Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s crucial match-up with Crystal Palace, Paul Dummett has spoken to the press about his new manager Rafa Benitez and what the Spaniard offers compared with his predecessor Steve McClaren.
Speaking to the Chronicle, the defender praised the ex-Real Madrid boss in how he was turning the squad into ‘better players’.
More specifically he has praised Benitez for the work he has done with the Newcastle back four.
With the Magpies conceding the second highest number of goals in the league this season (64 – only Villa have conceded more), it was imperative that a defence-minded coach in the mould of Rafa was brought into the club. After a clean sheet against Swansea and what should have been a clean sheet against Manchester City this month, there’s evidence to suggest that what’s being taught on the training ground is actually having a positive effect on match days.
“For me personally he talks about the positioning with each player and he works with the back four a lot.
“He tells us to be together and be more compact. Any manager has different opinions and growing up as players it can only help you learn from them. It will help me get better as a player too.”
Ice – I’d take Andy Carroll back at the right price like.
With Townsend on 1 winger & if we could get someone like Nathan Redmond on the other, then I think Carroll would be a cracking player for us to have through the middle.
Him of Bony I’d be happy.
Sorry to open that can of transfer worms again, but you started it 😛
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I am done with sicknotes. I wouldn’t buy any player with a bad injury record ever again. Think Marveaux, he was injured when we bought him and only played 56 games in 5 years. I don’t care how good they are, if they are injured they are not playing.
I don’t even think I would make an exception for Sturridge and certainly not Wilshere.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have a feeling that Rafa could well tell players like Shelvey that he can leave. He’s not playing him so maybe doesn’t rate him?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: Rafa is playing Shelvey. He is just not starting him. He is playing further up the pitch though and not being asked to be the quarter-back. He is certainly NOT a defensive midfielder which is why he is not playing. I think he could fit into a Rafa squad when every game is not a scrap for our lives.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also Stuart: I think that quarterback label got into Shelvey’s head a bit. He started pinging Hollywood passes even though we don’t have the players for it. Mitro is too slow and Cisse could not trap a bag of cement (that is Icedog’s metaphor which I don’t understand but know what he means 🙂 ) It might be different if we had some runners like Armstrong or Remy – play the way Leicester do for Vardy?
It is like when Tiote scored that goal against Arsenal and for 2 seasons shot on sight and was encouraged to do so by the crowd. One moment went to his head.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
But he dropped him, Eric. He went from Captain to bench warmer! Why has he done that?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: because Rafa wants to play with 2 defensive mids early and likes Colback’s energy. He does not see Shelvey as a defensive mid and sees him further up the pitch. We have Sissoko, Gini, Perez and even de Jong who can also play there and this limits Shelvey’s game time at the moment. In a more expansive game there may be role for Shelvey as he is the best passer of the ball we have. At the moment he is a bit of a luxury in a scrap.
I have only really seen Shelvey have one good game so I am not completely on his side, I just don’t think Rafa has ditched him. I was surprised to see Taylor back on the bench as I thought we had seen the last of him after Southampton.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyway, I am beyond the point of defending one player against others at the moment and all I care about is survival. Rafa could pick bloody Steven Taylor and Gouffran for all I care as long as we win 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Icedog(Quote)
He often plays two defensive midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation so maybe Shelvey isn’t the player for him?
On another note, what the hell has SDJ done wrong? Apparently he’s one of the best trainers at the club yet he can’t get a look in. I think we’ve won the only two matches he’s started.
Stuart79(Quote)
ERIC the term cannot trap a bag of cement came from B.Clough when asked about signing G.Megson “he”said a million pounds for a guy that cannot trap a bag of cement,meaning cannot even put his foot on a dead ball (got it now lol)
Icedog(Quote)
Icedog(Quote)
Ice: here are some more Clough quotes:
“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.
They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I wasn’t on that particular job.
If a chairman sacks the manager he initially appointed, he should go as well.”
