What a massive day in our battle to beat the drop, with Benitez and the boys putting in another big effort at St James’ Park to see off Southampton in today’s relegation six-pointer at the bottom.
Not only did results go our way elsewhere, but today’s win puts us up to 13th and 5 points clear of the drop zone (with a far superior goal difference to most around us too).
- Kenedy showed his class, taking his first goal excellently and scoring the all important second too.
- Lejeune was excellent and looks a proper player next to Lascelles (who was a rock once again).
- Dummett’s defensive work was outstanding once again – very few players successfully take him on!
- Gayle could and should’ve scored but his assist for our all important second showed brilliant composure.
- Another goal for Ritchie was great to see – two in two for him at home after failing to score all season prior to Man Utd
- Diame set the tempo once again in the middle with some non-stop pressing – he looks so much fitter and stronger
- Shelvey didn’t have assist to his name all season before this one – now he has two, setting up our 1st and 3rd goal today!
- Dubravka commanding from crosses – that’s two clean sheets in two games at St James’ for him!
— The Spectator's View (@thespectoview) March 10, 2018
So often this season we’ve failed to take our chances, letting ‘beatable’ sides get away with it at St James’ Park, but today was different. Kenedy’s early goal was crucial – a brilliant show of quality which gave us all a huge lift in a game that promised to be tight and tense before kick off.
For a few moments after our opener I worried that we were about to sit off Southampton and take our foot off the gas, and although we did retreat at times, we didn’t really have to get out of second gear to beat a woeful looking Saints side today.
They rarely threatened, however we know how fragile our home form has been this season, so Kenedy’s second goal felt massive. Quite incredibly, it was only the second time this season we’ve lead by more than one goal at St James’ Park this season (the first time since August’s 3-0 win over West Ham!).
From then on it was plain sailing. A combination of our hard work, discipline and desire mixed in with their total lack of intensity meant an all important three points always looked safe – and that was made certain when Matt Ritchie’s sweeping low shot found the bottom corner. There are few sights in football better than Matt Ritchie sprinting towards the Gallowgate in celebration ready to give the corner flag an absolute leathering, and it was great to see that once again today!
#NUFC 3-0 #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/Es6vnyWswy
— NUFC Online (@NUFC_Online) March 10, 2018
Not only have we pulled off a huge win ourselves today, putting us on 32 points with 8 games to go, but results elsewhere couldn’t have went much better.
We’ve gained two on Huddersfield and Swansea (who drew 0-0), we’ve leapfrogged West Ham (who got stuffed 0-3 at home to Burnley amongst some ugly scenes), Palace are 2-0 down at Chelsea as I type, Pardew’s bottom of the league West Brom got stuffed at home to Leicester and Brighton lost at Everton. Our 3-0 win also does wonders for our strong-looking goal difference too.
Aside from all this though, this win puts us 4 points clear of Southampton in 17th – a team who stunk of a side going down if you ask me. They lacked fight, looked a soft touch at the back and offered as little going forward as any side has this season at St James’.
A great day for NUFC ahead of our 3-week break. Bring on Huddersfield on in 21 day’s time!
Here’s Rafa’s reactions followed by the updated Premier League table..
RAFA’S REACTION: Rafa Benítez spoke to NUFC TV after watching his side record a convincing 3-0 victory over @SouthamptonFC at St. James’ Park… #NUFC pic.twitter.com/hPFzt5jlTR
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 10, 2018
A super result all did their job,I think this side will be about it for the rest of the games as Slimani maybe!!! maybe wil be ready for about six games,he didn’t play for a couple weeks at Leicester there is no way he will be match fit for our last few games so forget him,plus he won’t want to miss the World Cup so wouldn’t put much in so as I say forget him
Icedog(Quote)
Bloody brilliant stuff today.
kimtoon(Quote)
Good write-up Olly, mate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It looks like 3 of the bottom 4 now, but I might nor exclude Dour Dave either, especially as there seems a full on riot at West Ham.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
West Brom: Pardew, need I say more?
Stoke? Why. they have a decent squad.
Southampton: they were bad.
Palace: just f-off Mr. Roy and your press redemption.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
West Brom, Southampton and hopefully West Ham.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That would be good.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hope the porn pushers go down plus we might get kicked out of the ground and we get a decent rent for the place
Icedog(Quote)
I am going to revisit Prem’s website:
No I am not.Just wanted to worry Kimtoon, Sham and DT.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stoke may have a decent squad but remaining fixytures.
