Despite a 1-0 loss to Leicester on Monday, Geordie fans ought to be encouraged by their new manager Rafa Benitez.
With nine matches to go, time is not on Newcastle’s side, but Outside90’s Anthony Margaretic looks at five reasons why the Spaniard can maintain the Magpies’ Premier League status.
An impact manager
Some managers take time to adjust to their new surroundings, Benitez, however, has a track record of getting results instantly. With 10 games (now nine) to save the Toon, there are 30 points to play for and here is how Rafa fared in his first 10 matches at some of his most recent clubs – 18 points at Valencia, 17 points at Liverpool, 19 points at Inter Milan, 18 at Chelsea, 25 at Napoli and 24 at Real Madrid.
Newcastle potentially need another 16 points from a possible 27, and past showings suggest Benitez can get the results that are needed.
POPULAR ARTICLES
EPL – Outside90’s Team of the Week – Matchday 30
How Twitter reacted to Leicester City’s 1-0 win against Newcastle United
EPL – What We Learned – Leicester City 1 Newcastle United 0
He is already stamping his authority
In the three days he had to prepare for the Leicester match, the Spaniard held face to face talks with Aleksandr Mitrovic, Ayoze Perez and club captain Fabricio Coloccini among others. In all of the interviews, it is believed Benitez outlined exactly what he expects from these individuals, something which perhaps former head coach Steve McClaren neglected to do. With a vastly improved performance against Leicester coming three days after his appointment, much will be expected from a week’s worth of preparation before the Sunderland game.
Newcastle have now lost 4 consecutive Premier League games for the first time this season.
Tall order for Rafa. pic.twitter.com/Nq4qgQjGYC
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 14, 2016
The players want to impress him
Towards the end of Steve McClaren’s reign, it was painfully obvious that he had lost the dressing room and no one wanted to play for him. Under Benitez, the picture seems to be very different. On the day on his appointment (last Friday) the players were scheduled to have a day off. Shortly after the deal was official, a training session was called and from all reports, it was a very sharp outing. Additionally, there seemed to be a much improved attitude from some of the players against Leicester, especially Moussa Sissoko, who if not more a little more composure in the final third, could have found an equalising goal.
Newcastle have a favourable run-in
Following the baptism of fire away to the league leaders, Benitez will now oversee a series of winnable matches which are also extremely crucial relegation six-pointers. The way the table is shaping up, it appears one of Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich will survive and they are the next two teams on the agenda, with a home derby followed by a trip to Carrow Road after the international break. Six points in those two matches will set the Toon up nicely before another two crucial matches at home to Swansea City and a free-falling Crystal Palace, they also travel to Aston Villa on the second last day of the season and seeing as though the Villains are likely to be mathematically relegated by then, it will be a match Newcastle will fancy themselves for. These five matches alone offer 15 points and if they can take the maximum from these fixtures, the Geordies will be all but certainties to survive.
The fans are behind him
Sometimes football fans underestimate the role they have to play, and at times the hostile atmosphere Steve McClaren encountered was just another nail in his coffin. One thing Benitez cited as his reasons for joining Newcastle was the passionate fans, and he knows that they will be supporting him every step of the way in his bid to rescue the club. With a raucous atmosphere expected at St James Park on Sunday, this will give a significant boost to Rafa and his charges in the most important Tyne-Wear Derby in recent history. It is something the new boss will thrive on, after perhaps being under-appreciated in past jobs at Real Madrid and Chelsea.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