I watched a DVD on him recently. Did you know he and his wife were good friends with Geoffrey Boycott and used to have him over for dinner? I also bought his auto-biography but haven’t read it yet. It was hard to get through the first chapter as it was all about the perils of alcohol and very preachy. I can totally understand the sentiment but it makes it a hard read. Hope the rest of the book is more like Clough was in his prime – a force of nature.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I think you are right mate. Shelvey isn’t as combative as Tiote and doesn’t have the energy of Colback. He’s aggressive, but that usually results in a booking or conceding a freekick.
Long term I think he has a role as Rafa likes that kind of midfielder – Gerrard, Alonso and Aqualani (though he didn’t work out too well). But it is worth remembering that Rafa signed Shelvey from Charlton when he was at Lpool.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice: if you haven’t ever seen the Yorkshire TV interview with Clough and Revie a few days after Brian was sacked by Leeds you should look it up. Revie held his own which was difficult to do with Clough as he could be quite funny. It shows how great Revie was as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The funniest bit in that interview was Clough calling Revie “good lad” when Revie was at least 10 years his senior.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cough was the master of the one liners. Was brilliant! “If football was meant to be played in the air, God would have put grass up there!” But my favourite was To the Forest physio after Stuart Pearce suffered concussion: “Tell him he’s Pele and that he’s playing up front for the last 10.”
Stuart79(Quote)
More guff from a pundit talking out of his ****. He says Sunderland are favourites to stay up and then offers absolutely no reasoning to back it up:
“Sunderland, not Newcastle United or Norwich City, are the favourites to avoid relegation this season, Martin Keown has told BBC Sport.
The Black Cats slid back into the relegation zone on Saturday afternoon as they drew 1-1 with Stoke City, courtesy of a last-gasp penalty from Jermain Defoe.
In contrast, fierce rivals Newcastle were 1-0 winners over Crystal Palace, which helped them move out of the bottom three for the first time since Rafa Benitez took charge.
However with only a point separating each side right now the battle is far from over, and Keown says he believes Sunderland are still favourites to escape.
“Still I think Sunderland look favourite to get out of trouble,” he told BBC Sport. “They’ve got that extra game. If we’re saying that Tottenham will get beat by Chelsea then that’s a Chelsea team that will arrive there with plenty of confidence.
And then there’s Everton and Watford to follow. They need six points.
The big problem for Sam Allardyce’s side is that their performances are not getting the results they require at present.”
BBC Sport then go on to say:
“Crucially though, Newcastle have been picking up wins under Benitez, and that could see the Black Cats go down despite what Keown believes.”
Thanks for that Martin and BBC Sport. It is all crystal clear now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, it was the same as Jenas and Murphy on MOTD last night. They basically said Sunderland would stay up because they “just had a feeling!” Great insight that, thanks!
Glad we’re the under dog in everyone’s eyes. Seems like Sunderland are struggling under the pressure of being favourites.
Stuart79(Quote)
I can see shelvey being sold. He offers nothing to our midfield. Looks slow, doesn’t defend well and plays 1 decent ball out of 5. I would like to see him further upfield before writing him off completely. You can see why Liverpool sold him and Swansea dropped him
Gashley(Quote)
Shelvey is a victim of our squad having no balance. We’ve long had too many midfielders and now we have Shelvey and Siem De Jong both stuck with no position to fit into because Sissoko and Wijnaldum have some some of term they have to always play or something.
We are going to have to lose some good players we could really do with to get some balance. I, personally, would punt Sissoko out the door. I don’t care if he has improved this past month, he was possibly the worst offender this season and the next time he is interviewed, he’ll be on about moving to Champions League team again.
**** off, Moussa.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Stuart: they are all saying what you said – that Sunderland’s form has picked up but not results. Then the next thing out of their mouths is Sunderland will stay up. This is even compounded by Keown who seems to think Chelsea will beat Spurs and get a lot of confidence from that but seems to suggest Sunderland will get a result against them. His conclusion does not follow from his premise just like a lot of these thick footballers. And what about the fact Spurs might be a bit deflated coming so close to a league championship after 50 odd years and falling short?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
FJ you have been a ray of sunshine recently 🙂 “we’re going down” 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ll be playing golf during the game on Saturday and thankfully I can’t get a signal on the course. However I fully expect us to be at least 3 points clear of Sunderland by 5pm.
