Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[Shadow Puppets]

As much as I love everything Rafa stands for, I do believe his tactics aren't particularly suited to us at the moment. Man Utd away, 2-0 up at half time... spend the entire second half camped in our own half rather than trying to put the game to bed. 1-0 down to Brighton and getting loads of crosses into the box without any physical presence on the pitch... as soon as he brings on our best header of the ball, all of a sudden we stop putting crosses in at all. We needed all 3 of our forwards on the pitch for the last 15 minutes, no questions.

 

I dunno... I do love the guy, and I know the issues run right to the top, but I'm not convinced he's doing as well as he could be.

 

(Tin hat on)

[HaydnNUFC]

Cardiff, Burnley and Brighton haven't played Spurs, Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Man United in their opening 8 games though. Yes, I'll accept that the Cardiff and Leicester performances were dire but I think that's more indicative of the quality of player he has to work with.

[Tiotes Witch Doctor]

Pardew had a much better squad but also had huge limitations as a manager, I'm told we have a world class manager, the team isn't great but it's better than no wins in 9 and 2 points from Cardiff, Brighton and palace.

 

Nobody thinks Benitez is the big problem here, but he shouldn't be the only manager in history not to be questioned after no wins in 9 ffs.

 

Put the cult hero status to one side for a moment, 1 win in 15, no wins in 9, he's doing incredibly poorly.

 

"But who would you get who do you want to replace him?"

 

I don't want him replaced I want him to do a better job.

 

This is what I was basically getting at, but fuck me the fanboys are really out to slit my throat.

 

Can't have no criticism on Rafa, absolutely not.

 

A "world class" manager is underperforming, if you can accept it or not is entirely up to you.

 

Don't give me that shite about Championship side neither, Brighton/Burnley are managing fine and their squad isn't exactly far better than ours.

 

Even the Cardiff side is doing better than ours ffs, whats our excuse there? Ashley again?

Bang on, it always goes the same way though, if you dare question Rafa's involvement in the poor run you are an Ashley sympathiser and you are expected to come armed with a list of people who could do a better job.

 

I just think he should be held accountable since... you know hes responsible for getting the best out of these players at the end of the day, did I expect us to be even mid table after the teams we've faced, no I certainly didn't but I would hope for more than 2 points from Leicester, Palace, Brighton and Cardiff, and I'd maybe hope we could nick something off at least one of the big sides maybe on just one occasion if possible.

 

He has been messed around the squad is underfunded and he would be doing better with a better hand, my argument is that he should be doing better with the hand he does have, theres quality in that squad still albeit not enough.

 

[HaydnNUFC]

As much as I love everything Rafa stands for, I do believe his tactics aren't particularly suited to us at the moment. Man Utd away, 2-0 up at half time... spend the entire second half camped in our own half rather than trying to put the game to bed.

I disagree. For 60 minutes we were pushing for the third. Only once Diame conceded the free kick which Mata scored from where we on the back foot.

 

 

1-0 down to Brighton and getting loads of crosses into the box without any physical presence on the pitch... as soon as he brings on our best header of the ball, all of a sudden we stop putting crosses in at all. We needed all 3 of our forwards on the pitch for the last 15 minutes, no questions.

Agreed, 2 up front was needed. They were letting us cross the ball in because they knew that Dunk and Duffy would win the headers every time. The fact that there was barely any pressure on their 18 yard line with 15 minutes to go at 0-1 down at home is worrying.

 

I dunno... I do love the guy, and I know the issues run right to the top, but I'm not convinced he's doing as well as he could be.

 

(Tin hat on)

Everyone can be doing things better but I can't personally begrudge him one bit. Yeah, some minute changes I would've liked to have been different but on the whole with the hand he's been dealt by the cunts upstairs and by the fixture list, we're probably where we expected to be. I expected 4 more points than we currently have (wins v Cardiff and Brighton) at the start of the season but the gaping reasons in the side as to why we haven't got those points is clear, and it ain't down to Rafa.

[Guest firetotheworks]

Pardew had a much better squad but also had huge limitations as a manager, I'm told we have a world class manager, the team isn't great but it's better than no wins in 9 and 2 points from Cardiff, Brighton and palace.

 

Nobody thinks Benitez is the big problem here, but he shouldn't be the only manager in history not to be questioned after no wins in 9 ffs.

 

Put the cult hero status to one side for a moment, 1 win in 15, no wins in 9, he's doing incredibly poorly.

 

"But who would you get who do you want to replace him?"

