Braga 4-0 Newcastle: An awful night for NUFC as Rafa’s comments set alarm bells ringing

People say not to read too much into pre-season friendlies and I tend to agree, but that was absolutely horrific.

Not only was it 90 minutes of our life we’ll never get back and a performance that showed just how much we struggle on the pitch without our star men, Rafa Benitez’s post-match comments were even more concerning.

He admitted that he’s now ‘really worried’ after seeing things go badly both ‘on and off the pitch’ in recent weeks and, to make matters even worse, he now claims even he has ‘no idea’ how much money he has to spend – despite insisting that he needs ‘three or four’ new signings before the window shuts next week.

The game itself was a horror show. Pre-season may be about fitness levels above all else, but we looked dejected and all over the shop in all departments. The fact the players opted against speaking to the press after the game (which is VERY rare) says it all to me and sets alarm bells ringing.

Wide open at the back, no organisation, no fluidity going forward and struggling to put 3 passes together. We looked flat, but can you blame them?

It’s a summer where we SHOULD have kicked on after ending the season on a high in the top half of the Premier League, but instead we have a frustrated Rafa Benitez who’s fighting a losing battle once again with the board.

Clark and Dubravka did well and Ritchie and Yedlin didn’t disgrace themselves, but the rest were well below par – with Dwight Gayle’s anonymous display reminding Rafa just why Salomon Rondon is being pursued as a much needed upgrade in attack.

The result was not what worried me. It was the manor of our performance, the demeanour of our players and the damning post-match interview that followed from Benitez – a manager who sounds as close to giving up as I’ve ever heard him be in two and a half years at the club.

A week left of the transfer window and worrying times ahead.

It’s time we took a stand – especially on a night where Rafa clearly has.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

 

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

121 thoughts on “Braga 4-0 Newcastle: An awful night for NUFC as Rafa’s comments set alarm bells ringing

  1. Icedog:
    Jamba tells Everton he will accept 50 mil for club captain

    Still having to re-type my name and email, getting on my nerves now.

    you are joking ice ? where’s that from ?

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  2.  NUFC 360 Retweeted

    HLTCO‏ @HLTCO · Aug 2

     More

    Rafa Benitez sounds utterly miserable with the current situation at Newcastle.

    Both he and that club’s supporters deserve better than the bargain-bucket loving muppet who currently runs the show up there

    you know it’s bad when other teams fans feel sorry for you 🙁 😳

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  3. Eric, yeah it’s the site mate, getting on my nerves a bit now like.
    I have written long post in the past after clicking the box to save my details yet when I have clicked on comment it’s come up error fill in required fields !
    Really frustrating when you have just written a long post 🙄

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  4. Eric Sykes:
    Happening to me too Kimtoon. It is not the browser.

    No problems for me… I’m using Safari on my iPad.

    ?? lol, about to post this, and low and behold, asked to input my details again… oops! So I take back what I just said.

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  5. Dubai, it’s very tiresome isn’t it mate, I just feel empty really, can’t get excited about Muto or anyone we brought in and getting to the stage where I honestly don’t care much anymore.
    If he was to flog Lascelles or Rafa walked I think I might just jack in following them cause really what’s the point if we aren’t even willing to compete on any level.
    Couldn’t give a rats about the clubs bank balance, just want to see the club try to win a cup and not have to threat over every game until we reach 40 points every season.
    Simply put, for once I want to go into the season in a positive frame of mind.

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  6. kimtoon: you are joking ice ? where’s that from ?

    no joke mate its what ive heard,think jabba is really trying to make Rafa suffer

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  7. You would think he would want to try an protect his investment.

    And yet…

    He pissed Keegan about.

    He told Shearer he had the job after we were relegated and never called him again.

    He sacked Hughton after he performed a miracle to get us promoted.

    He gave Pardew a 7 year contract and then didn’t sack him when it was obvious to a mole with a white cane that he had lost the plot.

    Then he allowed the 2 stooges (Carr and Charnley) to hire Ugly John.