Stuart79(Quote)
I still believe it. You’re all way too optimistic and positive. Someone needs to be a dose of reality. In the immortal words of Gandhi – “we’re going down”.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Oh ye of little faith, Funky.
Stuart79(Quote)
Icedog(Quote)
Funky has been forecasting our relegation for sometime.
He has dug his hole and it’s that deep now he can’t get out.
A win versus Villa and a draw versus Spurs would surely see us safe and that is a realistic outcome.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Great to see Psychs keeping his beady eye on Clarky at Killy.
😆
Psychs
Clarky will get a reputation in Scotland and will land a championship job in a couple of years, at the Toon, 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy, pretty sure we’ll need more than 37 points.
kimtoon(Quote)
lol thats right up there with your claim we should get benitez (4 yrs ago)
I must archive this one… 😛 this place is turning into a psychics blog 😀
Gashley(Quote)
I’m Not 100% sure, Kim to be honest. Will Sunderland get another 5 points or Norwich another 6? Dynamics change for both them sides of they don’t pick up wins in their next game and we do. But generally 39 points will see us safe and that’s what we have to get and will get! 😆
Stuart79(Quote)
it could see us safe. Sunderland have a win in them somewhere and a draw. Ive got my psychics hat on and reckon
Sunderland 0 Chelsea 2
Sunderland 1 Everton 0
Watford 1 Sunderland 1
so we need a win and a draw…
Gashley(Quote)
i think we might draw at Villa and beat Spurs at St James’. We do well in the big games.
I’d rather we won at Villa like. these last few weeks have been too much 😐
Gashley(Quote)
i must be getting more confident. was searching ebay last night for giant toon flags.
A drive around Sunderland with the flags on display is a defo if we succeed… 😀
Gashley(Quote)
Wahey 😆
I’ve got Gashley right on the ropes now 😎
He’s even pretending to be Baba Vanga 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Kim
I don’t see Sunderland or Norwich getting 37pts.
But, Baba Gashley should keep us right. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
If 4 points were offered to us now and our season finished I would take it.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I remember when KK was appointed as manager under Ashley, standing outside Shearers having a pint. My mate had a new suit on as he was gannin somewhere posh after the game with his lass. A car pulled up alongside and some Mackems threw an egg, splattering doon my mates suit.
The Mackems were **** in themselves as they drove off. Not as much as me though.
Comedy gold 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
well i did call for Benitez a couple of months ago . I’m more up to date. youre like an ageing david Icke still wearing your brown corduroys and noel edmonds jumpers 😆
its a wonder Leicester born Icke has jumped on the Leicester bandwagon claiming some responsibility for their success… the nut job 😛
Gashley(Quote)
haha quality
Gashley(Quote)
so looking at worst case scenario assuming no losses for our rivals
Norwich say 3 wins = 40 points
say 2 wins 1 draw = 38 points
say 2 draws 1 win = 36 points
say 3 draws = 34 points
And Sunderland say 3 wins = 41 points
say 2 wins 1 draw = 39 points
say 1 win 2 draws = 37 points
We simply have to beat Villa and Spuds to be sure, not too concerned about Norwich tbh but Scum are proper jammy sods. We really need Scum to lose their next game to take off some pressure because that Villa game is a proper banana skin waiting to happen.
kimtoon(Quote)
It’s the games in hand and bloody goal difference that could do for us
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim
The difference is, the Mackems have had Sam for ages now. Their form is not going to drastically change.
We have been under a **** manager and now have a world class one. We are in the ascendancy.
