Things Just Keep Getting Better for Rafa Benitez

As reported by The Chronicle, Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has been awared the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for the month of October.

During October, Benitez saw his side win all five of their games, conceding only two goals and the Spaniard spoke of his delight in winning this award.

Benitez said: “I’m really pleased. As a manager when you win a trophy it means that your staff, your players, the people who work in the club, they are working very hard. So I think they also deserve this award and it’s important for everyone here.”

There can be little doubt that this sort of attitude is one of many qualities that endears Benitez to the Newcastle faithful, as they set him apart from other managers that have recently held the hot seat.

Benitez, although he is arguably over-qualified to be where he finds himself, also seems the most gracious and grateful manager that the club have had in years, after being given the opportunity to take us forward.

120 thoughts on “Things Just Keep Getting Better for Rafa Benitez

  1. STEM never rule out under-dogs mate,in fact i hope they stuff England,pack of over-rated players,Rooney,Whlshire ect

      (Quote)

  2. Icedog I would love to see Scotland beat England as well mate. Most of Rooneys goal’s have been against **** team’s like Luxembourg, San Marino, Malta. Record goal scorer against minnow team’s. England over hype themselves to be contender’s in the world cup and get knocked out in the first round. Its really stupid.

      (Quote)

  3. Stem: Scotland have Ritchie and Hanley. I am going to watch the game just for them, although I am not sure if Hanley will play.

      (Quote)

  4. Troysta appeared on the last thread and Pardew’s name wasn’t even mentioned. That must be a first in recent times.

      (Quote)

  5. Benitez just loves that winning feeling doesn’t he?! Thanks for the thread Jake, please remember to put a link to new threads on the old thread ?

      (Quote)

  6. ERIC Boyd says Hanley makes the same mistakes every game but does not say what the mistakes are and hopes he does not play,a bit of a cheek he was no great shakes himself

      (Quote)

  7. I mentioned this on the last thread, that the South American qualifiers are structured in a different way to the European qualifiers. There are no minnows with the result that a couple of good teams at least will not qualify. Argentina are currently outside of the qualifying cut-off.

    It works like this. There is a group of 10 and the 1st 4 qualify. The 5th team goes head to head with a qualifier from Asia so there essentially 4 and a half qualifiers from a group of 10. It sounds fine until you see the teams and how good they are. These are the current standings:

    Brazil 24
    Uruguay 23
    Colombia 18
    Ecuador 17
    Chile 17
    Argentina 16
    Paraguay 15
    Peru 14
    Venezuela 5
    Bolivia 4

    I have no idea how to fix it, but it just seems wrong that England get to beat up on Malta and Slovenia and it is possible that Argentina might not qualify.

    The games are great BTW in complete contrast to the borefests that are England qualifiers. That is because there is so much on the line whereas England have been given an almost free ride that even the most underqualified of coach will find hard to mess up. Then again they are European Champions according to Troy’s forecast 🙂

    As I said, I have no idea how to fix this but the way it is set up the World Cup will be missing a couple of very good teams from South America.

      (Quote)

  8. Since it is the International break, and Troy made an appearance, I will remind people of what he said about the Euro’s. HE SAID ENGLAND WOULD WIN. He said “mark my words or mock my words”. When he woke up from his dream he then dialed it back to say they would get to the finals. That’s the sort of Reality Train that everybody should get on board!!!

      (Quote)

  9. So, to summarize. The man that is mocking a discussion of politics on here, TROY, has said:

    Pardew is the best coach NUFC could get

    Carver is a decent Manager

    Lee Clark would be a good interim Manager at NUFC

    England would win the Euros

    No wonder he doesn’t come on much anymore. He has no credibility left.

      (Quote)

  10. It is absolutely absurd that the man who had a public spat/fued with his brother on here would be mocking people for talking about politics in probably the most monumental 6 months for Britain and the World in the past 50 years – I mean Brexit and Trump, of course.