    And Schteve, WTFWT (What The **** Was That).

    Remember also it was Rafa who called Charnley about the job so he can’t even take credit for that.

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  8. Eric, perhaps it’s not about the value of the club, but he sees the club as an international marketing division of Sports Direct. In which case all he has to do is not sell up, and stay in the EPL. What else matters?

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  9. Prem, mate. I haven’t got a clue anymore. I know Rafa can also play politics but what is Ashley doing offering Rafa a 5 year contract and then pissing him off. This is not even playing politics, it is playing games. And for what purpose? We all lose if this plays out the way it looks like it will – Rafa, fans, Charnley, even Ashley.

    It makes no sense. he’s done it before though. He hired Joe Kinnear.

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  10. No, I really don’t understand.

    You have a manager that you are so thrilled with that you offer him a 5 year contract and then you do everything you can to undermine him and sabotage his plans for the club? It makes no sense.

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  11. Normally if something doesn’t make sense it is wrong. But who knows. Conspiracy theories abound.
    As someone who was born and raised in Wimbledon, Joe’s record there was second to none, and if you wanted a good manager to work on a cheap budget he was a reasonable choice. Health matters intervened, but I would argue that he had made much more stupid decisions.

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  12. Not sure about that Prem. I doubt there’s a bigger idiot in football than JFK .
    Weird link about Mbabu. Can’t see Rafa changing his mind. I wish he would about Rondon. This affair has dragged on far too long. Is he better than Lucas Perez?

    Just off to fill out my details AGAIN!
    Get something done Olly!

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  13. Olly, have you had a word about the problem with having to keep filling out name and email yet ?
    It’s a proper pain mate.

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  14. Birmingham Mail and Chronicle are part of the same media group, right?

    Not surprising they have the same story.

    Who is their Lee Ryder?

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  15. How am I still alive?

    They have killed everybody else off and I am still here, depressing as always.

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  16. Yes it is a bit of a pain having to fill in your name each time you post on here.

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  17. Good start to the season so far. Keep it up boys.

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  18. Long may it continue Slayers. Pity it’s the fool Bowyer though!

    Olly – somebody must get to the bottom of this comment refreshing thingy! It’s a pain.

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  19. Yes I’m have the same problem now…

    I see the mackems won their first match by the skin of their teeth… 95th minute winner to make it 2-1… ?

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  20. Mitro scores after just 2 mins for Fulham in their friendly today.

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  21. 1-0 to Augsburg… ho hum… I guess we will get used to losing.

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  22. No clinical finishers in our team and unless Muto or Rondon if he comes can find some form, we are doomed.

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  23. lost, get used to it lads and lasses.

    That’s me done for today, can’t stick this **** retyping my details malarkey.

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  24. So they finally got it sorted. Rondon will sign this weekend. Gayle to WBA.
    Still worrying signs though
    No Dubravka today
    Diame off after 20 mins – injured
    Shelvey still bothered by thigh injury – hope it’s not like Slimani’s
    And we’re losing again.

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  25. 3rd friendly in a row where we fail to find the back of the net … still not to worry, Rondon is on his way on loan!!! – that’ll see us right.

    When does the window close? – Thursday is it? – we never do last minute business, so I reckon we will have downed tools by Tuesday.

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  26. That’s the main business done if we swap Gayle for Rondon. I am guessing a left back OR centre back but not both. Maybe a midfielder if Hayden leaves but I am doubtful about that. Has anybody shown any interest? He can say all he wants about moving closer to his family but are we even sure he is premier league quality? Not a starter anyway. I could say I want to move to Hawaii but unless someone offers me a job there it ain’t happening.

    I have regrets about losing Dwight because I still think he would be a good option/cover. But he played 35 games last year and scored 6 times which really isn’t good enough.

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  27. Hi guys – Andy has been made aware but he’s not back until Monday so he’s said he’ll have to deal with it then.

    Sorry for inconvenience folks. I’d help but I’m absolutely no use with these sort of things (I just write the articles).

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  28. It seems there is a new thread.. here is the link…

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