Wallace

There will be distance up to the top 2 if we lose this, need a win or at worst a draw. 4 points would be good from villa and Norwich. We have a very favourable run of fixtures through October and November, on paper at least. No need to panic at all at this stage even if we have another loss out our next 2 games. As I've been saying, we basically only need to win 30 games to go up. Whatever we do in the other 16 isn't too important. I want us promoted in like February, so we need to rack up those wins. I don't want to wait until the end of the season to clinch promotion. I don't think my nerves could take it.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/what-situation-cheick-tiote-newcastle-11908582 What is the situation with Cheick Tiote? Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez explains 08:00, 20 SEP 2016 BY MARK DOUGLAS Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote remains on the Magpies' books - but will he play again? Rafa Benitez has confirmed that the door remains open for Cheick Tiote to make a Newcastle United return – but it won’t be until his future is resolved. The transfer window in Qatar remains open until September 30, while in the United Arab Emirates it extends until October 20. There has been recent interest from clubs in both leagues in Tiote, whose contract expires this summer. United are unlikely to call on him during this time but he continues to train with the first team and Benitez has been pleased with his attitude behind-the-scenes. The League Cup clash with Wolves will come too early for him but Benitez may end up calling on him. “Cheick will not be involved in this game, but I am pleased with him,” he said. “He knows this is still a time where we are waiting a little bit to see what happens. He has been training well, but we haven’t thought about him for this game. He will get a chance if nothing happens in the next few days and weeks. “If nothing happens, we will have to do something with him because he is someone I like. If we have some information that clubs are interested, we will analyse that. If not, he is a player that can give us experience.”

There are so many players that have started off badly at new clubs and then suddenly they click - even some of the top names have needed a season - yet so many fans seem to judge a player based on one performance.

Pardew said he saw one in a petrol station on his first day here. One of his many made up anecdotes that he liked to repeat.

So typical of us. Everyone excited after the last game and then the team fails to turn up. It happens every time.

I think he is out of contract next Summer so I would think he would stay until then unless he gets a decent offer in January.

Are you the Wallace? Not the plasticine one. Neither one is me.

True Faith podcast about their meeting with Rafa.

It is usually exaggerated and a bit of a throwaway comment. But believe me when I say 10-0 wouldn't have flattered us and 12-0 would have been fair, too And many QPR fans have said the same.

Didn't travel either..

Think it was all Shepherd. The process started when he still owned the club and then got shelved after the takeover.

Keegan's at the statue unveiling.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/12/premier-league-10-talking-points-from-weekend-action 7) Benteke seems key to Pardew’s Carroll-esque creation When Alan Pardew relived Christian Benteke’s first goal for Crystal Palace, as he recalled the cleverly angled Wilfried Zaha cross that preceded the £27m striker’s header, one comparison proved irresistible. “I knew Christian would score,” said Palace’s manager. “I used to get the same feeling with Andy Carroll.” That would be the 2 goals that Carroll scored before he got injured in the 5-7 week period Pardew managed him.

Anyone notice him laughing as he and Shelvey were doing their corner routine. Seemed to be enjoying himself.

Some of that is probably lost in translation. It does imply that Rafa was asked to play English players but that makes no sense when the club kept buying foreign players. But there is a lot of truth (hierarchy = authorities?) in what he says if he is perhaps talking more generally about the perceived (media) consensus that we went down because we did not have enough English players - it was something the media and ex pros (Rob Lee anyone) banged on about repeatedly even when we had more Brits playing. And certainly, the media are of the opinion that the foreign players wouldn't be able to hack the Championship. They even say Rafa will struggle because he is does not know the Championship despite several foreign managers getting promoted in recent years. It is mystifying why Saivet hardly played. From the little we saw, he did not disgrace himself and he was never given a chance to adapt. I guess a relegation battle is not the best place to do that but even so, you would think he might have been in the matchday squad more. Maybe his attitude was poor in training.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/benitez-tries-to-improve-me-ive-not-had-enough-of-that-x9l5zlxxx?shareToken=a46f0a4a7bbd41f531a3dfdac61ab6f7 Caulkin interview with Clark. Mostly about Ireland but below is the NUFC part. For Clark, it is a fresh one. At the beginning of last month, the 26-year-old left Aston Villa, his only professional club, for Newcastle United, who activated a £5 million release clause. This, on the face of it, was a lateral move, exchanging one flawed, demoted behemoth for another, although the rapture that has greeted Rafa Benítez’s decision to remain at St James’ Park means, “you would never have thought it was a club that has just been relegated,” and he was ready for something new. Benítez is the key to Newcastle’s recalibration. “He was a massive reason why I joined,” Clark said. “That and the other players who have signed. I feel like I’m learning already. Every time you step on to the training pitch, he tries to improve you as a team and an individual. That’s something I haven’t had much of over the last few years. He picks up on everything, every little detail.” The season started with two defeats, but four victories in succession in all competitions have restored Newcastle’s sense of rebirth. “It’s been brilliant and mad,” Clark said. “I think it’s going to take a bit of getting used to and it’ll take a while before we get into a rhythm.” Amid the maelstrom, hope has returned and crowds have held up; Clark’s first appearance for Newcastle was a 4-1 win over Reading in front of 48,000 people. “It was spine-tingling,” he said. “It’s very different to what I’ve experienced before. I’ve played here in the past, but you don’t realise just how loud it is, how big, until you’re there, looking around, having a moment to soak it up. It’s so enormous.” Those moments are becoming a theme. Maybe he will improve under Rafa after all.

Always felt he plays when he wants to. He'll do OK there if he is motivated enough.

And made a profit of £30m+ i think it is It makes a difference when you are not trying to flog the player in every interview and appearing desperate. Much better to take the position of refusing to sell because you want the player to stay.

Thought he was doing OK in Greece.

Going to Forest I heard.

This has been suggested previously on here and when you consider the environment involved the likes of Pardew, Carver and his pie eating friends then it would only be a fool who would disagree with Rafa. It was so common we even came up with our own verb for it And one now regularly used in the national media and by football fans in general.

Yes several times.

Interesting viewpoint of us from a Brighton reporter. http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/14709438.Albion_Analysis__Newcastle_already_looking_good_for_promotion___but_the_Seagulls_can_finish_second/

A bit of panic buy wasn't he when they couldn't get other targets. He was also signed with the caveat that he would be more of a squad player and he was a support striker - so we threw in him straight away as the target man with no support up front so he was doomed to fail from the start. He did try but his confidence was shot from those early performance when he was played out of position and he never recovered.

Not that long but you can tell it's mentally scarred him They will struggle to get him on the training pitch if that lad signs. You can see how nervous Haidara is of any physical contact these days and he has scarcely played since.