SUPER MAC Benitez needs to have quiet word
WATFORD GAME IS BIG ONE
I HOPE Rafa Benitez has had a quiet word with both Rob Elliot and Dwight Gayle this week as we approach a make-or-break match with Watford at St James Park this afternoon.
Because I think both would benefit from a gee-up.
Newcastle’s match at Manchester United was turned on its head in a seven-minute spell just before halftime when a 1-0 advantage became a 2-1 deficit.
The Magpies have been panned for bad defending, but for me the wrong men have had the finger pointed at them.
I wouldn’t blame those outfield players trying to fend off two crosses, one from either side.
I would be looking at the goalkeeper because it was Elliot’s ball on each occasion. He ought to have come, cleaned out the attacker, and punched clear. Instead he stood with his heels on the line and did nothing.
I’ve been a big fan of Elliot and paid him lots of compliments but I felt he was to blame for the match completely changing and going beyond Newcastle, who had done extremely well until then.
Elliot needs to have been made aware of his fault and then geed up to revert to better standards against Watford.
At the same time I hope Rafa has also had a private chat with Gayle – to compliment him and keep him going because, my, he needs the fella. It’s been made obvious that long-term Benitez doesn’t fancy Gayle in the Premier League. He tried to sell him just before the window closed at the end of August and has hardly started him at all this season.
Yet the lad has looked lively and back to his best recently. Frankly Gayle is the only striker currently available who is a finisher. I loved goals myself and I so admired Newcastle’s opener at Old Trafford. DeAndre Yedlin was sensational both in his off-the-ball run and the calmness with which he looked up and pulled the ball back to Gayle, who finished magnificently. His was the strike of a natural goalscorer. Rafa needs him right now. No more so than this afternoon. Watford have to be beaten and so do West Brom on Tuesday because Chelsea away is to follow and that’s exactly like going to Man U.
Watford will be dangerous, no question about that. They can score from all over the park and they play with an attacking freedom but if United don’t beat the likes of them then where are their safety points going to come from? The same applies to West Brom away. Everyone has been turning them over.
The worry is that Newcastle are getting on a bit of a slide. Three successive defeats isn’t good.
This is going to be a tough season. Points are precious and hard to come by but this afternoon is a real opportunity.