Tomorrow night will bring about the dawn of a new era. A new era for Rafa Benitez, a new era for the players, a new era for how the club is run and a well deserved new era for the Toon Army…..If the club can avoid the drop…
If you are still pinching yourself and asking: ‘Is Rafa really the Gaffer or am I just dreaming?’ Take a look at the proof by watching his first Newcastle press conference below.
Rafa confirms 3 things in this interview. First, he has a get out clause in the event of relegation. Second, his title is manager, not head coach. It is so important we stay up now. If we drop, we will probably be tied to the old model of Carr and Charnley running things with some cheap head coach in place. But if we stay up, Rafa stays – as manager, which means a total about-turn from Mike Ashley and a world class manager making the footballing decisions for the first time at this club since Sir Bobby Robson. Third thing he said, was several players ‘injured’ on the Thursday were miraculously fit to train on the Friday. This shows the players are ready to graft for this man during the season’s finale. This Leicester game is an audition for the players to prove their worth to the only manager in history to have won the UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Newcastle team news:
Tim Krul is out for the season with a knee injury. Massaido Haidara is also absent with the same complaint. This game should come too soon for Chancel Mbemba (ankle) but Gabriel Obertan (hamstring) and Fabricio Coloccini (calf) were apparently seen in training this weekend… Andros Townsend should make the squad having shaken off his hamstring tweak and Kevin Mbabu (hip) has a chance of making the bench. The game may well come too soon for Paul Dummett (also hamstring). Papiss Cisse has been struggling with a groin injury whilst Cheick Tiote is lacking match fitness. I have a feeling most of those players will have been desperately trying to prove they are fit this weekend though.
Leicester currently enjoy a 5 point lead over the other suprise title contenders Tottenham Hotspur. A win on Monday night could see them go 8 points clear. Amazing stuff for a team nailed on for relegation last winter.
A word from Claudio Ranieri:
It must be stressed these were his words before Rafa Benitez was appointed. No doubt he would have a bit more to say now but he still acknowledges us as a tough side with good players. No doubt he will have been telling his players to stay focused and not take anybody for granted – and not much will have changed since our new manager! came in. The only difference now is he will be telling his players the task just got tougher so try even harder.
Leicester City team news:
Sly Fox Riyad Mahrez has recovered from a cramped hamstring, which is very bad news for the Toon as he is arguably this season’s Premier League midfielder of the year. Matty James is in contention following a long lay off with a knee complaint. Otherwise it’s a clean bill of health for this season’s suprise package.
Shamrock’s Stats and Facts:
• Newcastle have not won at Leicester since 1999.
• Leicester beat Newcastle 3-0 in each of the last 2 games between the sides.
• Daryl Janmaat and Mike Williamson both got sent off in this fixture last season, with John Carver publicy claiming Willo was dismissed intentionally.
• Until the last 2 losses against the Foxes, the Magpies had gone 7 games unbeaten against them (won 3, drew 4).
• Leicester have lost only once in their last 17 home fixtures in the league.
• Newcastle have lost 17 of their last 21 away league games. Ouch.
• Newcastle United have lost their last eight Premier League matches played on a Monday and have failed to score in the last five of these. All eight of these have been away from home.
• Riyad Mahrez has 15 goals and 11 assists this season. He is the only player to be in double figures for both goals and assists.
• Leonardo Ulloa has scored 3 times against the Toon in his last 3 games.
• Matchday referee Craig Pawson has taken charge of 3 Foxes games and 3 Toon games this season, with neither side recording a win. With that in mind, get your money on a draw!
Final Thoughts:
Leicester are doing very well this season and despite every pundit tipping them to lose momentum at some stage, they just keep producing results. It’s hard to see past a Foxes win even with a new manager ‘bounce’, but I can’t see many Toon fans expecting anything else.
Let’s just get behind the team and show the squad and manager our full support. You never know, we might get lucky but I’m sure most will settle for simply seeing Rafa in the dugout making sound team selections and sound tactical changes mid-game. Something Steve McClaren seemed incapable of. It will also be good to see Rafa hold any prima donna’s to account. That, combined with the full backing of the Toon Army should be enough to eventually see this team move away from the dreaded drop zone.
Richie, 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim…hehe!
To be fair I thought on paper McClaren had assembled a good backroom staff(him and Smith excluded) but it would appear that our fitness and motivation has been ****, add that to **** tactics and team selection…I can’t understand where we went wrong 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Poor Eric must be scundered that he can’t find Sharpy’s comment from today 😆 or maybe he just read it wrong 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Richie where we went wrong was getting Schteve in in the 1st place.
