That’s not to say we will. Benitez hasn’t thrown in the towel and neither should we. If Sunderland had beaten West Brom it would be too much. As it is there’s a glimmer of hope. Maybe 4 wins will do. It could happen. It can happen. It probably won’t but since when has football been about dead certs? Southampton is a massive game. I’m not convinced we can survive another defeat, but Norwich’s results are now more important than our own. All we can do is hope they get beat and then pick up points ourselves. It’s not over though.
The first half was as bad as anything served up under McClaren. Playing without shape or direction United were a 
shambles. Team selection was bizarre. After Winjaldum’s anonymity since January I was convinced De Jong would start ahead of his fellow Dutchman. Wrong. I thought Sissoko would start at left back. Wrong. I had a feeling that Mitro might not start due to his lack of football and training in two weeks but ultimately it was an imbalanced and unorganised side. Benitez isn’t a magician, and he has added a resolve to this side, but he got it wrong with the selections of Anita and Winjladum.Norwich are a poor side. Of course they are. They’re 17th. You only find poor sides down this end of the league. They create very little, look nervous in possession and are defensively fragile. Poor all over the park. First half they deserved their lead. A great save from Darlow and the linesman’s saved United from going behind earlier. For their goal (I’m writing this in an Indian Restaurant in Norwich so haven’t seen any replays) our “fans” decided to keep the match ball for over a minute to the extent an alternative ball had to be sourced, to cheers from the away end. I wish I lived a life where a ‘250+ trip to East Anglia was worth keeping the ball from the game I was playing to watch, disrupting it as much as I could. You can’t even say ‘sections’ of our away support are’embarrassing. It’s a majority. I hate them. If you go to away games to be aggressive to locals, throw beer around and enjoy disrupting the actual game you should be banned from attending.
I’ve not seen replays of anything, but it doesn’t really matter. You can’t’concede three goals and expect to take anything from games. The second half was better. Benitez got it right again with his subs and his tactical changes. Sissoko (who was played in a Carver-esque 5 different positions) was vastly better at left back than the shocking Anita. Perez made a difference. I noticed Winjaldum for the first time when he moved to the middle besides Shelvey. Keeping Cisse and Mitro on the pitch was a good move. Bold. It should have worked.
I wrote in the preview of this game Mitro and Mbemba could be ’30m players. I really like Mitro. However, now he’s scored against Sunderland the same people screaming for him to never play again have now given him ‘cult’ status. We’re at the stage now where when Cisse misses his chance large swathes chant for him to be replaced. I really like Mitro. He should have started, and what a header. He’ll go through tough times again, as all young players do, and I hope people stick with him compared to the shit he’s been given this season before his goal against WBA.
Charnley and Ashley have been saying they’re not even considering relegation. I’d advise them to start making plans. They utterly deserve everything that is coming to them. The problem is as Mike Ashley correctly said, we’re tied to him and him to us. This has been coming for years. Saivet and Doumbi didn’t make the bench today. That says as much about the people running the club as Anita starting a massive game at left back, and that says a lot too.
We now need Palace and Pardew to do us a favour and beat Norwich next week. It could happen. It might happen. We need to take something from Southampton. It probably won’t happen. But it might.
Motm: Mitro
Their fans : 2 – dead quiet all game until the end.
Our fans 6: good noise but too many arseholes
Anyone seen an editorial? Last spotted on a Monday… ;0)
Incredibly annoying if it’s true that we passed on signing Robert Huth due to his age and lack of sell on value. He’s exactly the kind of leader and no nonsense defender we needed. Didn’t fit into our policy of scratching around in the French league for potential to be sold at a profit. Even when we scouted Marseille we missed out Payet and got Thauvin.
” You can’t even say ‘sections’ of our away support are embarrassing. It’s a majority. I hate them. If you go to away games to be aggressive to locals, throw beer around and enjoy disrupting the actual game you should be banned from attending.”