Don’t panic. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Glad you’re coming round to my way of thinking, Troy. It’s take a while but you got here…
For the life of me I just cannot understand the rationale behind people thinking Sunderland are going to have this complete up turn in form. From what I have heard and read I can’t remember the last time they played badly yet they’re still in the bottom three! Also and this is important, if they’ve lost to Chelsea (likely) and we have beaten Villa (likely) their game in hand is a completely and utterly different game. If they lose, they’re down and that adds huge pressure. Everton’s away form is also amongst the best in the league.
Stuart79(Quote)
If we beat Villa that will be 11 points from 15. That keeps teams up.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, I’m in complete agreement with you, always have been. I think people may feel that way about Sunderland as they have history and experience of getting out of this situation for past 3 seasons or so. Thing is, got to stop at some point, can’t keep going on like that. We just need that win on Saturday and 2 defeats for them and Notwich. I think most they will pick up over next 2 is 1 point, just hope I’m being to generous there and it’s none, meaning we get 3 next week and it’s a relaxing day the Sunday of following week and we can enjoy and look forward to next season
Simon(Quote)
I think it’s likely it will still go to the last game but whether we need to win I’m not sure. I have a funny feeling a draw will do us. However I still see us winning our next two.
Stuart79(Quote)
After the Saints game I looked at the next four and thought 2pts max and we’re down.
Now I look again and agree with Stuart. One of Chelsea or Everton will beat Sunderland. Their jammy good luck will crack at the very end and I see them only getting 2 pts. Same with Norwich (if they manage it).
So I now think scum 34, Norwich 33 Toon 36..
I’m 80% on the Stu Ometer
Georgio(Quote)
On the other hand Villa will be a surprisingly tough game. We need a very rare early goal.
Georgio(Quote)
Stuart,
Come come my friend. You latch on to me like a limpet.
Fat Sam has done nowt to get them out the clag all season. It was only McLaren that has saved his blushes as they would have been consigned to the championship weeks ago if we had Rafa since Xmas.
I only wish the ditherers had listened to me and ousted McLaren earlier.
😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I can see the Villa game bein a formality. Unless a freak event happens we will win.
The toon are hungry. Villa are not. The players are hiding. They will be playing in front of less than 30k fans, all hostile towards their own team.
The Villa players will be sulking. They won’t like the criticism.
They are like some bloggers on here. Petulant. 😀
Where is Aussie these days ? 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
For Clarkie? 😳
Gashley(Quote)
I still howl to myself when I think of Aussie and his tantrums. 😀
Bewty matey 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Gashley
Clarkie is now turning Killie round! If he does a good job there he will be in prime position to take over at Killingworth. ! 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Gashley
Up you pop. Number one ditherer. 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Gash
I always glance at your profile pic and think it says, ****. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
If it makes you feel better, Troy. 😀
Stuart79(Quote)
😛 lol I made my stance very clear. It was you that didn’t get it..for weeks you kept asking me the same question while calling for clarky and pearce 😳
Only get rip of SM if it’s for better I cried..The toon took notice..
I said Benitez 3 weeks before we landed him. I was told by you there was no chance under Ashley 😛
Gashley(Quote)
You’ve got ***** on the brain 😛
Gashley(Quote)
Wow! 😯
You sound like Psychs now. Making things up. 😆
I love your position. You wanted McLaren gone but only for a better manager. Tell me someone who didn’t? The point was, after 10 games I was suggesting he would take us down and to get shot of him. That would have left 28 games for a bang average manager to take over and have time to put things right.
We didn’t have to have a Benitez to save us back then.
You couldn’t see the problem then and you still on reflection still can’t see you are wrong. 😉
I could see McLaren was going to take us down way before you cottoned on.
😎
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troysta: you know I have nothing against Clarky, what I was making fun of was your farcical suggestion that he be hired by NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I think it’s likely we could have already been down if Clark had been appointed.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart79
They played badly on Sat mate and were really lucky to get a point.
http://www.wearewearside.com/post/2016/05/01/player-ratings-the-results-saviour-leads-the-way.aspx
Rafa is getting results and they are stuttering just at the right time, they don’t call this the ‘business end’ for nothing. Thinking rationally, I think the good thing for us is that when they were playing well they still mainly drew, when we are playing well we mainly win (at home). I fancy it to go to the last day and us to beat Spurs. If Alli and Dier are out that’s part of the spine ripped out, from their first team and I don’t fancy them to beat Chelsea away either. The spine of their title challenge was Kane, Alli, Dier & Lloris.
