Great battling performance

[ghostrider]

A great 3 points but it doesn't solve the Rafa issue for me.
Rafa was forced into that selection rather than playing some kind of masterstroke.

I'm taking nothing from that game other than a welcome hook or by crook 3 points given to us by the shop window brigade from centre midfield.

Law of averages says we will get a bit of luck. We got that yesterday.
Let's see what he sets out against Man City and let's see who's up for it in terms of taking the game to them.

I'm as happy as anything we've got 3 points and it doesn't matter how you get them.
What is important is in how you soldier on from there.

Most people write the Man City game off as a nothing for us.
Let's see if we can carry the luck and take something from them. Let's be the first to inflict defeat on them...because we're capable with the rub of the green and a genuine referee and linespeople.

The law of luck could shine on us.

I thought I'd add a bit of positive thought in with my STILL distrust of Rafa's ways.

[Geordie_Exile_De]

A message from Rafa to all his doubters.

[kingstonbob]

A great 3 points but it doesn't solve the Rafa issue for me.
Rafa was forced into that selection rather than playing some kind of masterstroke.

I'm taking nothing from that game other than a welcome hook or by crook 3 points given to us by the shop window brigade from centre midfield.

Law of averages says we will get a bit of luck. We got that yesterday.
Let's see what he sets out against Man City and let's see who's up for it in terms of taking the game to them.

I'm as happy as anything we've got 3 points and it doesn't matter how you get them.
What is important is in how you soldier on from there.

Most people write the Man City game off as a nothing for us.
Let's see if we can carry the luck and take something from them. Let's be the first to inflict defeat on them...because we're capable with the rub of the green and a genuine referee and linespeople.

The law of luck could shine on us.

I thought I'd add a bit of positive thought in with my STILL distrust of Rafa's ways.

How did we get lucky yesterday? We had a penalty given against us that was outside the box (only just but it was) and the rightful outcome from Elliott, and we hit the woodwork x 2 again!

We attacked time and time again scoring 2 x break away goals. I bet if it was another manager it would have been a masterstroke but not Rafa. FFS it appears he cant do owt right for some people.

MOTD highlighted hes made the club £11.2m on ins and outs so he's done what Ashley wanted, lets see if its returned in January?

[Zippity]

A great 3 points but it doesn't solve the Rafa issue for me.
Rafa was forced into that selection rather than playing some kind of masterstroke.

Ghost, mate-look at it the other way, though...you could argue that it is a measure of the man that he managed to get such a good performance out of such a scratch team.

[kingstonbob]

Ghost, mate-look at it the other way, though...you could argue that it is a measure of the man that he managed to get such a good performance out of such a scratch team.

Seconded. I thought Saivet played well apart from the pass for their goal. Onwards and upwards.

[ghostrider]

Ghost, mate-look at it the other way, though...you could argue that it is a measure of the man that he managed to get such a good performance out of such a scratch team.

Aye, I could say that. In fact I'll leave that to fans who can see that this was the case.
Just like Rafa distrusts many players, I distrust Rafa and his decision making and have done for long enough....not because I'm simply disliking him for no reason or that I'm just whining for the sake of it....it's because I've had little to fill me with anything other.


However.........................HOWEVER I'm very willing to sit back and see if Rafa can show me that he can set us up to actually take the game to teams and also battle it out for the entire game and also have a plan B when things don't go smooth.

I'm willing to reset my mindset on him and I'll use the West Ham game as the restart of the onwards and (hopefully to all hell) upwards from this point which includes Man City as a game to play and not a game to pass us by just because it's them.

You see, one minute we have a championship outfit and the next minute it's a Rafa master stroke.
Ok fair do's....let's see.

[Zippity]

The thing is, those two things- the Chimpo squad and the Rafa masterstroke- aren't incompatible (although I don't think folk see it as a masterstroke, just a bloody good plan). I do think we've got a Championship squad with some lower to mid table Premier League players in amongst it so for Rafa to get a performance like yesterday's is something to be lauded.

[kingstonbob]

Rafa distrusts certain players ie Shelvey and Mitro because they have let him/the team down not just once and more often than not through stupidity. He seems to like certain players ie Dummett because h e sticks to the plan. Like any man in whatever business would/should do.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear Ghost. I didn't mean it was a masterstroke but if say Mourinho or Klopp had done it it would have been seen in such a way, but dont forget Rafa got that performance from a couple of players in particular who haven't played at all/much (saivet and Diame) when most would have thought he would have sat back and defended. Also after a nightmare start with a team low in confidence. He must have set out to attack down the wings and it worked with some great one touch stuff. It was good to watch and I'm sure we are both wanting to see the same in the future, certainly against the likes of Brighton and Swansea at home. Here's hoping.

[ghostrider]

The thing is, those two things- the Chimpo squad and the Rafa masterstroke- aren't incompatible (although I don't think folk see it as a masterstroke, just a bloody good plan). I do think we've got a Championship squad with some lower to mid table Premier League players in amongst it so for Rafa to get a performance like yesterday's is something to be lauded.

I suppose you're right in one sense.
Let's put it this way, I genuinely hope that Rafa proves my thoughts wrong. I want the best for Newcastle United like all us fans do and normally I'm a ultra positive person.
I watched the entire game yesterday and seen some good stuff, especially the counter attacks.

The thing is you don't give up at 3-1 like Rafa did.
You should still be looking to keep the pressure on their back line to stop them becoming too gung-ho in looking to get back.

We took off Gayle instead of Joselu.
Their entire game from that point on was battering us and they very nearly got something from the game.

We got away with it but, at this moment in time it's not looking like we can comfortably close a game out.
I loved the result but I want more convincing that rafa has the ability to use a plan B and he doesn't appear to have one.

[BenArfa10]

Some people still sucking on their lemon 🍋 I see. Miserable gits