That’s a bit harsh like. I had a great crack in the pub before, first in an all newcastle pub by the canal, just good singing and crack, then moved onto a mixed pub, where 100s of toon and norwich fans were getting on champion.
In the game I thought there was the usual number of pricks, but to say its a majority and you hate them, i think is more your problem mate, and probably reflects how you;re feeling that indian restaurant you’re writing this from. Its not a majority. And i’ve been going to away games since the 80s. There’s always been pricks following us, like every team.
That chanting at the lad in the vest, seemed like normal daft shite, until they started chanting peado. I mean, what is this weird obsession with calling people nonces? As for giving the locals shit? Didn’t see anything like that. I had nothing but a great time with NCFC fans down there and in the pubs on the evening, newcastle fans were all over town having a laugh with them.
Sure, criticise nobheads, but don;t blow it out of all proportion like.
The most crippling outcome if we’re relegated will be if Rafa leaves, and let’s be honest – why would he stay? I’ve read articles saying that he has had interviews with academy staff and is getting plans in place to make changes to address the lack of talent making it through to the first team which is great to hear. It would be great if he stays and rebuilds the club but this is Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United. The amount of money that would be required to keep him and his staff, plus anyone else he wants to bring in, plus recruiting players to replace the dead-weight we need to get rid of in the upcoming transfer window will be too much for MA to see as a good investment. If we get relegated and Rafa goes then the club will (continue to) crumble. Rafa will be replaced with someone wholly unfit to lead the club as Manager and Christ knows what players will be around. I can only hope that Norwich and Sunderland take a nose-dive in the remaining games and somehow Rafa coaxes 7 performances from our squad to keep us in the Premier League next season. Each match there have been glimpses of quality, like Mitro’s first goal on the weekend and the lead-up to it, but there needs to be 90min of quality in our remaining games or we’re sunk.
Rafa leaving is the most likely scenario but what if? Rafa wants to stay in England as his family is settled here. What are his alternatives? Man City and Chelsea have both made appointments, Liverpool already have Klopp, Spurs Pochetino and Leicester Ranieri. Arsenal are likely to keep Wenger. It seems with Manu either Van Gaal will stay another year or Mourinho will take it but they are unlikely to go for Rafa because of his Liverpool coonnections (applies also to Everton – possibly) and Ferguson will have a say. West ham and Southampton have made recent appointments and are doing quite well thank you. Stoke and West Brom are unlikely to appeal other than being closer to
home. Might be my ego but the rest are also unlikely to appeal to him. He could decide to stay a year, even in the championship if he can get his way and with the so called potential of NUFC. He could decide he wants to build something. I haven’t mentioned Ashley, of course, ‘cos I don’t want to but he hurts when we lose, apparently.. Probably best just to commit me now for being the typicaldelusional geordie.
Am I alone in thinking Mbemba is shite? As is his song.
As for the lad wanting to keep Colback. Absolute toilet.
Totally agree Mike, PLAYERS they aren’t worthy of that label f’kin shirkers the lot of them. So called stars who underperform EVERY WEEK shambles. Millionaires as well……oh well work tomorrow
PLAYERS to blame ………should be slaughtered if they cant be arst to play 100% then get rid of the whole lot at the end of the season. Thanks Rafa but you were left with dross
Cant blame Rafa for scratching about trying to find a winning formula. Just like when Shearer came in for the last relegation it was far to late to make a difference. Dopey defenders who cant deal with anything that comes in our box & switch off alarmingly in 2 successive games on half time ,then 2 times after we score (the most vunerable time for any team. you learn to stay alert then as a kid for christs sake!) .
On the bright side it will be like the old days next season with mass away support at places like Leeds, Forest, Derby, Sheff Wed…We are the mags We are the mags we are we are we are the mags
Really impressed with saivet and Doumbia signings so far. The two signings who are actually playing weren’t even on carrs shortlist as they don’t fit into our recruitment strategy. 8 or 9 wins from our last 50 game’s beggars belief. If we do go down which most of the country wants us to are we going to willingly turn up again after all a good start in a weaker league is very possible and I can see a scenario where we get promoted fill out the stadium and are stuck with Ashley for years for the cycle to begin again. If relegation is confirmed before the spurs game there should be a total boycott of that match. If we are lucky enough to survive we should boycott the beginning of the following season. A strong statement needs to be made to Ashley.