 

I don't want him replaced I want him to do a better job.

 

This is what I was basically getting at, but f*** me the fanboys are really out to slit my throat.

 

Can't have no criticism on Rafa, absolutely not.

 

A "world class" manager is underperforming, if you can accept it or not is entirely up to you.

 

Don't give me that s**** about Championship side neither, Brighton/Burnley are managing fine and their squad isn't exactly far better than ours.

 

Even the Cardiff side is doing better than ours ffs, whats our excuse there? Ashley again?

Bang on, it always goes the same way though, if you dare question Rafa's involvement in the poor run you are an Ashley sympathiser and you are expected to come armed with a list of people who could do a better job.

 

I just think he should be held accountable since... you know hes responsible for getting the best out of these players at the end of the day, did I expect us to be even mid table after the teams we've faced, no I certainly didn't but I would hope for more than 2 points from Leicester, Palace, Brighton and Cardiff, and I'd maybe hope we could nick something off at least one of the big sides maybe on just one occasion if possible.

 

He has been messed around the squad is underfunded and he would be doing better with a better hand, my argument is that he should be doing better with the hand he does have, theres quality in that squad still albeit not enough.

 

Get over yourselves. If you're going to have an opinion, people are going to challenge it. Don't act like you're being silenced when you're just being disagreed with. You can always reply to my post replying to yours, but as yet you haven't.

[Paully]

From a blog I've just read.

 

Ah Newcastle United; what act has the tragicomic pantomime reached in this international break? Well, on the pitch events continue to demonstrate that Benitez is the Noel Gallagher of football management; washed-up, hopeless, irrelevant and turning into an embarrassment. Indeed, his refusal to allow the likes of Freddy Woodman to go out on loan is more akin to something from Josef Ftizl’s parenting manual. A grand total of 1 point, courtesy of an unconvincing non-display at Selhurst Park where Palace spurned half a dozen gilt-edged chances, was harvested from the latest set of fixtures which included timid and predictable home losses to Arsenal and Leicester, where the ponderous sicknote Rondon (aka Slimani II) was hors de combat with some mysterious ailment that really ought to have precluded his signing in the first place, not to mention the five goal tragedy at Old Trafford. Sels, Lazaar, Games, Manquillo, Slimani and now Rondon; with that kind of record in the transfer market you can understand why Ashley keeps his friends close and his wallet closer.

 

 

 

 

Having widely been predicted as being an unwatchable mess, Mourinho’s Evening of Rehabilitation turned into the game of the season so far, while Liverpool versus Man City stunk the place out. Newcastle enjoyed 70 minutes of untroubled dominance, but a 2-0 lead turned into a desperate late loss as Mourinho kept his job, which is almost as farcical a state of affairs as Benitez keeping his.  At any normal club, things really ought to be hotting up for Benitez, as the newly slimline and frankly rather handsome Mike Ashley has been attending games of late to see El Rey de la Mierda de Toro’s tactical masterclass at first hand.

 

 

 

 

Without question, Ashley has been a devastatingly malign influence on Newcastle United, but the dinosaur tactics, miserable demeanour, rank incompetence in the transfer market and utter inability to accept any responsibility for the dire situation the team is in must all count against Benitez. The owner saw the abject failure in front of goal against Palace and Leicester; no goals scored, and, in the case of the latter game, a defeat assured the moment the team sheet was submitted. Don’t forget the storm of booing that greeted Benitez’s decision to withdraw Matt Ritchie at that game and the vastly increased numbers of fans who are starting to question the way the manager is going about his job. Many more are starting to see the validity in the “If Rafa stays I go” anti bullshit standpoint.

 

 

I winder who wrote that? Someone who thrives on being controversial and hates anyone associated with true faith, perhaps?

[Guest ElCid]

Rafa fanboys ffs. He’s our manager. Criticise Rafa - fine but what does it come back to tactics? The defence is fine largely and were reliant on duds to score. Motivation? The entire club is toxic and he’s undermined. Recruitment? We all know about that and it’s hardly Rafas wishes. Ultimately, it’s a futile exercise. There’s only so many angles worth coming at it from.

 

I disagree about the defence as I do not think the full backs are up to scratch especially in an attacking frame. Think all of the players in this position at the club are extremely limited

[TRon]

Rafa fanboys ffs. He’s our manager. Criticise Rafa - fine but what does it come back to tactics? The defence is fine largely and were reliant on duds to score. Motivation? The entire club is toxic and he’s undermined. Recruitment? We all know about that and it’s hardly Rafas wishes. Ultimately, it’s a futile exercise. There’s only so many angles worth coming at it from.