      (Quote)

  11. I am going to watch the England/Scotland game. You sort of have to really! And it gives Rooney another chance to pad his stats against a **** team 🙂

    The strange thing is that the British press think he is back. He has been **** for more than 2 years and yet a half decent game against Swansea means he is the resurrection. They are talking like he is some sort of hair weave, beer gutted, two feet tied together, hitting 40 yard balls into touch like a Rugby fly half version of Messi now.

      (Quote)

  12. Here are some quotes from The Sun’s version of Lee Ryder, Neil Ashton, about Wayne Rooney:

    ‘Wayne Rooney has not been himself for months. Not for Manchester United and certainly not for England…We have come to expect so much from him. It seems he can longer meet those expectations…He has not played well in months, he knows that’ – Neil Ashton, The Sun, Oct 10.

    ‘There was very little conviction in his [Rooney’s] voice. Very little belief. Truth be told, he struggled to convince that he can come back from this and be his old self… It will not take long for England to move on, especially if they are convincing in Ljubljana tonight’ – Neil Ashton, The Sun, October 11.

    ‘THE big man is back… Life can be so, so simple. Captain, leader, England goalscoring legend… It was there, from his new position stationed out on the left, that he played himself back into the England team. It was the old Rooney, the swaggering Rooney, the razor-sharp Rooney… He thrived in his new position out on the left for United, dictating the tempo of the game, looking like the Rooney of old’ – Neil Ashton, The Sun, November 11.

    WHY DO THE PRESS JUST LOVE THIS OAF? He has done nowt for England since 2004 except score against **** teams. He goes missing in tournaments and his biggest contribution is to moan at Refs.

      (Quote)

  13. will be watching the game tonight with my english mates, and whereas i normally dont cheer for england because they are ****, we are playing scotland here in a wc qualifier..
    cough to clear throat….COME ON ENGLAND !

      (Quote)

  14. MM: you are supporting England? I thought you had gone full on Kaiserschmarrn, Knodel, Spaten Beir, Lederhosen, dreidel, feather in the the funny hat?

      (Quote)

  15. Actually MM: that is what your fancy dress should be next Oktoberfest/Halloween:

    You dressed in Lederhosen and Dreidel and the funny hat with the feather in it holding a Spaten and eating Kaiserschmarrn and Knodel.

      (Quote)

  16. It is San Marino against Germany. No wonder Munich Mag is watching England. I wonder what the result will be in that one, eh. And Wayne Rooney could even get a goal there even though he is not playing in it.

      (Quote)

  17. Who is that 50 year old man who has run onto the field to take free kicks and corners for England?

      (Quote)

  18. Fun Fact 2: there are 3 Managers of “major” international teams who managed Boro, a little club in NE Yorkshire. Strachan, Southgate and, of course, Schtevie….

      (Quote)

  19. Germany up 3 nil against San Marino at half time. Rooney didn’t score. Why did I waste my time watching a meaningless qualifier between Brasil and Argentina yesterday and not tune into that game 🙂 Or, for that matter, this borefest?

      (Quote)

  20. Sorry, but it is difficult to not be cynical about England when they are handed the easiest qualifiers in the history of the World Cup and have appoint Mr. Roy and Toad of Toad Hall as their last Managers and are just about to appoint Southgate.

    Scotland are currently not much better than a pub team so this means nothing except to put 3 million pounds a year into Southgate’s pocket.

      (Quote)

  21. Andy: you mean that Rooney who tried to gift Scotland a goal earlier and who has been anonymous apart from him demanding to take set plays?

      (Quote)

  22. Andy Magpie: please son’t get me wrong. Under normal circumstances I support England but when it comes to beating up on inferior teams in the easiest qualifier in World Cup history I have to question where it will end up.

    Maybe not.

    It will end up with a totally unqualified coach getting 3 million a year and a fat, slow scouser being Captain at the next World Cup even though he failed to turn up for the last 5 tournaments and doesn’t even know what position he plays in anymore.