Home to City, Everton, Spurs, Burnley & Palace. Not a lot of opportunities there.
Away to Arsenal, West Ham, Liverpool and Swansea.
So only two games that look like they may pick up anything. And Palace & West Ham will be targeting pts from those games as well.
Currently on 27 pts. Your prediction please
Premandup(Quote)
WBA, Southampton, Stoke. Will that do Prem?
That was only the 3rd time I’ve enjoyed a game all bloody season. Doubt Chelsea will sell Kenedy to us. He looks so composed on the ball – the absolute key to top players.
georgio(Quote)
I think WBA & Stoke are gone.
I think Swansea and Us are in good enough form to escape.
Bournemouth and Brighton only really need one win apiece
Palace have the easiest Run in
Which leaves
Huddersfield who cant hit a barn door, and don’t have an easy run in
and WHU & Soton who are in death spirals
Premandup(Quote)
Wba, Stoke who look to have given up and Saints though would love it to be West Ham .
Palace have Zaha back now and in reality have a squad capable of results plus they get a lot of pens. Hudders too capable of pulling results out the bag and Swansea are looking much better, that was an amazing result yesterday defensively .
Brighton look safe as do Bournemouth and Everton are safe now on 37, we need 2 more wins or a win and 3 draws which shouldn’t be beyond us now.
Feeling more optimistic than before yesterdays game.
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem, I try not to look at other teams run in’s as this time of year and relegation fights throw up some really odd results. There are always teams that are safe and away on the beach and don’t play at full kilter, especially in a WC year when injuries are avoided like the plague . So having to face a safe team in a WC year can be less daunting in some ways than a fellow relegation candidate.
kimtoon(Quote)
Totall agree Kim. What looks likely on paper is no guarentee, but I would much rather be in our position than most of those around us.
Premandup(Quote)
https://twitter.com/chriswaddle93/status/972585363100372992
kimtoon(Quote)
yep, things look much better at present, I agree. Just hope the 21 day break works to our advantage.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://twitter.com/simonsmithgk/status/972553477732884480
good lad
kimtoon(Quote)
That looks useful. Nice touch from The Waddler who does take some stick from toon fans
GlosMag(Quote)
I read somewhere Pav would have been 50 (yesterday I think)
I couldnt see anything on .com which is my usual source of fact for Newcastle .
Was it his birthday ?
GlosMag(Quote)
yes it was his birthday
kimtoon(Quote)
? ?? not worried Eric Mate, I just scroll through the **** until I get to footy related comments again.. it’s all just opinions anyway, and we all have them. Some are vented more than others. ?
On a footy note, just watching Arsenal and their stadium looks only half full. ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Do Wales really have 22 better players than Dummett? I am glad that fans are finally giving him some praise. I always thought it was a bit harsh criticizing him for what he is not (a wingback) rather that seeing him as a good fullback.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
agree Eric.
kimtoon(Quote)
Judging by the bookies’ odds we are staying up. The relegations odds seem to confirm what people are saying here but you never know.
WBA – 1/50, Goodbye Pards. Says he has a meeting with the Chairman tomorrow who just travelled back from China after meeting the owner.
Stoke 5/6
S’ton 15/8
Palace 7/4
WHam 9/4
Hudders 9/4
Swans 7/2
NUFC 10/1
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bournemouth only one point above us too.
kimtoon(Quote)
They should be 2 points behind us,dam it???
Icedog(Quote)
Sunderland 1/4 for relegation. They never seem to win but are only 4 points behind Barnsley who are 4th bottom.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Reading between the lines of what Rafa has said means Mitro has kicked his last ball for NUFC. Basically wants him to score for Fulham so we can get more money. He also said he will talk in May but my guess is after the World Cup as the transfer window is even open then.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also, I think this means Rafa is thinking about staying longer term.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And I think Rafa is telling porkies as well. How can he not fit Mitro in the team but can fit a crapper version who holds the ball up well, is good in the air and can flick the ball on to Gayle or Perez. There has to have been a falling out but unlike with Colback Rafa realizes Mitro would bring a decent fee and provide funds for his replacement.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Heard on grapevine a 180 mil bid made to buy Burnley,from who don’t know Mmmmmmmm
Icedog(Quote)
That sounds like a lot of money. The town only has about 80,000 people and the ground holds 22,000. Then you have the 2 Manchester and 2 Liverpool clubs close by. I know they are above us in the table but they are pretty much a Championship club who are overachieving. Usually that happens for a season or 2 and doesn’t last.
