Opposition View: Newcastle United
Newcastle United are safe from relegation from the Premier League. Something that looked pretty improbable when Brighton went to St James’ Park back in October and won 1-0 to send the Magpies to the bottom of the table with their worst start to a season for over 100 years.
Much of that is down to the brilliance of Rafa Benitez. Rafa the Gaffer continues to work miracles on Tyneside despite effectively operating with one hand tied behind his back because of the ownership of Sports Direct mogul Mike Ashley.
The Toon Army love Benitez and hate Ashley as a result. Before their visit to the Amex, we caught up with Olly from NUFC Blog.co.uk to find out whether there was hope of a change of owner anytime soon and to ask what happens to a club when they sack Chris Hughton, as Newcastle did in 2010.
Newcastle have secured Premier League survival for another year. How has this season gone compared to your expectations?
Unfortunately, it’s gone pretty much how I expected. We didn’t strengthen enough over the summer and, as a result, lost all the momentum we created last season after ending the season strongly and finishing 10th. That said, after enduring our worst start to a league season for over 100 years, I am relieved to see us officially safe with three games to spare – although we should be aiming for much bigger and better things with Rafa Benitez in charge.
I’ve loved seeing us look so strong at the back – we’ve conceded less than the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United – and Salomon Rondon has been a joy to watch up top, but him only being on loan makes his form a little bittersweet.
You’ve mentioned Rafa the Gaffer there and he continues to do a fantastic job at St James’ Park. How long do you think you can keep him at the helm for?
He’s gone on the record saying he’d love to stay here for several years yet, but with his contract due to expire at the end of June and the club yet to match his ambitions, he could be gone in two months time if no new deal is agreed. It’s criminal that we have a world class manager who’s keen to stay, yet an owner that wants to see us just ‘survive’ while he spends the bare minimum.
The best thing about Benitez is that he gives us hope. The worst thing about Benitez is that he gives us hope. A Newcastle United with him makes us feel like we might just be able to fulfil our potential, but a Newcastle United without him feels like a club without direction that’s destined for yet another relegation. Lose him this summer and we’ll be in one hell of a state – both on and off the pitch.
Let’s talk Mike Ashley then. Are you any closer to being free of his ownership?
Just like last season, there was a period mid-way through the season where it seemed like a takeover may be on the cards. To say talk of a sale has fell flat since then is an understatement, with Ashley appearing to be a difficult seller and someone whose valuation continues to off put potential buyers.
Unfortunately, Ashley seems in no major rush to sell for as long as he’s pocketing Premier League cash and gaining free advertising for his beloved Sports Direct. Benitez’s ambition will never be matched at a Newcastle owned by Ashley, so a takeover has never been more needed – but we aren’t holding our breath.
What do you think Newcastle need to do to push onto the next level? Where you strengthen this summer?
The biggest signing we could make this summer is Rafa Benitez. He gets the best out of pretty average players, is tactically brilliant and has made our defence as good as I’ve ever seen it be during my lifetime as a Newcastle fan. That said, there’d still need to be several first-team improvements if we were to go to the next level. We’re pretty limited at full-back, having few quality options down either side, and lack depth in attacking options. An injury to Rondon or Ayoze Perez would see the likes of Joselu or Christian Atsu come in – two players who between them don’t have a goal or an assist in the Premier League all season!
We have a few talented central midfielders – Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden are two promising young English talents who’ve shone at times this season – but a ball playing midfielder will be on Benitez’s wish list if he stays this summer, with Jonjo Shelvey looking very likely to leave after falling out of favour.
Some Albion fans reckon a change of manager is required for us to push on. As a club who have sacked Chris Hughton yourselves, what would you say to that?
Hughton is still loved in these parts for the brilliant job he did to get us promoted at the first attempt following our relegation in 2008. I can see why Brighton fans may have become frustrated, however. I see you’ve not scored in your last seven games and have heard talk of Hughton playing a ‘anti-football’ style in the way you’ve sat back and parked the bus, but it’s easy to forget that you were flying just a few months ago and looked set for a strong mid-table finish.
If things have gone stale under Hughton or he’s lost the dressing room then it may be for the best if a change is made, but if the issues run deeper than that then it may be harsh to sack a manager who’s on track to keep you up two seasons running.
What did you make of our last meeting when the Albion were pretty lucky to win at St James’ back in October?
I remember us having a lot of the ball but struggling to ever create any clear cut chances, with Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy clearing just about every hopeful ball we popped into the box. Maty Ryan also pulled off a few brilliant saves, but we rarely unsettled your defence and played into the hands of your two big centre-backs. It must be said that, at the time, you had started pretty well and we were still without our first win coming into the game in October and were under real pressure, where as the tables have turned ahead of our meeting this time around.
I thought Murray going off in that game would’ve been the turning point, with him seeming to be your one and only major goal threat, but you nicked an early goal and we had no answer in return. This time we have Rondon – he wasn’t fit in our first meeting – and Perez in form, so I’m hoping we can give your defence a bit more to think about this time – especially after seeing you concede seven in your last two at the Amex!
I think you’ll be tough to break down and fear that some of our players may be ‘on the beach’ after securing survival last weekend, however I am yet to be convinced by your attacking options. If Murray doesn’t play and Duffy or Dunk don’t score from a corner, it’s hard to know where a goal is coming from. Pascal Gross doesn’t seem to have made anything like the same impact this season and it appears that some of your big money summer signings aren’t doing much from the outside looking in.
What advice would you give Hughton in terms of how to beat Newcastle on Saturday?
I’d look to get at our right-back, whether it be Javier Manquillo or DeAndre Yedlin. Both are suspect defensively and have often been the one weak-link in what has otherwise been a water-tight back line. We may also be a weaker from set pieces with Jamaal Lascelles ruled out, so corners could cause problems with Dunk and Duffy dominant in the air.
At the other end we’ll no doubt try to hit you on the counter, so if you over-commit you may just play into our hands, even if we will be lacking that pace and directness without the injured Miguel Almiron, a player we’ll miss massively based on his immediate impact since arriving in January.
We’re far from prolific in attack, but it goes without saying that you’ll have to be much more organised than you were in defeats to Cardiff and Bournemouth. Give us a goal or two and I just can’t see you winning. Not only do we tend to be solid at the back – famous last words – I see you’ve not scored more than once at the Amex since early December, so you’re going to have to strike the balance much better in this one to take all three.
Who knows though – if we come into this one with an ‘end-of-season’ approach while you’re fighting for your lives then I’d back you to win to nil.
Which Newcastle players should we be wary of?
Rondon is a real handful, a presence in the box and our link man in attack, but Perez may be the main ‘one to watch’ on current form. He scored a hat-trick last weekend, has eight goals since the turn of the year and is a very clever and elusive player on his day.
In midfield, Hayden has been in sensational form, being first to every loose ball and strong in the tackle, while Fabian Schar is another classy player – a centre-back who loves to start attacks from defence; whether it be via a mazy run through midfield or a inch-perfect pass in behind.
Thanks to Olly for answering our questions – and congratulations to the Toon Army on staying up. Hopefully, we’ll be celebrating joining you soon. You can check out his writings on Newcastle at NUFC Blog.co.uk