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave…Agree, that’s why I excluded him…but hey, ding dong the witch is dead!
richietoon(Quote)
@ big dave
a nah im canny thick but is that an irish saying? scundered
I like it 😉
Clarkies Wonderland(Quote)
Mark it’s a northern irish word, but I never really caught on that some mightn’t have known what it was, when I said it 😮
Big Dave(Quote)
My main concern tomorrow night is the defence. I am worried about a few thing’s.
1. Is Janmatt, I’ve noticed he does like getting up the pitch and gets caught out from time to time.
2. Is Colocini, his slow and gets caught out very often.
3. Is who’s playing at LB and can they cope if recovering from injury so soon.
4. Is Mbemba fit or should we stick with Taylor.
Our greatest strength tomorrow night has to be our defence. The only striker I have confidence in is Perez. Interested to see how Benitez and the team get on.
Terry(Quote)
Personally tomorrow night i would like us to play 5 4 1 and be solid at the back and frustrate Leicester and possibly sneak a 1-0 win. I like Ranieri and want him to win the league but we need the 3 points more.
Terry(Quote)
It’s the defence that worries me.
Terry(Quote)
terry – your main concern is the whole back four but think we can sit tight and sneak a 1-0 win. 😆
In Rafa we trust 😆
Clarkies Wonderland(Quote)
cheers dave. I will find a time tomorrow to use it 😀
Clarkies Wonderland(Quote)
Shamrock:
Sharpy and I have spoken about Blackie in the past. And I have this thing about motivational speakers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Big D: I have never heard of that word before and I am pretty illiterate don’t you know, or literate, or literature. One of them anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I trust Rafa just not our defence. 10 games to turn thing’s round is massive.
Terry(Quote)
and theres me thinking the blackie ship had sailed 😀
Clarkies Wonderland(Quote)
It has Mark.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Clarkie I hope so mate. A 1-0 win would restore a lot of confidence and winning the Tyne and wear derby would make my week. As for Troy’s Clarkie maybe Rafa might bring him in as a coach one day after his won the Scottish premiership with Kilmarnock obviously 😀 And because it would make Troy happy but not until his won the Scottish premiership.
Terry(Quote)
I haven’t really seen that many pundits saying Schteve should not go. They usually protect their own. Maybe he stayed too long and should have been sacked after the Chelsea game?
DID ANYONE AND EVERYONE ON HERE NOT SAY THAT?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well Eric did you find the post of Sharpy’s you were looking for 😉 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
What I am saying is that everybody on here knew that Schteve and the gang had to go after the Chelsea game so how could Charnley and Co not know?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Big D: I didn’t look for it mate. I have moved on.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That ship has sailed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mark if Alex Furguson can win the Scottish premiership and lift a European trophy the why can’t Lee Clark. The cup winner’s cup doesn’t exist anymore mate. Aberdeen was a smaller club than Celtic and Ranger’s. If Clarkie achieves the Scottish title and win’s a European trophy with Kilmarnock, I will agree with Troy and give him the job a.s.a.p
Terry(Quote)
Eric save yourself the bother mate as I scrolled through and cant find it .
As for 20.04 Charnley probably thought he would hang on in the hope that Schteve could get a few points on the board, and it would save him from looking like a **** that got the wrong man for the job.
Big Dave(Quote)
Is it true that Rafa has recalled Armstrong from Coventry?
Stuart79(Quote)
Big D: Carr is the problem and made a power grab with McClaren. I think Charnley can do the accounting and will not be a problem.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dave man, Steve keeping his job and getting 30 points over the next 10 games couldn’t have stopped Lee looking like a ****.
YouYew(Quote)
Stu:
Really? First I’ve heard.
Interesting…..
YouYew(Quote)
I think Colo gets caught out of position at times because other defenders are gone awol and he’s trying to cover, that and the fact he’s gotten much slower. Janmaat is great going forward but not so good at getting back, I’m hoping Rafa tells him to just defend for this game. I really worry about LB tomorrow who ever plays there has their work cut out. How we’re gonna cope with Mahrez worries me too. I think we’ll see a very defensive formation.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stu, It wouldn’t surprise me, smart move if you ask me. Much as staying their would be good for him, needs must I reckon.
kimtoon(Quote)
Word from Cov is that we’ve recalled him. Unconfirmed though.