Who are these Tossers who follow our Club you couldnt of bumped into a better set of Home Supporters in the Pubs before the Game, then our Fans start giving chants to a Bloke wearing a vest that he is a Peado where do these Pricks come from.
Lets see what these Knobs are made of when they have to go to the likes of Millwall in the years to come or i forgot they wont be there. Spineless Twats
Always had a section of tossers following us. Always. However my day consisted of having a great crack with NCFC fans before and after, as did hundreds of other newcastle fans.
I think the tosser section’s influence on your day is amplified by the shite served up. If we were winning everywhere on the road, it wouldn’t really be like that. As it stands, everything is shit when we travel and so their effect is felt more.
But i had nowt but a great time amongst NUFC and NCFC fans.
Always had a section of tossers following us. Always. However my day consisted of having a great crack with NCFC fans before and after, as did hundreds of other newcastle fans.
I think the tosser section’s influence on your day is amplified by the shite served up. If we were winning everywhere on the road, it wouldn’t really be like that. As it stands, everything is shit when we travel and so their effect is felt more.
I don’t want to get on my high horse about fan behaviour and don’t think there’s anything wrong with getting a bit daft on a trip away up to a point. It’s just the cameras were on the lads keeping the ball for a while looking drunk and pretty pleased with themselves doesn’t give a good impression. To be fair the commentators saw it as fairly harmless and weren’t critical of the fans in fact they were praising the numbers who had travelled down to watch the side. Saying that they seemed to think sissoko and winjaldum would be our big threats and seemed suprised when they contributed nothing.
Aye. Their effect was amplified by a couple of incidents. I think saying its a majority and he hates them is a bit too harsh, written in haste.
I thought we travelled in good numbers, and i thought majority of us were just there for a laugh and a good trip.
I hope Norwich can only cobble together 4 or 5 points from their remaining games but if they get two wins from their 6 matches we are down. I don’t know how easy it is for us to play knowing that even 4 wins might not be enough. I fancy palace to get something off Norwich next week though.We have a game in hand and a game against villa to come. You could argue that none of the teams we have left to play have anything to play for so we need to give it a real go in all the games not write off the tougher ones on paper and see what happens.
Has it not occurred to you that maybe the fans kept the ball because they knew Norwich were going to score from the free kick?
No Ryan, because that would be Bull Shit
I see, if you keep the ball then the free kick is overturned? Get a grip lad.
As gutted as I have ever felt being at a match. Norwich’s 3rd goal was a much heavier sucker punch than seeing the likes of Adam Johnson bag a winner in the last minute of the derby. Complete deflation.
Benitez’s lineup was really strange and I was genuinely shocked to see a bloke playing as a lone striker who has barely kicked a ball all season and has never been able to function in that role. Nevertheless- Newcastles problems were not necessarily down to the striker, it was down to a terrible defence who have shipped goals left right and centre for years. I’ve never known us have a defence to be proud of by the way- but yesterday’s back 4 was a complete shambles.
For me- I struggle to see any miracle survival. We concede against every team in the league and we’ve got much stiffer tests than relegation rivals in the coming weeks. Players like Wijnaldum and Sissoko don’t care. The latter hasn’t cared for three years now. We have a centre back on ’40k a week who has played for us now for TWELVE years. Probably about 6 of those he has been crocked- the other 6 he has shipped goals. God knows where captain Colo is and his mystery injury. Get the impression he’s tossed it off again.
I’m on my way back down from Norwich and struggle to have any modicum of hope both in the short and long term. Relegation really would test my resolve of maintaining an interest. Ashley’s tenure has been a consistent plethora of shocking decision making across the board and it really is coming to a head. Really depressed.
