Every time you think Newcastle United are out, they pull you back in. If you watched the first half of today’s match and compared it to the second, you’d think you were watching a completely different game. It is quite frustrating as a fan because you know this club has the potential to be in the top ten of the table; they’ve briefly displayed it at times throughout the season.
Consistency is key and United have not showed anything close to that this year; hence their position in the table. Despite all of that, today was a massive result. A draw at Anfield and Newcastle have collected at least a point in their last three matches (win vs Swansea, draw vs Man City and draw vs Liverpool).
Down 2-0 at half time, the Magpies stormed back and equalized with goals from Papiss Cisse and Jack Colback. Their relegation battle is still extremely dire and they will need a string of good luck and losses from Sunderland & Norwich City to stave off the drop.
Here are my five thoughts on the match:
- The more I watch this club perform under Benitez, the more infuriating it is to think Newcastle might get relegated. We see the potential at times, combine that with Benitez as the manager and the role he would play as a recruiter for incoming transfers, along with giving him time to instil his philosophies and tactics; the club would be completely different than what they were this season. He is not your typical “yes man” and that’s why it would be different under Rafa.
Bringing him in as your manager with 10 matches to go and asking him to stave off relegation was always going to be an extremely steep hill to climb. The debate for years to come (if we get relegated) will be the hesitation; the club’s hesitation to sack McClaren after Chelsea’s 5-1 loss and bringing Benitez in during the 18-day period. Giving him more time to understand the players, echo his tactics and football philosophies to them, introduce his formations and ideas.