If they really go for that then I think Ashley will be justified in holding out for at least 300 million. I know Newcastle isn’t a giant city but its catchment area is much bigger and Burnley. And with the demise of Sunderland there really isn’t any competition.
I mean, there really isn’t anybody to challenge us as far as Boro to the South, Carlisle to the West and Edinburgh to the North.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Southampton had a major investment recently which valued the club at 200-250 million. They have historically been a well run club but what are they worth if they are relegated. Their production line of players seems to have dried up judging by yesterday’s performance. I don’t think they will do a Sunderland/Leeds but you have to think that 100 million would be wiped off their valuation if they go down. Stavely and Co. were thinking 100-125 off our value if we were relegated.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You know the way the papers like to play that little game of putting together a combined 11. Who would you take from Southampton judging by yesterday? I know it is only one performance but I would say no-one. Carillo cost them 19 million quid and Tadic is good on his day. Their policy of selling their best players to Liverpool looks to have finally caught up with them. Who will be sacked first Pellegrini or Pards?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And I have to mention West Ham as they are becoming a pantomime. The scenes were ugly and I do not condone it but they have become a very strange club. They have their Bobby Moore day and then their fans act like that! I suppose they are making a statement that their once great club (in their opinion anyway) has gone to the dogs. One of the ***** brothers got hit in the glasses with a coin and one was said to be in tears. This after the one without the Russian hat got out of his pimped up Rolls Royce last week to confront some fans and when one of them he complained – but I’m an 81 year old man. Considering their former business a pimp mobile would seem appropriate.
And the fans want the owners out but I think there is a restriction that if they sell within 5 years of the stadium deal the council would get part of the profits. So that ain’t happening.
But they did win England the World Cup (they say) 50 bloody years ago. That’s a lot of time to be still going on about it 🙂 And their Captain seems like a nice bloke. I know he was provoked, but still.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Very true mate,when you think Kane will cost 300 mil,a injury and your stuffed,i know you have insurance but the payments on that whow
Icedog(Quote)
ERIC the bid is right heard its joint USA/middle east
icedog(Quote)
Burnley will be turning over a lot of cash – minimum of £100m so will attract decent bids. Probably debt free too. Interesting what happens about our sale if we reach 40 points pretty sharpish. Glad it’s gone quiet – makes more sense than shoutingfrok the roof tops.
Stuart79(Quote)
Wow. I just don’t see where they could expand their revenue. They are a pretty low profile club and Manchester is only 20 miles away. This looks like a grab for the TV money probably intending to pay dividends to the new owners and just spending enough to stay in the PL. Hall and Shepperd took millions out of NUFC, same with the Glazers at Man U.
What’s interesting to me is how this affects what Fatty would want for NUFC. Obviously, these boffins that The Chronic talk toare way off if they say 225 mil for us and 180 for Burnley. You and Kimtoon said all along that Ashley would not sell and now if Burnley are the benchmark there is no way he would take less than 350 million.
I am afraid we are stuck with Fatty and being an advertising board for Sports Direct. Let’s just hope he sticks to his word and lets Rafa have all of the money generated by NUFC. He’s already messed him around at least twice (jan and the summer) and did the same to Keegan and Shearer so I am not holding my breath.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: looks to me that it will be run on a small budget and hope that you stay in the PL. Its a gamble as Randy Learner and Ellis Short found out. There’s no way they would do a Man City who already had most of the infrastructure. And expanding grounds now costs a fortune. I think Liverpool paid 225 million for that new stand and it only expanded capacity by 8,000. And Spurs are paying 900 million. That’s almost 3 times what Arsenal paid 15 years ago.
Just pay the Fatman 300 million and buy us. As long as you don’t intend to bleed the club dry and instead choose to provide funds for new players.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You got it Sussed Stu
Icedog(Quote)
I have said this before but how come it has been accepted that we have a Championship level squad? It is said all of the time on the comments pages of articles in The Chronic, Guardian, Mail etc. Even by NUFC fans. It has become accepted wisdom and is repeated by the likes of Gerrard and many, many other pundits. You could say to me that these are top players who played the game professionally so they should know. Maybe, but have you heard the guff spouted by the likes of Robbie Savage and Stan Collymore? Collymore said that Guardiola is a fraud and would be found out by the PL. He was saying it as late as last week so I think some of these pundits are just a bit thick or have blinkers on.
