Rafa: I had no choice but to rotate players
IF I can send out a message of hope to Newcastle players and fans alike, it is this: I experienced exactly the same start to my debut season up here and we came out of it brilliantly.
Back in 1971 when I arrived to play in top-flight football for the first time aged only 21 we failed to win in our first two league games and failed to score a goal. Sound familiar?
We lost 2-0 at Crystal Palace on the opening day and then drew 0-0 at Tottenham.
So it was home to the mighty Liverpool at the third time of asking just as it is home to West Ham today.
We took deep breaths and talked about what we had to do in the build up to the match. It was all about self belief, about sticking together, about replacing gloom with a willingness to scrap and fight.
We did precisely that and beat Liverpool 3-2 with me notching a hat-trick. All of a sudden apprehension on the field and on the terraces evaporated and we were up and running.
Newcastle must do that today and I believe they can.
They have to defeat their own demons to beat the Hammers but it can do done. No question. It is all about attitude and guts in this sort of situation. Each player has to believe and go for it. If the crowd see them doing that they will carry the fans with them. I wish Rafa Benitez had not made 10 changes for the League Cup game. I wish he had sent out his Premier League side and let them beat Nottingham Forest to restore pride and belief - but there we go.
I can see why Benitez did what he did, I can follow his argument, but I wish he had nott done it.
That is gone, of course, and now it is West Ham who are not in a rich vein of form themselves.
United have nothing to be frightened of and they must realise that.
Once the game is over and hopefully three points banked we can turn to the last few days of the transfer window with an international break upon us.
United simply MUST do business before Thursday night, in and out. So many fringe players need to be moved on it is ridiculous. Trouble is they are sitting on long-term deals at good money which makes them difficult to shift.
However, shifted they have to be if players are to come in. Mike Ashley has made that painfully clear.
We still need a striker. It is a priority, an urgent requirement.
A centre-forward gives hope, which is what the signing of myself did 46 years ago.
It was then up to me to show the hope was not misplaced and I did it that day against Liverpool.
Let the Magpies go out this afternoon and give their loyal fans something to shout about. NEWCASTLE United boss Rafa Benitez believes he had no choice but to rotate his squad for the League Cup game against Nottingham Forest.
The Toon boss made 10 changes to the team which lost 3-2 against the Championship outfit at St James’ Park and, while he still insists that team should have been capable of getting through, he does not regret shuffling the pack.
Benitez will make a host of changes for today’s game against West Ham and will be without Karl Darlow, who is suffering from a thigh injury.
Reflecting on a testing week so far, Benitez said: “We knew with the amount of injuries we had already and the two games before it that it could be a big risk.
“We have also lost Karl Darlow with a knock to his thigh. When you have so many problems in defence you have to do it.
“We should beat Nottingham Forest with the team we put on the pitch. I know they did not have match fitness but you should still be strong enough to compete - but you cannot risk key players.
“In any case, we did not have that many players. Florian (Lejeune) is injured and Jonjo (Shelvey) is suspended.
“That is what it will be like this season because of the difference between the Championship and Premier League. In the Premier League you can have 25 players, in the Championship you can have 30 and it is not a problem.
“Now you have to be careful and manage your squad.”
Benitez hinted Premier League points must be the priority going into the first half of the season and added: “We have to analyse all these things. Yes, you want to win but you have to use your squad.
“You cannot promise things which you later cannot deliver.”