A game of three halves!
Why Newcastle United’s Spanish friendly will be a whole new ball game
JUST two years ago Rafa Benitez arrived at a football club heading for the Sky Bet Championship after Newcastle United’s transfer blueprint had already started to implode.
The problems at St James’ Park were already deep-rooted when the Spaniard agreed to take on the tough challenge of preventing the Magpies sliding into English football’s second flight.
However, a relegation fight on Tyneside was merely the tip of the iceberg at a club which has struggled badly to match the achievements of yesteryear for the vast majority of Mike Ashley’s tenure.
Somewhere along the line, Newcastle’s policy of trying to buy European players to sell at a profit seemed to catch up with them and after selling them the dream of a bigger club by using United as a stepping stone it appeared too many players took their eye off the ball.
Having just missed out on keeping Newcastle in the top flight, something many feel he would have achieved with even a couple of extra games had United acted quicker, Benitez’s next task was to change the culture.
His views on recruitment and the type of player were very clear in 2016 when he told the Chronicle in a question and answer session: “We are not a stepping stone, we are Newcastle United!
“Every player should be honoured to wear the shirt of this club.”
Yet Benitez was picking up the pieces at a club where many players were already eyeing a summer escape.
Moussa Sissoko, Gini Wijnaldum and Daryl Janmaat had made it clear they were not interested in playing in the Championship while players on big wages like Gabriel Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux were not focused.
Looking back on the early days of taking over at United, Benitez told the Chronicle: “When I came we had around 33 players. We changed a lot of things and we could not save the team.
“Then the year after we won the Championship and were the best team in it.
“We won, scored goals and did not concede too many, it was a great season in the end.
“So quite positive. This season, in the Premier League, we have been competing and can we do a bit better? Yes. “Could it be worse? Yes.” Benitez quickly restructured the club on arrival as he tried to create space at the senior end of the club’s training ground.
Reserve-team players were sent back down to the Academy to achieve a clearer focus with Benitez attempting to work with those he felt could make a difference at that time.
The manager replaced players who wanted to head to the socalled brighter lights of London and Europe with hard-working
players who had a desire to run out at St James’ Park.
Looking at his current squad, Benitez added: “They want to play for the club now.
“They are good professionals and that is what the fans have seen. It is totally different.”
Benitez also knows depending on the situation he may need to bring in players who can do a job in the short-term - something frowned upon at times before his arrival.
For example, Mike Ashley was not a fan of signing and paying players on loan if it could be avoided.
Yet last season, Benitez wanted to sign players who could do a job - even for half a dozen key games - in the Championship.
The likes of Grant Hanley and Daryl Murphy have been and gone in those two years.
Benitez said: “At the same time some players who left last year were key players for us.
“When you are relegated you lose players to the Premier League.
“Some decided to stay and some decided to sign.
“Why? They wanted to improve, do well and compete. I think each player is doing well at their own level but they are working so hard the fans cannot complain about it.”
Benitez has had the full season to work with his players in the Premier League this year and the finish line is in sight with eight games to go.
Beating Southampton allowed United to make a big stride forward in their survival battle.
Benitez went on: “We have to stay calm, it is always the same message for me, keep calm, keep working hard. Hopefully we can stay up.
“The team now has a good mentality and good team spirit. They work really hard.
“The game against Man United allowed the fans to get behind the team and enjoy it.
“So if we can keep this connection - fans, players, working hard, we will have more chances against all teams but especially the teams close to us.”