Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[Nobody]

[nufcjb]

Favourite moment was the extensive instructions he was giving to Hayden who was coming on with 30 seconds to go. I know it was to waste time but still 'JUST f***ing CLEAR IT' surely 

And to see Hayden go back to him after the conversation was seemingly over was great to see that a player was serious in knowing what his manager wanted. if Hayden was listening to Pardew, he'd probably let it in in his right ear and float it out through his left.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

He’ll only need one other miracle for a sainthood, worth keeping an eye out for the Bobby statue weeping etc.

[Bimpy474]

When will some of us learn to stop doubting him 

[sbnufc]

When will some of us learn to stop doubting him 

who the fucks been doubting him!?

[last_monetarist]

Ah, but his brand of football is bleak and sombre. He deliberately sets the team to defend in second halves at St. James'.

 

The man is an utter genius. 

[TRon]

Still to see Slimani, but both of his other January signings so far look fucking class. So much for his shite transfer record at Liverpool.

[Bimpy474]

When will some of us learn to stop doubting him 

who the fucks been doubting him!?

 

Just the little doubts you have, like mine today about Ritchie playing instead of Murphy, hey Ritchie scores we win... just small things. Not talking about the ones who don't want him and think he's to blame for our position in the league (before today obviously).

[Elliottman]

When will some of us learn to stop doubting him 

 

Pretty much you and Geordiedean isnt it? 

[Dave]

We should have carried on attacking for the full match IMO.

[Bimpy474]

When will some of us learn to stop doubting him 

 

Pretty much you and Geordiedean isnt it? 

 

Oi, don't you dare put me in that gang  While I'm not overly keen on the play sometimes, the man is an utter genius and needs money to show just how good we can be.

[Guest neesy111]

For as much people saying we needed a striker in to convert chances, that's only a 3rd clean sheet in 18 league games so it's both ends we can be improved to ensure we get the points needed to stay up.

[TRon]

For as much people saying we needed a striker in to convert chances, that's only a 3rd clean sheet in 18 league games so it's both ends we can be improved to ensure we get the points needed to stay up.

 

Keeping the clean sheet is everything IMO. If we do that there's every chance we'll go on to win the game.

[Willow]

No Rafa interview?

 

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11246585/benitez-win-a-8216boost8217-for-everyone

[Tooj]

Forgot to say one thing that stood out for me the other night is you compare the foreign coaches to your traditional English manager is that they have always been a coach first, English managers manage and don't necessarily look to coach and improve first.

[joeyt]

For as much people saying we needed a striker in to convert chances, that's only a 3rd clean sheet in 18 league games so it's both ends we can be improved to ensure we get the points needed to stay up.

 

Keeping the clean sheet is everything IMO. If we do that there's every chance we'll go on to win the game.

Some great insight here

[Wullie]

For as much people saying we needed a striker in to convert chances, that's only a 3rd clean sheet in 18 league games so it's both ends we can be improved to ensure we get the points needed to stay up.

 

Keeping the clean sheet is everything IMO. If we do that there's every chance we'll go on to win the game.

Some great insight here

 

[TRon]

For as much people saying we needed a striker in to convert chances, that's only a 3rd clean sheet in 18 league games so it's both ends we can be improved to ensure we get the points needed to stay up.

 

Keeping the clean sheet is everything IMO. If we do that there's every chance we'll go on to win the game.

Some great insight here

 

Well it wasn't really meant to be insight. More an endorsement of Rafa's refusal to go more attacking like some have been screaming for.

[Si]

[Varadi]

Favourite moment was the extensive instructions he was giving to Hayden who was coming on with 30 seconds to go. I know it was to waste time but still 'JUST FUCKING CLEAR IT' surely 

 

Aye. Noticed him collaring Dummett for some feedback on the pitch at the end as well, never misses a chance to get his points across 

[nemtizz]

 

[Dave]

 

[Bimpy474]

[Varadi]

Excellent article:

 

http://www.football365.com/news/newcastle-finally-find-knockout-punchline-in-joke-league

 

Gary Neville felt they were “embarrassing“, while Shay Given criticised them for being “too negative”. Jamie Carragher went about five steps further, describing Newcastle’s tactics against Manchester City as a “joke“.

 

“It’s not just Newcastle but the Premier League in general, when they come up against the top six, certainly at home, it’s becoming embarrassing,” Carragher said back in December. “The Premier League now is becoming a bit of a joke league, with the top teams being so far ahead of the ones at the bottom. For those clubs, its almost like they are accepting they are going to lose the game, as long as it is only one or two-nil.”

 

In their defence, so to speak, the trio of pundits had a point. Newcastle were beaten by only one goal when City visited St James’ Park two moths ago, but the scoreline betrayed the nature of the game. The hosts registered 22% possession and had two shots on target, rarely contemplating venturing from the edge of their own area against the runaway league leaders.

 

The transformation when the Premier League’s second-placed club were welcomed on Tyneside was stark. Newcastle did not abandon their defensive ideals on Sunday but did at least compromise against Manchester United. They were resolute – and at times fortunate – at the back, yet it was their efforts going forward which turned one valuable hard-earned point into three crucial deserved ones.

 

Rafael Benitez spoke of the problem Liverpool have with “the short blanket” back in October. “If you cover your head, your feet are cold; if you cover your feet, your head is cold,” said the Spaniard. “Sometimes when you attack too much, you are exposed in defence and to find the balance is the key to have chances to win titles.” Newcastle would earn a draw at Anfield the very next day, Joselu’s remarkably lucky equalising goal was the backdrop to a stoic defensive performance.

 

Until Sunday, that was their only point against the top six this season. In seven games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, United and Tottenham, they had drawn one, lost six, scored four goals and conceded 15. Brighton were the only club to earn fewer points against those opponents. Newcastle have based their plan for survival against beating the rest, not the best.

 

“The problem is when we have analysed some of our games against the top sides, we could have been there – we have been close,” said Benitez earlier this week, the manager referring to two particular instances this season. The Magpies took the lead against Chelsea in December before being beaten 3-1, while United came from behind to win 4-1 at Old Trafford in November. On both occasions, Dwight Gayle scored before the 15th minute, and Newcastle failed to defend their early lead.

 

Perhaps the hosts benefited from striking later on Sunday. After a first half in which neither side found the breakthrough – although Gayle was unfortunate not to win a penalty after a clear foul by Chris Smalling – the home fans would have been forgiven for thinking the worst. Yet it was Newcastle, not Manchester United, who grew into the game in the second half. Matt Ritchie’s first goal of the season was well-taken, and just reward for a battling performance.

 

From then, the Newcastle support greeted every save from the brilliant debutant Martin Dubravka, all three goalline clearances and every crunching tackle with the same vigour as they did Ritchie’s goal. Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune were excellent, Mo Diame and Jonjo Shelvey won their midfield battles, Kenedy was a constant terror from the wing and Newcastle were finally able to rely on something that has abandoned them all season: a stroke of luck.

 

Not that this was an unjust victory. As much as the visitors did not look like an elite side, there was little to suggest that Newcastle are trying to stave off the threat of relegation. There was no gulf in quality, no discernible gap. The hosts simply played their plan to perfection.

 

The reward is a first league win against top-six opposition since May 2016, and a leap up into 13th place. Newcastle have finally found the knockout punchline in this “joke” league.

[Ikon]

Our God.

 

fyp