Stuart79(Quote)
As a bit of constructive criticism and not wanting to slag off peoples obvious hard work and effort, this whole thing with having to scroll back through page after page of older comments on the same thread is for me a really bad alteration to the site.
Along with the withdrawal of post numbers has made a chore of what used to be a very basic and perfectly functional feature.
I’m sure I’m repeating what’s already been said many times, but……
YouYew(Quote)
The club should give free scarves away for the Derby. It looked brilliant last time we did that.
Stuart79(Quote)
Aye kim.
I’ve been one to argue that leaving him there is what is best for him. But, it’s probably at the point now where the needs of the club are far more important. He’s had 3/4 season of very good development and experience thanks to Mowbray, maybe time to test him a little further.
Certainly Rafa should be having a look at him and making his own mind up about whether he can be used or not.
YouYew(Quote)
youyew, I believe they are going to reintroduce the post numbers soon.
kimtoon(Quote)
Good idea Stu
YouYew(Quote)
Word from Coventry is we haven’t.
richietoon(Quote)
You yew if his goals can help keep us up the lad will get hero status and depending on what Rafa thinks, he can always go to a championship club on loan next season for more experience.
kimtoon(Quote)
darn it
kimtoon(Quote)
Ah well….
I’d have not been disappointed to see him back.
Kim: He may not need to be loaned out to be getting experience in the Championship quite yet…
YouYew(Quote)
Youyew , Tony Mowbray said he knows a host of Championship clubs are sniffing round the lad.
kimtoon(Quote)
Think he should be with us next season, he’s 19 now so not that young and obviously knows how to put it away. Give him a chance I say.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kieran Crowley @KieranCrowley1 24m24 minutes ago
Kieran Crowley Retweeted Coventry City
Absolutely zero truth in this. Just another ? account. #PUSB
That’s what CCFC’s head of comms said about the account that tweeted Armstrong had been recalled
richietoon(Quote)
Kim: I agree. Just pointing out he may yet get that championship experience with us. 😉 😆
YouYew(Quote)
Said many times if you want to know things toon just ask RICHIE
Icedog(Quote)
Eric – we have spoke about Blackie in the past, which is why I couldn’t understand why you were being such a tool today.
However, if that ship has sailed then I am happy to move on 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
It doesn’t make sense bringing Armstrong back just yet after only having 2-3 days with the players already available to him.
He may have enquired if he could should he want to though.
God it would say something about the quality of our forwards if after 3 training sessions Rafa was looking to bring Armstrong back though wouldn’t it?! 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy:
Not sure it would say anything about the forwards here really, just that Rafa was doing his job and finding out what was available to him.
He was only loaned out to Coventry after SM had had a look.
Would he be able to call him back for a session or two without actually recalling him from his loan?
Not sure how it works, but wouldn’t seem a bad idea, just to have a look. If Rafa genuinely saw something that he believed he could use to keep us up then he should absolutely recall him in my opinion.
YouYew(Quote)
Supporters need to make SJP the most inhospitable football stadium in Europe for the next 2 months. We should be looking at winning 4 of our last home games and we will stay up.
Stuart79(Quote)
YouYew – isn’t there an international break coming up sometime soon?.
It might be better for Rafa to go down Coventry and watch Armstrong play in an actual game rather than just put him through a few drills on the training ground?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy I agree, he needs to go watch him in action really.
I see Lawro doesn’t think we have the players to stay up, he reckons a lot of them have get out clauses should we drop so they don’t give a toss anyway.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, that shows how much he knows as not one single player has get out clauses or even salary reduction clauses.
Stuart79(Quote)
I think on a predictor I did I had us on 37 points and staying up. Reckon 4 wins and a draw or 2 will do it. Easier if our wins are agains Sunderland and Norwich.
Just how big is the Derby now? Is it the biggest Derby in history given the amount at stake? I know we had the play off years ago but this is huge now with the money and the possibility of a fantastic future with Rafa.
Stuart79(Quote)
West brom went there recently and got a draw. Norwich were drawing until the last couple of minutes.
There’s always a chance. Pressure is on Leicester. We saw it ourselves under KK, no slip ups or you can throw it away
krankies wonderland(Quote)
Lawro has never had a good thing to say about NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yes Stu. Biggest Derby in living memory. Monumental. Lose and we are fooked. Even a draw is not great.
Shamrock(Quote)
Lawro fails to take into account though that if these players keep us up, they get to play regular football for one of the best managers in world football, in front of 52k fans every week.
