezza442
Apr 21, 2019 at 6:53 AM
Comment #36If mitrovic went for 22 ish million the perez has got to be worth 25/30m easily but for some reason when teams are after our star players they offer peanuts,same for all our squad. I understand haydens reasons for wanting a move but surely he’s easily 15/ 20m now,young english and getting better every game he plays but some idiot will think they can get him for pennies because of his situation. I personal belive everyone of our first team are worth over 10/15m each upwards when you consider what similar players go for
Jail for Ashley
Apr 21, 2019 at 7:11 AM
Comment #37jezza,
I think you are a bit off the mark there, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Cabaye, Carroll, I’m not sure how many other star players we’ve had.
Jib
Apr 21, 2019 at 7:37 AM
Comment #38Simon Bird in the Mirror suggesting that Rafa
could sign a one year contract extension to see if
promises are kept.
Ashley we were told is vacationing in Miami with
his family over Easter
It’s Easter Sunday today so he won’t be back until
next week at the earliest.
Everyone is saying time is rapidly running out – Rafa’s
contract doesn’t end for 10 weeks.
Folk should just calm down .
jezza442
Apr 21, 2019 at 7:38 AM
Comment #39Jail,
Yeah i may be a bit over the top,but i think weve had some canny players over the last few years and with the squad we have now i dont think we need that much,i think our squad is under rated people still saying we’ve got a championship team when we finished 10th last year and probably between 15th-11th this season, id be putting big price tags on any of our first team players if anyone came in for them
Jib
Apr 21, 2019 at 7:41 AM
Comment #40Rafa said on first look at his injury
Miggy’s season could be over