I am not saying we have a great squad but they act like all of our players are ****. I always thought we had a 12th to 14th quality squad. Rafa has made us better but I thought if he had a good year and we got a real striker we should finish about 10th.
Yedlin, Lejuene, Lascelles and Dummett are a decent back line. I would put them top 10 with a good goalie behind them. What did Shelvey cost, 15 million? Murphy 12, Gayle 12, Ritchie 14. I think Lejeune was 10 and Merino about 8. You don’t pay that sort of money for Championship players and Gerrard is basically saying Rafa was taken for a fool if all we have is Championship quality.
Of course we could do with some upgrades but then again Everton have spent 250 million over the past 2 years and they are not that far ahead of us.
This is one of my bugbears, that something gets repeated so often that it just becomes accepted and nobody questions it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have seen it said many times that we have the worst squad in the Premier League. Absolute bollocks. Southampton’s is worse, Huddersfield, Brighton, Bournemouth are worse.I think West Ham and West Brom are worse. If Mark Noble is your Captain you really can’t be that good.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rafa is a great manager, his CV tells us that. But we are not massively overachieving and are about where we should be. Top 10 would be overachieving and we might still get there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here we go again (see the link below), but Mark Douglas is stating in the Chronic that it accepted that the squad that last went down was better than the current one. People might disagree with me but I just do not see it as an accepted fact. He throws it out there like everybody just knows it to be so.
We were relegated with Shelvey and Mitro and we still have them.
I think Wijnaldum would be an upgrade but even he went missing, especially in away games where he did not score a single goal.
I also like Townsend, but is he really better than a combination of Kenedy, Murphy and Atsu?
I think Janmaat and Yedlin are on par.
Would you rather have Ritchie than Sissoko? In the 1 game in 5 that Sissoko tried in maybe not, but what about the other 4 games? Sissoko still has no end product which is why he is on the bench at Spurs.
Now here’s the big one. Lascelles, Lejuene and Clark over Steven Taylor, a past-it Colo and Williamson. I know we had Lascelles in 2015 but he is now 2 years older and a better player. We had and have MBemba as backup as well. I think on the last game we started with Taylor and MBemba as centre backs.
Darlow, Elliot or Dubravka? A bit of a moot point since we still have the former 2.
And Gayle, who did we have better than Dwight? Don’t give me the canard that he is Championship because on form and not worrying about hamstrings he does worry PL defenses.
I mean this sort of stuff is just trotted out as fact when there is an argument to be made on both sides. My opinion is that our current squad is better.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-laying-foundations-future-14395285
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do you remember that squad didn’t score from a corner in like 2 years and we were regularly thrashed under Pards, Ugly John and Schteve? It is not just that Rafa has us better organized now, we generally have a better squad, especially defense and wingers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This is the team that started the Spurs game that we won 5-1 in 2015/16. Rafa doesn’t trust Mitro and we still have Dummett. Of the rest who would have played on Saturday? Gini and Townsend. So how has it become an accepted FACT at the Chronic that the 15/16 team was better?
Darlow
Janmaat
Taylor
MBemba
Dummett
Townsend
Tiote
Colback
Sissoko
Wijnaldum
Mitrovic
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Tiote had a good game but was injured a lot that year and we even tried to sell him. I think he failed his medical so on current form Diame would probably edge it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
i hope it is Amanda.
funrafa(Quote)
Jamie Carragher, disgusting, yuk, can’t abide spitting. Was he dragged up ?
kimtoon(Quote)
aye and remember what he said when Cissie was banned for spitting for 7 games.karma
icedog(Quote)
The Keys and Gray couch is waiting. There is no way that Sky cannot sack him, right? They set a precedent with Keys and Gray that bad behavior will not be tolerated although with those 2 they might have been looking for an excuse as the were past their sell-by date.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He’s condemned others as well as Cisse too Ice if I remember. I don’t see what choice Sky have really, cause if there is a spitting incident in a game in future and he’s doing analysis on that game, well, awkward to say the least.
Why on earth didn’t he just ignore it and turn up the volume on his stereo or just laugh it off, it’s not like he’s in a bar or something and someone’s in his face.