 

I disagree about the defence as I do not think the full backs are up to scratch especially in an attacking frame. Think all of the players in this position at the club are extremely limited

 

You can't get past that ultimately. Which of our players would a half decent side even be interested in?

[Crumpy Gunt]

From a blog I've just read.

 

Ah Newcastle United; what act has the tragicomic pantomime reached in this international break? Well, on the pitch events continue to demonstrate that Benitez is the Noel Gallagher of football management; washed-up, hopeless, irrelevant and turning into an embarrassment. Indeed, his refusal to allow the likes of Freddy Woodman to go out on loan is more akin to something from Josef Ftizl’s parenting manual. A grand total of 1 point, courtesy of an unconvincing non-display at Selhurst Park where Palace spurned half a dozen gilt-edged chances, was harvested from the latest set of fixtures which included timid and predictable home losses to Arsenal and Leicester, where the ponderous sicknote Rondon (aka Slimani II) was hors de combat with some mysterious ailment that really ought to have precluded his signing in the first place, not to mention the five goal tragedy at Old Trafford. Sels, Lazaar, Games, Manquillo, Slimani and now Rondon; with that kind of record in the transfer market you can understand why Ashley keeps his friends close and his wallet closer.

 

 

 

 

Having widely been predicted as being an unwatchable mess, Mourinho’s Evening of Rehabilitation turned into the game of the season so far, while Liverpool versus Man City stunk the place out. Newcastle enjoyed 70 minutes of untroubled dominance, but a 2-0 lead turned into a desperate late loss as Mourinho kept his job, which is almost as farcical a state of affairs as Benitez keeping his.  At any normal club, things really ought to be hotting up for Benitez, as the newly slimline and frankly rather handsome Mike Ashley has been attending games of late to see El Rey de la Mierda de Toro’s tactical masterclass at first hand.

 

 

 

 

Without question, Ashley has been a devastatingly malign influence on Newcastle United, but the dinosaur tactics, miserable demeanour, rank incompetence in the transfer market and utter inability to accept any responsibility for the dire situation the team is in must all count against Benitez. The owner saw the abject failure in front of goal against Palace and Leicester; no goals scored, and, in the case of the latter game, a defeat assured the moment the team sheet was submitted. Don’t forget the storm of booing that greeted Benitez’s decision to withdraw Matt Ritchie at that game and the vastly increased numbers of fans who are starting to question the way the manager is going about his job. Many more are starting to see the validity in the “If Rafa stays I go” anti bullshit standpoint.

 

 

I winder who wrote that? Someone who thrives on being controversial and hates anyone associated with true faith, perhaps?

True Faith is utter wank.

[Shearergol]

I assume Leazes Mag wrote the article. Or HTL

[NG32]

In a twisted way I'm sort of looking to the day Rafa leaves.  I'm sure he has dirt on Charnley and Ashley over transfers etc .

 

Yeah but so what? It's not like people don't already know he's a giant cunt. It won't do anything other than make us more angry/depressed.

 

It might stir the silent majority out of their slumber.

[Guest]

In a twisted way I'm sort of looking to the day Rafa leaves.  I'm sure he has dirt on Charnley and Ashley over transfers etc .

 

Yeah but so what? It's not like people don't already know he's a giant cunt. It won't do anything other than make us more angry/depressed.

 

It might stir the silent majority out of their slumber.

 

It won’t.

[Wallsendmag]

 

The mind boggles...

[HaydnNUFC]

Huge windup. Says our current team is better than the 2011/12 team.

[Yorkie]

Surely a wind-up. Even our 15/16 side featured more out-right talent than the current team, certainly now the likes of Diame, Ritchie and Perez have totally burned out and Kenedy's forgotten how to play. Sure, there was a boatload of crap and even the good ones were horribly flawed because they didn't want to fight - but we've got no one with the same ability as Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Townsend, Mitrovic or Janmaat. Probably Thauvin too if the last couple of years are anything to go by. Dubravka and one of the centre-backs are probably the only ones better 'on paper'.

 

11/12 and 12/13? They were on an entirely different level. There wouldn't even be a doubt about being top half if Rafa had that standard of player to choose from.