Any club who continually flirts with relegation season on season deserves to go down and Newcastle and Sunderland have done that very thing for the last few years !
There is more chance of getting a lift from a pop wagon in the desert than Newcastle staying in The Premier League.
Pundits, And so called experts better not try to blame the fans for this fiasco because it lies squarely at the toes of the complete incompetents that Ashley has appointed to run the club.
They alone are responsible for this and it is all the more indictable when you see clubs like Norwich and Bournemouth above us in the league.
Everyone should ditch Newcastle and start watching “The Stan” who could do with the support unlike this bunch of no hopers !
Lose next week at SOTON, and, Norwich win – lets get this relegation over with.
Im bored shitless with all the false hope for the last 12 months since the West Ham home game.
You just knew that when those wiseguys were refusing to return the ball that they were tempting fate and Norwich would score. Thanks lads, fucking knob jockeys. We should start naming and shaming the clowns in our ‘support’ who make us all look like that we’re a bunch of neanderthals. Drink and have a crack by all means but leave the rest of the juvenile posturing shite at home. Is it any wonder that we’re disliked for the actions of a few beer/charlied-up twats? If you want an explanation why West Ham kicked us all over Germany the other summer look no further in some of the balloon army who make away games such a dispiriting time on many occasions. Wankers.
Aye,, but there’s always been the nobbled contingent. Their effect is exaggerated when times are so shit.
Majority were still just there for the football and the crack. Having said that, if you’re stuck next to them, its a nightmare
West Ham were in Germany celebrating the 60th birthday (yes 60th) of one of their best known hooligans and it was their young uns showing off and trying to make a name for themselves . It had nothing whatsoever to do with the behaviour of our fans. I have followed Newcastle away since the late 70’s and the behaviour/type of fans is a reflection of what’s on the pitch. Late 70’s 80’s we were gash and the fans were well known for smashing up towns all over the country. 90′ / 2000’s we got half decent so the upper class bandwagon jumpers took over and behaviour improved. Lately we have gone back to being gash, the bandwagon jumpers have left and the fans Remaining are from the same mind set of those from the 70s 80s. One thing I will say though, if these ‘knob jockeys’ weren’t going, who would?
Anita left back with Sissoko in front of him for fuck sake what did he think would happen?
Our plight might be terrible, but can we not organize to laugh in the faces of Ashley and Charnley? Classic example of two white middle aged men who think they know it all, and yet it’s all blowing up in their faces. There’s a grim satisfaction in watching it go wrong for them. Not that they’ll look at themselves of course.
It’s not the result that will relegate us; it’s our performance for nearly 60 minutes. That was Ashley’s NUFC through and through.
Also, I’m glad you mentioned Carver: imagine the rioting fans if Anita had started as a left back with Carver or McClaren in the dug out. I’m beginning to think this club could suck the brains out anyone – Ferguson, Trapattoni and Lippi would stand zero chance with us, never mind Rafa.
And what sort of dirt does Janmaat, Tiote and Sissoko have on every manager in the land to get a guaranteed start every week?
So, next year: I would hold on to the goalies, Mbemba, Lascelles, Aarons, Colback, Perez, Shelvy, Townsend and Mitro. Ship the rest out to the PSG of the north (ie, Stoke) and let’s try to get our lives in order.
I only listened on R5L, followed on Twitter, avoided Look North and shunned MOTD so I haven’t really got a clue what happened but I do know I’m really pissed off and very distressed. I don’t know what I expected, probably a bit of fight from the highly paid rabble representing my club. Clearly they have a different agenda and a strong desire to relegate my club. Sick of it all – the only one who escapes my wrath is Rafa – he must be wondering what on earth he’s signed up to.
We’ve been terrible for three full seasons. By rights we should have gone down last season but were saved by a freak run of results just before Pardew f*cked off and the fact that the season ran out before the shite below us caught us when the freak good run turned back into the plethora of defeats. There will be no miracle reprieve this time, unfortunately. The players simply are not good enough and have been scouted and bought by people who are simply not good enough.