Or even phone the police to report the driver for harassment while driving if he was being goaded. He reckons he kept driving alongside him, so if he was filming and goading then that’s driving without due care and attention right there. Jamie too for that matter, his seat belts off when he spits.
He’s an idiot getting involved like that, the pair of them could of caused a serious accident.
kimtoon(Quote)
Dinosaurs them two Eric.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ayoze PerezVerified account @AyozePG
Follow Follow @AyozePG
More
Last week has been a very hard week for me, last Wednesday my grandma passed away , she was like a second mother for me, Saturday’s win was for her… and THANKS to all the fans for the support you showed, it was too much needed for me after some sad days. We keep fighting
🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
one for Eric
Luke EdwardsVerified account @LukeEdwardsTele
Follow Follow @LukeEdwardsTele
More
Luke Edwards Retweeted Lee Boyce
Shame it has all gone sour for West Ham but given the absolute scandal of how they were given the Olympic Stadium and sold their own ground for profit, thought they were going to be part of new order euro elite while shafting Orient, I’ll get over it
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM I didn’t even know the swines pay nothing for stewards or police
Icedog(Quote)
It would be justice if they went down wouldn’t it
Premandup(Quote)
Good on Perez.
Premandup(Quote)
Kimtoon: I am more on my high horse about how journalists and pundits never think for themselves and just accept things as facts when they are repeated – if you read any of what I wrote yesterday you will see that 🙂
I am sort of happy that the chickens are coming home to roost at West Ham, partly because of the owners and partly due to their fans’ arrogance since 1966. It says a lot about them that they chose to have a near riot and pitch invasions of the day they were honouring one of their icons.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
As for Carragher I actually think he makes a lot of sense (when it is written) but I just cant stand that shrill scouse voice of his. If that vile act he did gets him off the airwaves I would say that girl took one for the team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Has Pards been sacked yet?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He has only 7 wins in 28 months
Icedog(Quote)
Do they not ! 😯 wow, didn’t know that mate. Blimey they really are on a sweet deal . You would think they would stump up a bit for extra stewards and police cause it was totally inadequate cover on Saturday. A march had been called off after a meeting between Brady and the main supporters group last week apparently though another fan group still wanted to march but got threats on facebook from the other group regarding marching through ‘ their manor ‘ and what would happen if they did according to a report in the independent few days back. 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Here’s that article, long read but very interesting
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-ham-united-board-protest-march-meetings-hooligans-icf-action-group-a8244951.html
kimtoon(Quote)
Carriage is a disgusting idiot and his excuse does not wash. His apology is not an apology and he even goes on to berate the other guy for his ‘conduct’, whilst he acknowledged that he knew there was a teenage girl in the car, who’s face his spittle landed on. Absolute muppet. Sack him at once.
Shamrock(Quote)
I can’t listed to him anyway. Scratchy horrible voice to go with his chav attitude.
Shamrock(Quote)
I think we need LESS pundits on TV and in the papers and on **** like Talksport. There’s so many now there just seems to be no quality control. Can you imagine Motson or Barry Davies acting like Carragher? I think it is probably essential to have played the game at a high level to be a Manager but can we get some of these blowhards with their fancy watches a tight trousers off TV.
I am not going to get all holier than though on Carragher but I will about all of his friends sticking up for him. It is like when a player tries to break another player’s leg and the all chime in with “he’s not that sort of player”. Yes he is, I just saw him do it !!!!!!
Seen quotes like – I have known Jamie for 30 years and he is not like that. Yes he is, I just saw him do it 100 times because it is played on a loop in all of the papers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just watching League 1 highlights.
Most grounds are half empty, even PSG who won 5-0. Bit of a micky mouse league really.
Shamrock(Quote)
They try to defend someone’s intolerable behavior by saying he is not usually like that. That’s no defense at all. It is what all wife beaters say
Eric Sykes(Quote)
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/146-goals-45-wins-139-14400442
A slight difference to Pardew in less time
Icedog(Quote)
KIM all bills for security at the club are payed by London boro
Icedog(Quote)
I’m a bit conflicted on Carragher. What he’s done is disgusting and quite bizarre. On the other hand, everyone is allowed to make one mistake. I’m pretty sure he will learn a thing or two about this. I’d also like to know why a fan believes it’s ok to start an argument with anybody while driving down the moterway?
Stuart79(Quote)
I am with you Stu. Carragher should know better but same comment goes to the girl’s dad in the car.
funrafa(Quote)