Stung by the Hornets
GIBBO: THIS WAS WITHOUT QUESTION THE LOWEST EBB OF RAFA BENITEZ'S TIME ON TYNESIDE RYDER: TOON PLAYERS SIMPLY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER WITH NO SIGNS OF LEADERSHIP ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN
at St James’ Park AFTER a week of playing Deal or No Deal, United continue to drift along like a ship without a captain, with the need for investment there for all to see at St James’ Park.
Neither current owner Mike Ashley nor prospective owner Amanda Staveley were present as the Magpies took on Watford on Saturday.
When Newcastle went 2-0 down just before half-time, it looked like a similar story on the pitch as Toon players simply looked at each other with no signs of leadership.
The Magpies pitted their wits against a Watford team that are now embedded into life in the Premier League and able to enjoy the TV riches that come their way.
The Hornets weren’t exactly spectacular on Saturday afternoon but they were ruthless and carried out a solid game plan that kept up their strong away record.
Watford’s masked raider Marvin Zeegelaar ran the show while Richarlison was too hot to handle for Newcastle and Tom Cleverley and goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had the know-how to snare three valuable points. Ironically, Cleverley was a player Rafa Benitez wanted last January but got a “no” from his board when trying to lure the former Manchester United man to Tyneside from Everton. A goalkeeper was also on Benitez’s wish list last summer but in the end, the limited funds had to be stretched out elsewhere in the squad. Watford’s wily Brazilian veteran Gomes was relatively untroubled Premier League in terms of shots on target, but he was able to dictate the play from the back and take the sting out of the game whenever he pleased.
Benitez wanted to hand Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina a similar role this season, but was again told it wasn’t feasible as Newcastle’s board continue their obsession with pretty balance sheets to present to their superiors.
The Spanish manager is too experienced to know that some people will hold him responsible for the team’s bad run of results, but it could be argued he was sent into battle with a team that isn’t up to Premier League standard yet.
He started the season by playing a 4-2-3-1 formation and was able to grind out some results and after hearing calls to opt for a 4-4-2 system, and giving it a try, his team