According to The Chronicle, Rafa believes his best XI is yet to take the field.
With eight new arrivals this summer and a target of four more additions, believing it will take time for the team to click is hardly surprising. The problem is that the two defeats have put the Magpies on the back foot. It’s not the time to throw in the towel and a good result tonight will change perspectives on that front.
“My best team [at the end of the month] will be different because we still want to bring in another three or four players.
“Maybe it will be one, maybe it will be four – it depends on who is leaving and who is available. If we bring another two players, it will be because we think they can play.”
Requiring four more players show the lack of confidence he has in the squad which was relegated last season. Twelve new signings would be considered a complete overhaul with half the twenty-five moved on.
Melding the players into a cohesive team takes time and results count more than performances in those circumstances. Confidence born of winning whilst playing badly feeds belief and from that comes performances.
It will be a real test of Rafa’s managerial abilities and if he achieves it, few will argue with his well-paid salary.