If they give up and we go down, and they **** off, they won’t get that elsewhere IMO.
The derby is huge, but we need to focus on getting points from Leicester first. Even a point would do. We can’t write any game off at this stage.
Know and target the winnable games, but look to get points from every game. That’s how Leicester did it last season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: Good point. Def should be looked at one way or another.
Will be interesting to see what more Rafa can get out of the lads here mind. I suspect we’ll see a marked improvement in individual efforts over the coming weeks.
YouYew(Quote)
Rafa telling the papers that improving the defence is the easiest thing to do in football and that’s his first job. Not had much time to work on tactical side of things but there might be personnel and formation changes for tomorrow game.
Stuart79(Quote)
I am going to say this again because a few people keep saying we need 4 wins and 2 draws to stay up.
Norwich have 25 points from 30 games so if they stick to their average they will get 33.
Mackems have 25 points from 29 so if they stick to their average they will get 33.
NUFC have played **** but now have a Champions League Manager and with just a point per game we could even stay up. Beat the Mackems and Norwich and we are almost assured to stay up.
I think Rafa did the Maths and knows we have a better squad than both of them. That is probably part of the reason why we could get a great Manager.
I hope we get the 4 wins and 2 draws but if we beat the Mackems and Norwich we will stay up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If Norwich and the Mackems beat us we are probably ****** whether we have a Champions League manager or not 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
i agree Eric. I can only see the teams around us gaining 8ptd from now.
but thats on paper, in the prem sometimes form is out of the window,,
STARTING TONIGHT!! 🙂
TOON TOON!
Clarkies Wonderland(Quote)
one vital game is Norwich v Mackems. could be vital. We’ll be hoping for a draw
Clarkies Wonderland(Quote)
Unless one of them has dropped into serious trouble by then. Could be that we want whoever is in 19th to win in order to give us breathing space, or to retain 17th?
I’m still not convinced Swans and Palace are totally out the mire yet either.
YouYew(Quote)
so our fate is still in our own hands.
I’m not expecting a win tonight, but I am expecting a massive turnaround in the players attitude, effort and general performance.
Keep it simple, pass and move, try and keep possession and STOP giving it away so cheaply.
Defend with your lives and attack clinically when the opportunity arrives.
Everyone needs to step up and play for each other.
HOWAY the LADS
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
@YouYew
i agree, Swans are very close. same points as Palace but you’d expect palace to pick a few points up now
Gashley(Quote)
Agree BB.
Stuart79(Quote)
Swans host Villa on Saturday, whilst Palace host Norwich in a few weeks.
Best case for us would be for Villa to beat Swansea but realistically that should guarantee Swans 36pts min. Whilst a draw would be perfect for us in the palace game. putting them on 34. Therefore for either to be dragged into the relegation battle two of us, makems & norwich will need a minimum target of 35pts. 3 wins and 2 draws for us.
Premandup(Quote)
Just win our home games and we will stay up easily.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu:
‘win’ and ‘easily’.
Not two words we’ve been able to use in the same sentence too often lately.
Hopefully that will change.
YouYew(Quote)
Gash:
Look at Palaces next 6 fixtures.
Leicester, West Ham, Norwich, Arsenal, Everton, Toon.
Maybe they’ll get a point or 3 against Norwich. I’d hope by then we’d be confident of turning them over at SJP.
I could see them getting a solitary point from that lot on the run they’ve been on lately.
Maybe 3 or 4 max.
YouYew(Quote)
Our next 6:
Leicester, Sunderland, Norwich, Southampton, Swansea, Liverpool.
Through optimistic black and white glasses, but still with a modicum of plausibility….. let’s assume we lose tomorrow to balance it out a little.
I can see 3 pts against Scum Norwich and Swansea. Maybe a point at Southampton?
So, 9 or 10 pts. Puts us on33/34 with 4 games to play.
Let’s hope the Rafa Factor kicks in pretty pronto.
If it doesn’t, I can see the same points I just predicted for Palace coming our way.
YouYew(Quote)
Just have to take it one game at a time like Rafa said, but that Derby is bloody huge now, it’s like a cup final. I bloody hate Derby games, I feel sick from start to finish every time unless we are cruising 3 or 4 nil up. Hope they drop so we don’t have to play them for a bit.
kimtoon(Quote)
Biggest Derby I can remember Kim.
I personally look forward to them, despite recent history, and would rather we both stayed up. However, it’s looking increasingly likely it’ll be at least one of the two of us going down, in which case………..
YouYew(Quote)