[HaydnNUFC]

Surely a wind-up. Even our 15/16 side featured more out-right talent than the current team, certainly now the likes of Diame, Ritchie and Perez have totally burned out and Kenedy's forgotten how to play. Sure, there was a boatload of crap and even the good ones were horribly flawed because they didn't want to fight - but we've got no one with the same ability as Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Townsend, Mitrovic or Janmaat. Probably Thauvin too if the last couple of years are anything to go by. Dubravka and one of the centre-backs are probably the only ones better 'on paper'.

 

11/12 and 12/13? They were on an entirely different level. There wouldn't even be a doubt about being top half if Rafa had that standard of player to choose from.

Yep. Also the side from the first half of 13/14 when we were pushing the top 6, then Cabaye went and it fell to bits as well as Pardew being a twat.

 

Just think, hypothetically, we stay up after getting taken over, who'd you keep? For first team it's only Dubravka, Lascelles, probably Lejeune. If Kenedy was on form I'd say him too but he's been poor since Spurs. So that's 3 players who are relatively consistent at this level. I'd probably keep Yedlin, Shelvey, Ritchie and Fernandez as squad players (no idea about the other new signings because we've barely seen them), so when you think about the amount of crap in the rest of the squad, that's shocking. Cheers Mike.

[Guest firetotheworks]

It's not a wind up like, people like that exist unfortunately.

[Dinho lad]

 

The mind boggles...

 

 

 

Which mug is it?

[Big Geordie]

The one on the right - looks a plank.

[Darth Crooks]

The other guy looks like he has to look in the back of a spoon to look normal.

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

Wonder what it's like when your eyes are in different time zones?

[Klaus]

His facial proportions are all wrong like

[cp40]

Wonder what it's like when your eyes are in different time zones?

 

you cant see whats obvious right in front of your face?

[The College Dropout]

Surely a wind-up. Even our 15/16 side featured more out-right talent than the current team, certainly now the likes of Diame, Ritchie and Perez have totally burned out and Kenedy's forgotten how to play. Sure, there was a boatload of crap and even the good ones were horribly flawed because they didn't want to fight - but we've got no one with the same ability as Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Townsend, Mitrovic or Janmaat. Probably Thauvin too if the last couple of years are anything to go by. Dubravka and one of the centre-backs are probably the only ones better 'on paper'.

 

11/12 and 12/13? They were on an entirely different level. There wouldn't even be a doubt about being top half if Rafa had that standard of player to choose from.

Yep. Also the side from the first half of 13/14 when we were pushing the top 6, then Cabaye went and it fell to bits as well as Pardew being a twat.

 

Just think, hypothetically, we stay up after getting taken over, who'd you keep? For first team it's only Dubravka, Lascelles, probably Lejeune. If Kenedy was on form I'd say him too but he's been poor since Spurs. So that's 3 players who are relatively consistent at this level. I'd probably keep Yedlin, Shelvey, Ritchie and Fernandez as squad players (no idea about the other new signings because we've barely seen them), so when you think about the amount of crap in the rest of the squad, that's shocking. Cheers Mike.

 

Hate to be so negative but this feels like cuckoo land.

 

We won't be sold.

And Rafa will leave at the end of the season.

It's just a case of which division we'll be in and I honestly don't care.

[HaydnNUFC]

Surely a wind-up. Even our 15/16 side featured more out-right talent than the current team, certainly now the likes of Diame, Ritchie and Perez have totally burned out and Kenedy's forgotten how to play. Sure, there was a boatload of crap and even the good ones were horribly flawed because they didn't want to fight - but we've got no one with the same ability as Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Townsend, Mitrovic or Janmaat. Probably Thauvin too if the last couple of years are anything to go by. Dubravka and one of the centre-backs are probably the only ones better 'on paper'.

 

11/12 and 12/13? They were on an entirely different level. There wouldn't even be a doubt about being top half if Rafa had that standard of player to choose from.

Yep. Also the side from the first half of 13/14 when we were pushing the top 6, then Cabaye went and it fell to bits as well as Pardew being a twat.

 

Just think, hypothetically, we stay up after getting taken over, who'd you keep? For first team it's only Dubravka, Lascelles, probably Lejeune. If Kenedy was on form I'd say him too but he's been poor since Spurs. So that's 3 players who are relatively consistent at this level. I'd probably keep Yedlin, Shelvey, Ritchie and Fernandez as squad players (no idea about the other new signings because we've barely seen them), so when you think about the amount of crap in the rest of the squad, that's shocking. Cheers Mike.

 

Hate to be so negative but this feels like cuckoo land.

 

We won't be sold.

And Rafa will leave at the end of the season.

It's just a case of which division we'll be in and I honestly don't care.

"Hypothetically".