Will Chris pass on the secrets of his success?
RAFA COMES UP AGAINST MAN WHO DELIVERED FOR TOON
THE custodian who is currently trying to manufacture instant promotion is about to meet up with the achiever who actually did it.
Rafa Benitez will, on the morrow, pitch his wily tactical nous against Chris Hughton at a re-galvanised St James’ Park.
Maybe, at sometime when there is a lull in confrontation, Newcastle’s current manager will seek the inside track from a man who – without help from above – presented Geordies with a record-breaking Championship success in a single season.
On the face of it you would expect Hughton to turn his backseeing as his club Brighton are serious challengers to United for a ticket back into the big time.
However Chris is a kindly man, a gentleman in a world of backstabbing, and he would probably sit Rafa down and chew the fat.
A welcome gesture, no doubt, because while Benitez has managed at an elite level never achieved in his wildest dreams by Hughton he is the one who knows the in-fighting of second-tier football the best. Never mind taking the Magpies straight up, what Chris has achieved on the south coast is nothing short of amazing.
He took over a relegationthreatened club and immediately breathed life into; it missing out on automatic promotion to the Premier League by the cruellest of margins – goal difference. Middlesbrough went up instead.
Now the Seagulls are perched second top, unbeaten, and two points ahead of seventh-placed Newcastle, which means the sternest of challenges at SJP.
Never mind the two opening defeats, Brighton are by far Newcastle’s most dangerous opponents. However, I fully expect the Mags to be up for it and – backed by a huge and vocal crowd – to go for broke. They have to, of course, to bridge the gap.
Ironically at a time when Newcastle could for once easily justify protecting senior players for a cup tie by resting them – promotion is by far the major target this long campaign – they suffered major problems against Cheltenham.
There were more bandaged heads than at Custer’s Last Stand.
Dwight Gayle appeared for only a few minutes as a sub, made a goal and John Gibson on the match which saw Perez, left, and others injured then was forced off swathed in winding cloth while two-goal hero Ayoze Perez was similarly taped and strapped. Considering t Alexsandar Mitrovic lasted only a short while on his comeback before being forced into the dressing room with concussion (yes, another head wound) and Rolando Aarons suffered a more traditional injury, victory came at a massive price. Both Mitrovic and Gayle will sit out Saturday’s game. The biggest worry, of course, in terms of impact was top scorer Gayle. United’s new attacking trio of him, Matt Ritchie and Mo Diame are the key to their continued success of course. If they can stay fit long term and get at defenders then the Mags can live up to their pre-tournament hype. As the transfer merry-goround still has a couple of whirls to go and the matches come thick and fast it is all action at Newcastle. With no more frights round the corner I hope.