      (Quote)

  23. Eric I agree completely. They are inferior team’s England are playing. A very easy group, nothing to be proud of.

      (Quote)

  24. Eric I don’t think there’s any better English candidate’s.
    Steve Bruce
    Tony Pulis
    Alan Pardew
    Neil Warnock
    Lee Clarke

    So Southgate’s a real contender.

      (Quote)

  25. Germany 8 San Marino 0. Rooney didn’t score in that game either. He took a few corners for England though so that justifies him being Captain until and into the next World Cup with our fearless leader, the man who has achieved nothing in his career, Gareth Southgate, as his Vice Captain.

      (Quote)

  26. Stem: that’s the point mate. There are no viable English managers so we have to look elsewhere.

      (Quote)

  27. Stem: this is what I said on the last thread before this game and I take none of it back. In fact, I am even more sure of the outcome now:

    No English Manager has ever won the Premier League. Yes, I know Scots have but that is not the pool that the FA is fishing in for England Manager. So, we are stuck with Southgate (after Fat Sam and Mr. Roy who had also done the square root of fck all in their careers) unless the Scots can somehow decide they can play football again. The most successful English Manager in the PL was Keegan who we all know finished runner up.

    Of course, before the PL there was the great Bob Paisley, Brian Clough and many others but it seems like there haven’t been any good English managers for a while. It got me thinking if anybody had done well abroad and I could only think of Bobby Robson (Barca, Porto and PSV) and Venables (Barca before the PL).

    So, does it make any sense at all for the FA to limit their search for an England Manager to Englishmen when they have all been so **** recently? Why are the suits at the FA being paid vast sums of money when a monkey (or me) could come to the conclusion that they should expand their search to non-English managers? Is it PATRIOTIC to set yourself up for failure by selecting a failed coach like Southgate? England will surely qualify for the World Cup from the easiest group ever, but Steve McClaren could probably qualify from this group. I don’t know why I care and I am not sure if these players are good enough whoever might be in charge. But, FFS do your jobs FA and buy a clue.

      (Quote)

  28. Andy Magpie: I don’t mean to take over your blog, mate. But nobody says anything over the International Break anyway so it will get even worse next week. If you have anything to counter anything I say feel free to say so, it is your blog after all. I know I have been on a few rants but Trump wound me up and talking football took my mind off it a bit. Even English football is in a better state than the US Presidency and the UK’s status in Europe 🙂

      (Quote)

  29. I mean, we know we will be at the World Cup in 2 years time even with Rooney and Southgate in charge. Who knows where the US and UK will be with Trump and Farage in charge.

      (Quote)

  30. Well similarly to Newcastle this season – England can only beat the team they are facing to be fair.
    But if Scotland had been more clinical, it would not have been as easy as it appeared.

    I do like Danny Rose, Lallana & Sturridge personally.

      (Quote)

  31. Oh and on topic, it was between Rafa & Houghton for manager of the month.
    But player of the month should have been no contest for me – Gayle all day long!!!. How the ‘F’ Aluko got it is just beyond me like?! ??

      (Quote)

  32. Eric I forgot to put John Carver on the list for England candidate’s 😆
    His got champions league experience as a number 2. Why not ?
    Or we could give Steve McClaren a second chance 😆

      (Quote)

  33. It is too soon after the Euros for me to give England any credit for beating pub teams. It is obvious the FA are going down the now well worn path of appointing a second rate manager because he is English and said second rate manager will cling to Rooney as his security blanket.

      (Quote)

  34. Sharpy: England do have some decent players. I like the three you mention also. Sturridge on his day is great, I wish there were more his days. The best player is not even in the squad because he is injured – Butland. With him in goal England would stand a chance, he saved Stoke’s season, literally. Remember that game he had against us?

    The problem is picking ANOTHER second rate Manager and sticking with Rooney when he is well past his sell by date. It is impossible to judge when England play pub teams like Scotland and Malta but as soon as they go to a tournament we know exactly what will happen.

