Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[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

[Dave]

This is going down well.

 

[Yorkie]

Absolutely tremendous management today. From chucking Dubravka and Lejeune in, putting the faith in Ritchie, the general set-up and then the game management throughout... brilliant. He was a massive reason for the win.

[Incognito]

This is going down well.

 

Murphy rarely fails to make the correct point. Excellent journalist.

[Collage]

Absolutely tremendous management today. From chucking Dubravka and Lejeune in, putting the faith in Ritchie, the general set-up and then the game management throughout... brilliant. He was a massive reason for the win.

 

Yep. Another proof of him knowing more than all of us. Just let him do things his way and all will be fine.

[Charlies]

 

[Dave]

Can see why many are arguing Dyche as more deserving (as if it won't be Guardiola anyway), but Burnley haven't had a particularly special season overall IMO, they just won nearly all their points up front. They've taken 5 points from their last 10 matches, scoring only 5 goals in the process. Both stats worse than anyone else in the league.

[Yorkie]

Absolutely tremendous management today. From chucking Dubravka and Lejeune in, putting the faith in Ritchie, the general set-up and then the game management throughout... brilliant. He was a massive reason for the win.

 

Yep. Another proof of him knowing more than all of us. Just let him do things his way and all will be fine.

 

Absolutely. Like the majority, I've had complete faith in his overarching ideas this season, and the way he's tried to use the squad. I haven't agreed with every decision but this today, really feels like a 'last laugh' in the face of all that Man City 'too defensive/NUFC are a joke' crap from Christmas week. The man summed it up perfectly himself the other night; we aren't a defensive team, we just have to defend a lot. We do create chances and we do try to force the issue; the problem is we have to rely on set pieces and defending for our lives due to the lack of quality up front.

 

He'll have done a terrific job if he keeps us up, however he does it. 100% behind him either way.

[nemtizz]

 

 

It actually happened then.

[sbnufc]

[Guest firetotheworks]

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.

They're related tbf.

[Mbemba Youre A Womble]

Whilst today's performance and result will draw headlines, and praise - rightly so - it shouldn't hide the fact we've still a lot to do until the end of the season. We've every right to enjoy today's result, but as brutal as it sounds if we can't use today as a launching point for remainder of the season, today's joy will be worthless.

 

Have been behind Benitez ever since he stepped foot in the club, and will continue to do so. Will never doubt his approach in games like today against the top sides, whether the result comes or not. That being said, I still feel there is a lot more to come in games that we should feel we have a decent chance in. There have been many performances this season where we've looked rather hapless and flat. A million miles away from what we showed today.

 

I'm really hoping, and quietly confident that Rafa can now galvanise the squad on the back of this. They've all shown now that they have enough about them to compete against teams around the bottom if they can do so against second in the league. No excuses now, performances like we've had to endure at home up until now can't be allowed to creep back in. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Si]

 

 

[Guest]

The call to give Dubravka his debut and bring back Lejeune won us the game today.

[TRon]

I see both Rafa and Ritchie mentioned how important this win was for confidence. It will have a big effect on our remaining games IMO, might turn a couple of potential draws into wins.

[Yorkie]

Winning against Brighton or (particularly) Swansea or Burnley would have ended the hoodoo and, you felt, it could have kickstarted our season a little bit. Instead, it's taken until Man Utd for it to happen, but Christ if that doesn't have a galvanising effect nothing will. Not just the fact we won, but the fact we actually closed the game out under duress - something we've seemed incapable of recently - should hopefully relieve the anxiety in players and crowd.

[Klaus]

We will absolutely go on to lose against Bournemouth

[Dr Venkman]

4 points from Bournemouth/Southampton imo

[AyeDubbleYoo]

4 points from Bournemouth/Southampton imo

 

Should be targeting that really, especially if Slimani plays.

[mrmojorisin75]

There's a lot of hyperbole thrown about with Rafa but honestly, when he goes I can't see how it won't break me for good.

[Infinitely Content]

Love the way the narrative from him leading up to the Man Utd game was all about Slimani/Joselu probably leading Mourinho to prepare his players for facing a big target man, yet kick off comes and it's Gayle & Perez  Smalling had a nightmare today too, and perhaps if Mourinho knew it would be Gayle/Perez he would have played the more mobile Rojo. Good tactics from Rafa.