Newcastle see out this dreadful season with a home game against a Spurs side in, what might not be, Rafa Benitez’s last game. The Spaniard hinted in Friday’s press conference that he might well be in charge of The Magpies next season as they attempt to bounce back into England’s top flight at the first time of asking.
Benitez is seeking assurances from the Newcastle hierarchy that he can build a side good enough to make an instant return to the Premier League. But before we delve into dissecting this nightmare of a season and go into what needs to be done this summer to move the club forwards, there is still one game left to play. And for Spurs, at least, it could be a significant one. Should Newcastle win their final game of the season, they will have taken six points from a side who they could deny finishing second.
That just about sums up what a freakishly unpredictable league it has been this season. And for Newcastle fans, it proves just what a colossal failure this campaign has been. This is a side who, on their day, can mix it with just about any other side in the division. Yet here we are, on are way back to the nation’s second tier, facing the prospect of Burton Albion et al.
The game will see Newcastle fans watch several players play their final game in a black and white jersey they scarcely deserve to wear. Benitez could decide to bench a number of players who won’t be at St James’ Park next season in favour of some of the squad who will be part of the promotion campaign. Sissoko, Gini, Townsend, Tiote and Cisse will all probably be elsewhere come August but have been regular starters in the last few games which has seen United go unbeaten in five.
The majority of Newcastle’s promising youngsters are on loan but it might be a chance to give starts to Mbabu and Aarons who could prove to be important players next season should they stay on Tyneside.
It will be a strange on Sunday, as fans try their best to support a team who have let them down massively. The one common goal driving the St James’ Park faithful though will be trying to persuade Benitez to stay. If the Spaniard had taken charge a month earlier, Newcastle would be five or six places higher in the division looking forward to a much brighter future.
Rafa says he will decide in the next two weeks whether he will stay; tomorrow is the fan’s last chance to show him exactly why he should.
SRF couldn’t disagree more mate, this team haven’t managed to mix it with anyone for the last 2 seasons.
We have been consistently garbage from day one, playing pretty poor football along the way.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Thanks SRF, good read. Yep it’s been a very strange season, unpredictable yet also predictable too. Unpredictable as in who won it and the way top teams have started and stuttered leaving the door open for the likes of Leicester and West Ham to have outstanding seasons and who would of seen Spurs 2nd. Yet predictable in as much as who was fighting relegation, it was always going to be Norwich, Villa, Scum and likely us with Steve in charge, with Leicester being the only one to buck that trend. A big part of me wants us to draw today so Spuds can get one over on Arsenal, that puts them on 71 but Spuds have better goal difference. I would never have said Leicester and Spuds would be top two back in August, it really is a funny old game.
As for Rafa, I will be very surprised if we retain him, Mike stepping in may make it happen I suppose but he’s going to have to give up a lot of ground on his original blueprint for the club. It’s also a worry that he said the cash cupboard was bare the other day. ‘ Don’t come crying to me for cash ‘ was his words to the board, so we have to hope we can get good fees for certain players to fund incomings or use that overdraft as I don’t think the parachute payments will be enough when you factor in wages, agents fees and any new coaches Rafa could want for the reserves and academy. Lots of reasons why negotiations could yet go tits up .
Kimtoon(Quote)
Ashley has to go cap in hand to Benitez.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Know FFP kicks in but maybe Ashley will spend what has to be spent as he has already lost 100 million through relegation and so much more if we are not back in the preamier league asap. He’s a business man and now worst has happened, surely he will realise have to speculate to accumulate to get back and make money from the club, even if it’s just for advertising
Simon(Quote)
I remember the 1st time some fans got a plane to fly over a rivals ground (Think it was Blackpool/Preston) It was totally original and hilarious.
5 or 6 years later here come the Mackems the club who dropped into the 3rd division after losing a play off to gillingham & broke their own record low points total…
What a existence they have 😆
CC(Quote)
this squad should have been above Watford, Bournemouth, Palace, Norwich, Sunderland, West brom, Villa & swansea at least
It was becoming comical around October/November and the club did nothing, As ever it’s only at NUFC Where Charnley would keep his job after this completely avoidable mess
CC(Quote)
Troy. can you show the quote of you recommending Rafa after Pardew ? as far as I can remember the whole ‘reality crew’ was built on we “wouldnt get anyone decent while Mike is in charge Or better than Pardew,” so whats the pointin sacking him, this is why you also peddled Clarkies name as “we wouldnt get anyone better” so the notion of you asking for a world beater after telling us we wouldnt get anyone better than Pards is a little contradicting..
Gashley(Quote)
Perhaps we would of been relegated a month ago had we hired Clarky in when you called for him.
But we’ll never know as he wasnt appointed so your argument in pointless..
If Rafa stays, relegation might be a good thing.
Gashley(Quote)
I’ll accept relegation if Rafa stays. If he doesn’t we could be looking at a nightmare
Georgio(Quote)
Basically he’s waiting to see if anything better comes along.
Stuart79(Quote)
agree mate
Kimtoon(Quote)
Troy if you want to make up a honours list for Alan Pardew then be my guest. I’m sure Eric and Gashley will sign it if you ask them nicely. Sir Alan Pardew
Terry(Quote)
Gash: Troy makes up his own reality mate, and you are exactly right in saying that his support of Pards was always based on the fact that he was average and we couldn’t get any better. If Troy said anything about Benitez, which I doubt, it certainly was not the sustained campaign he usually mounts which I would have remembered. He also acts like people were in favour of McClaren when at best it was luke warm saying he wouldn’t be our choice but let’s give him a chance stating that we should get behind the Lads.
Anyway, we have Beneitez now and money shouldn’t be an issue as he already has the contract. I agree with MM that Everton would be overshadowed by Liverpool and I do not see them giving Rafa what he would want. They will lose their best player and don’t they have an outdated stadium?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They are showing all 10 games simultaneously in the US. I am going to a bar where probably supporters from at least 10 teams including Spurs and Chelsea will be watching together. There won’t be any trouble, there never is. Just wish we had something to play for.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
i dont think he is. I reckon he wants full control as already mentioned. Its a big ask from us and a huge commitment from him to drop a division. so he’ll want honest answers first
Gashley(Quote)
Troy he might be the next England manager so you can support his team again and maybe enjoy a world cup win.
Terry(Quote)
lol I remember Troy calling for Pards for England. I said it was ridiculous and he hounded me with questions on why it was ridiculous… point proven I reckon 😆
Gashley(Quote)
I am still mad about how bad Everton played mid-week. Ross Barkley has the heart the size of a pea. I would drop him from the England squad. Everybody says they have such a great squad but do they really? Only Villa have fewer points this year and they always seem to have “the next big thing” who, apart from Rooney, never quite gets there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gashley there’s not many english managers around these days. Pards, Fat Sam, Stuart Pearce, Gary Neville, Alan Curbishly, Steve McClown so he does have a chance against those names. It will most likely be foreign manager again.
Terry(Quote)
Just heard a snippet of convo from Rafa on 5live news, he said money isn’t the issue it’s the structure of the club.
Kimtoon(Quote)
I was hoping Taylor would never play again but Lascelles is ill apparently. What a disappointing career after a promising start under SBR. I hope he gets a clap at the end but thank god it’s his last game. 🙂
DJG(Quote)
It’s obvious that Rafa would like to stay at the club but it is also obvious that he needs full control to do so.
Ashley has two weeks to agree with Rafas’ vision on the way forward for the club so we will find out in two weeks time whether or not Ashley has any ambition for the club.
sidekick(Quote)
Old Trafford being evacuated with 45 minute delay. Incident within the stadium is all they are saying. Only North and West stands. Very strange.
DJG(Quote)
It means Man U will know at half time what result they need.
DJG(Quote)
any links today?
Georgio(Quote)
Link lads and lasses for the last time in the PL
http://firstrows.ru/soccer/newcastle-united-vs-tottenham-hotspur-frs1367b2?l=1558760687
Kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.keepsporthonest.com/match/2792/
Shamrock(Quote)
http://rivosport.net/4ch.html Better
Shamrock(Quote)
Man utd game abandoned.
Kimtoon(Quote)
good play then
Kimtoon(Quote)
Is Lascelles really ill or is there a club interested? or are they giving Taylor one last game ?
Can’t help but be suspicious with our lot like .
Kimtoon(Quote)
that’s the most players we’ve had forward all season and we still fluff it 🙄
Kimtoon(Quote)
Gini, get innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, pity you couldn’t do it when it mattered
Kimtoon(Quote)
Go on Gini son … That’s you getting your move in the summer!!!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
**** me why did we wait so long to sack Schteve? Mitro and Townsend developing a good understanding. I think we will keep them both if Rafa stays. Fans doing no harm to the cause to convince Rafa…
Shamrock(Quote)
Everton beating Norwich I see.
Kimtoon(Quote)
😆 meow sharpy, true though
Kimtoon(Quote)
Lovely move for the goal! Easy when the pressure is off!! #nufc
🙄 🙄
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
isn’t it mate
Kimtoon(Quote)
Plane fly by from the Scum I see
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, even some of their own fans are saying it’s cringe worthy. Nowt like kicking a man while he’s down. And that’s why we call them the scumbags. No class bunch of in-breds.
DJG(Quote)
DJG, How much did that cost I wonder? If they got cash to spare they should give it to charity. Idiots, just makes them look silly really.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Mitrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
if only eh
Kimtoon(Quote)
Hmm. Well done Charnley. ‘Let’s take a look at what you could have won’……..
Shamrock(Quote)
Retain Rafa ffs Ashley.
Shamrock(Quote)
I wish mitro had of started v villa
Gashley(Quote)
1000 – Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goal vs Tottenham is the 1000th scored in the Premier League this season. Grand.
Congrats to Mitrovic! 😆 😆
OptaJoe @OptaJoe 52s52 seconds ago
1000 – Newcastle also scored the 1000th Premier League goal in 2013-14 (last season there were only 975 goals). Trademark.
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Pfft. 2-0 against top three Spurs. Bit pointless to start playing now isn’t it?! 😐 Too many mercenaries methinks.
DJG(Quote)
Sick to me stomach
Beggars belief
Bootsy(Quote)
Where was this team when we needed them? Mind you, I don’t think Spurs are playing well at all. But I see scum winning too so ultimately even a win at villa wouldn’t have been enough …
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Softens the blow somewhat
Kimtoon(Quote)
Trouble is we had Schteve inflicted upon us for far too long this season. Why the board could not see what all of the rest of us could see and were screaming out for way before the January window or the stupid trip to Spain is beyond me? I wrote an article calling for him to be judged on his 10 game saying 2 months into his time with us – and most readers agreed. Yet the board watched poor result after poor result roll on in, watched us hover in and around the relegation zone all season and only acted when it was far too late. What the f@@k was all that about?
They simply HAVE to retain Rafa. It’s clear for all to see how important it is to have the right man in charge – properly in charge. None of this Carr b@l@x.
Shamrock(Quote)
Couldn’t agree more Sham, wasted season from the pre-season onwards
Kimtoon(Quote)
I joked that Gini was playing for a move in the summer, but what I’m watching here is a team performance from us (albeit too bloody late).
But is this a group of players who want to stay with Rafa?.
They’re is one hell of a togetherness day from a club that has been relegated – it’s bloody weird to watch!! 😕 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
Scum game 2.2 now
Kimtoon(Quote)
Bunch of *****, the lot of them.
funkyjesus(Quote)
If Charnley & Ashley are there today – or at least watching – they wouldn’t have seen an atmosphere at SJP like this for sometime!!!.
Ashley HAS to green light Rafa & get Charnley to get the deal tied up.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, yeah can’t really enjoy it somehow.
Kimtoon(Quote)
normal service resumed 2.1
Kimtoon(Quote)
Darlow at fault for that one.
Shamrock(Quote)
Mitro has some stare on him mind 😆
Kimtoon(Quote)
So is that Tiote’s time up with us? He has played well recently. Shame he went missing for the last 2 years.
Shamrock(Quote)
He may play on the edge, but how much better are we up top with Mitrovic? People constantly writing the lad off but he has had **** all service for the most part this year. Shame Benitez couldn’t have seen it earlier as I think we’d have done better with him playing more, but it’s too late now.
I won’t miss Cisse at all, he and a couple of others can go and we can get stuck into the championship from the off.
Newkie(Quote)
terrible tackle mitro, that’s why Rafa don’t start him, he has it in his locker sadly.
Kimtoon(Quote)
And then he gets sent off 😆 Hilarious.
We’ll go on to lose now in classic newcastle fashion I bet!
Newkie(Quote)
Sky saying Mitro should have a 10 game ban and his challenge was purposeful and disgusting.
funkyjesus(Quote)
I’d actually thought he’d calmed down so much more from the start of the season, apparently not 😆
Newkie(Quote)
6 – Aleksandar Mitrovic is the sixth player in PL history to score a goal, assist a goal and get sent off in the same game. Mixed.
🙄
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Well done Mitro. Completely uncalled for and probably ruined a decent PL send off for us. T%sser.
Shamrock(Quote)
FJ, **** sky, it was very bad, but not a ten game ban ffs
Kimtoon(Quote)
To be honest it was a nasty thing to do. He saw the guy coming in, pointed his stufs up and directed them to the guys leg – moving his own foot away from the ball to do so. Disgusting move and just no need for it. What the hell was he thinking?
Shamrock(Quote)
Certain red, but not much different to what a lot of players have been sent off for this season. Of course we’re Newcastle and Sky are Sky, so they will clamour for -20 points deduction next season.
What a storming run by Sissoko
Newkie(Quote)
Good pen Gini, that moves looking closer lad 😉
Kimtoon(Quote)
Well done Sissy. You part timer.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sky are cheesed off cause they have lost their whipping boys for next season so you can understand them getting one more dig in. Who will they pick on next season I wonder?
Kimtoon(Quote)