    If you keep a player in the team for past glories and to take corners you are playing a man short and will eventually be found out. He did his usual 40 yard cross-field passes which even his Manager mocked. Mourinho said he, Mourinho, could make those passes when there is no pressure and Malta and Scotland provide no pressure. Well done Southgate, you passed your audition but I am afraid it was about as difficult as winning a finger painting contest against Kindergarteners.

      (Quote)

  35. Sharpy I saw a couple of games involving Aluko and made reference to him here. He has skills that’s for sure. I’d like us to sign him.

      (Quote)

  36. Shamrock:
    Sharpy I saw a couple of games involving Aluko and made reference to him here. He has skills that’s for sure. I’d like us to sign him.

    Sham – I’m not saying he’s ****, just don’t see how he or anyone for that matter could have got it ahead of Gayle?! – the kids on fire and couldn’t have done any more this month IMO.

      (Quote)

  37. Not that I really want to say this but lots of people are saying Scotland are awful, granted they are, but this doesn’t say much for Newcastle really. Hanley was the worst player on the park last night and Ritchie couldn’t get a game in a midfield that included Forrest and Scott Brown. Worrying? Or just poor from Strachan?

      (Quote)

  38. JAKE Hanley was far from being the worst player,and what your saying is Strachan and Rafa are on the same level?? i dont think so

      (Quote)

  39. if Scotland had a goalscorer England would have been beaten,wait until they play a country with a decent goalscorer we will get beat for sure,England are a very poor team

      (Quote)

  40. Jake, if you didn’t really want to say it why did you say it ??

    Scotland are absolutely useless, Strachan is worse than absolutely useless, Hanley doesn’t get a game for the toon and gets slagged by the scots media which is laughable, and Richie is way better than anything Scotland had on the pitch yesterday. Lay the blame at wee Strachan’s door, watched a prematch interview with him yesterday, the man is not the full shilling.

    Two absolutely minging teams at the end of the day, but we beat them 3-0, too much class for them at the end of the day.

      (Quote)

  41. Scotlands finishing and decision making last night was awful at times, but Scotland weren’t awful IMO. They had an excellent work rate and as for Hanley being the worst player – he should have buried that header – but how many saves did Gordon have to make?

    Strachan is a mug for playing Brown IMO. He came out of Int retirement just to face England & Strachan put him straight in – what message does that send to the rest of the players? – McArthur & Ritchie starting on the bench?

    Personally I couldn’t give a **** how Ritchie looks for Scotland. The lad is playing well in black n white and that’s all IMO bothered about.

      (Quote)

  42. Eric I am full blown Kaiserscharrn modus, and do follow Germany, but at the end of the day we were talking about England Scotland here….

    Just think if you had of behaved yourself instead of snogging all those innocent and unexpectant lassies on the Isar all those years ago, you might have also bought yourself a hat with a feather in it… ??

      (Quote)

  43. I’m not sticking up for Scotland Jake but there league is so much poorer than our’s. Team’s like Celtic get 2 million for winning the league whilst a relegated club get’s 100 million. Ranger’s there main rival’s have been threw the mill putting it mildly so it’s probably had a big effect on the national team. Getting in the champion’s league group stages is the only way to earn some serious money. Northern Ireland my team are in a even worse position but I was proud of them for getting to the knock out stages. Never expected that, they played with more heart, passion and pride than England, who get less money by far.

      (Quote)

  44. International football for most countries isn’t about the standard of club football the players are at – it’s about gelling a squad of players who have very little time with each other between games.
    That’s why it’s so important to have the right manager in place – they can’t buy their players, they have to get the best out of what they have.

    England are poor coz they have poor players, they have been poor coz each manager hasn’t found the right formula – or had the balls to drop the under performing ‘big’ players.