DJG(Quote)
Journo’s said yesterday that Sunderlands point could be crucial… How? They only draw games so all the points they accumulate from drawing could be crucial they mean. Now our point against Liverpool could be crucial because at 2 nil down we were finished and to come back and draw at Anfield was a special effort. Also the penalty save on Saturday won us two points. That could be crucial, not yet another bleeding draw by Sunderland!
Stuart79(Quote)
Troy. Go back to when SM was brought in I said we’d be relegated..
You obviously didn’t want a better manager than SM by suggesting Clarky 😛
You completely dismissed the idea of getting better. You wanted Pardew for the long haul as we could get anyone better lol reach for the stars troyboy.
Haha can you now see why we critisized pards for so long
Gashley(Quote)
Troy always tries to twist the facts. He confuses reluctant acceptance of McClaren and giving him a bit of time to see if he can do the job with wanting him. I think most on here had given up on him by the end of October and remember Shamrock writing an article to that effect. I turned on McClaren after 8 games but decided to give him another chance as I didn’t want to appear a chicken little. We all had major doubts about Schteve from the start but Troy conveniently forgets that in a sad effort to make himself look good. Claiming credit for suggesting Benitez is Troy’s best one ever…YCMIU. Sorry, suggesting Clarky meant Troy had no credibility on here, if indeed he ever had any.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Too right, stu, keep troy right man. He used to look up to you he’s all over the place
Gashley(Quote)
Troy has this unique ability to gloat about things he never said or that he got wrong.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Palace don’t have a bad side but Pards has still managed to take them on one of his death spirals winning 1 in 19. If they start like that next year I don’t see the new investors putting up with it even though they reached a cup final. The league is so much more important now. Look at Spurs, they essentially gave up on the Europa League. There is a recent precedent for Managers reaching Cup finals and then leaving their clubs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Why do the press pander to Allardyce?
He’s hung around at the bottom managing sides slightly less **** than the ones who get relegated & achieved no more than long forgotten about plodders like John Gregory, Brian Little, Jim Smith, Kinnear, Curbishley, Coppell etc.
A guy whose biggest achievement in the sport is a 3rd division title with Notts county, Has the nerve to question Rafas role in Liverpools champions league win and Wengers in Arsenals League/cup doubles; Gets off without anyone in the media pointing out he is a complete and utter fucking Irrelevance.
Wildebeest faced **** trumpet
CC(Quote)
I wouldn’t fancy us to get two wins from Chelsea, Everton & Watford. They’re just not the sort of teams who I would be confident of beating, how much have we struggled against Watford recently??!!
DJG(Quote)
The problem with hiring clarky etc is we’re resigned for mediocrity.
Clark would of took us down and probably would of kept his job in the Championship. Years of struggle.
I’ve always maintained the more **** thrown at Ashley the better. Short term pain etc. Even SM was a helping hand in convincing fatty he needed to change his policies
Gashley(Quote)
Eric. I was glad Palace didn’t get relegated last season. I wanted Pardew to put his stamp on things and be tested this season.
He certainly hasn’t let me down. 🙂 The bloke isn’t good enough for the prem and will struggle next year too
Gashley(Quote)
DJG – I wouldn’t fancy any team in the bottom three with three games to go getting two wins out of the last three games against Chelsea, Everton and Watford, unless they were already in a good run of form. A bit like us and even then it would be doubtful. No doubt in my mind that our fixtures have been kind to us in the last 6 games exc City and Liverpool but the fact we got points there just makes it even more of a good achievement that were even out of the bottom three and not relegated already!
Stuart79(Quote)