      (Quote)

  45. Sharpy who is the right manager to take England forward ?
    1. Southgate
    2. Bruce
    3. Pardew
    4. Pearce
    5. Warnock
    6. Clarke
    7. Holloway ( on the same par as Southgate imo)
    8. Gary Neville
    9. Alan Shearer
    10. Paul Jewell

      (Quote)

  46. Comments on the Mag talk about having a strip of away fans down the east of the Leazes end down to the pitch. Or that the club are going to put away fans in the Leazes/Milburn corner. Either way, season ticket holders are going to have to be moved. I personally think that away supporters should be allocated the Leazes East corner. That is a self contained stand? It would mean much less seats wasted for segregation and is pitch-side. The problem may be that the stand fills up (club can’t maximise ticket sales) or a team like Watford bring 500 fans (can’t maximise home sales). I think after what is happening with Leeds/Hull (2,475 tickets even though they can’t fill their ground) we should follow suit and only make those seats available. Plus, why give opposition teams the advantage of large pitch side followings? The Leazes East corner should be bigger than 2,500 anyway.

      (Quote)

  47. Stem:
    Sharpy who is the right manager to take England forward ?
    1. Southgate
    2. Bruce
    3. Pardew
    4. Pearce
    5. Warnock
    6. Clarke
    7. Holloway ( on the same par as Southgate imo)
    8. Gary Neville
    9. Alan Shearer
    10. Paul Jewell

    Stem – I don’t think you need a tactical genius in that role. I think you need a character – a man manager who can galvanise a squad of players. To treat all players on an equal footing and knock down the prima donas.
    Use Chris Coleman as an example.

    The likes of France & Holland have had their problems with managers favouring a group of players or not being able to bring the squad together.

    For me the likes of Hodgson & Southgate are too wooden.
    When you look at when England have done ‘well’ – Italia 90 and Euro 96 it was Robson & Venables. Both characters & excellent man managers.
    Based on that I reckon the likes of Fat Sam & ‘Arry would be good options (though that may get shot down) if they weren’t so crooked.
    From that list, I’m not sure any of them would be the right character.

      (Quote)

  48. Eddie Howe for England manager. He has taken a bunch of also-ran footballers and turned them into a well oiled machine. He has even integrated Wilshire into the group, so he can handle egos too.

      (Quote)

  49. @ Eric re; me being up in early hours… I work across the clock. Finish at 3am tonight then Tuesday to Thursday I’m on nights.

      (Quote)

  50. Shamrock:
    @ Eric re; me being up in early hours… I work across the clock. Finish at 3am tonight then Tuesday to Thursday I’m on nights.

    Sham, What is it you do mate, don’t worry if you don’t wanna say. I’m just a nosey cow 😆

    Re last nights game, I thought Scotland looked the better first half, but caved in once we scored . You cannot measure our true ability based on the opposition we are playing in the qualifiers. We are not very good and will be found out once again come the tournament.

      (Quote)

  51. Sharpy and Stem: we have Southgate now. It is a forgone conclusion since he beat the mighty Scotland, ranked 57th in the world and Malta ranked 1,027,082 in the world.

      (Quote)

  52. How do I say this: The British Press can just **** off. They are getting behind Southgate now and will vilify him at the next World Cup. They were fully behind Mr. Roy when it was obvious he was ****. He ran away before they had a chance to question him because he was about as low as a snake with a weasel up its **** and about as qualified too. The press said he was dignified but that tells you what they know, he wrote a short resignation note and ran away and left us with Rooney.

    They almost broke Sir Bobby Robson. I was living in England at the time and they gave him such a hard time that he was almost aging by the day. Now they laud him. Good luck Gareth, you are ****, so you will need it.

      (Quote)

  53. The press saying Mr. Roy was dignified was a joke as well. Old and wrinkled does not equal dignified in my book. And going sight seeing on the eve of an important game does not equal dignified. Pre-preparing a press statement for losing to Iceland does not equal dignified.

    It represents ineptness and cowardess. Just the same as his bosses who are about to appoint Mr. Roy Mark II.

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *