Middlesbrough’s relegation from the Premier League last season meant that football fans in the North East will have to complete the whole of the 2018/19 season watching Premier League matches at St James’ Park. However, after the opening 10 Premier League matches of the season, there isn’t a shade of doubt that the majority of football fans in the North East have been left disappointed with Newcastle’s performances. Out of the first 10 matches, Newcastle has failed to win even a single game and the team has not looked particularly convincing performance-wise.
With many fans already starting to air their views on the best way forward for the team, (others suggesting a change in management, change in tactics and of course the usual rhetoric, a change in ownership) the club’s manager Rafa Benitez has had his say.
‘Luck Not On Our Side’
Responding to questions from journalists who were suggesting that Newcastle’s poor start to the Premier League season would ultimately result in relegation at the end of the season, Rafa Benitez said he does not hold the same views. Benitez said the current Newcastle team has more than enough talent to raise performances and climb up the Premier League table. Relegation talk according to Rafa Benitez is rather premature at this point as there are still many more games to play before the league comes to an end.
Diverging from the views held by most Newcastle fans, Benitez said that they have failed to pick up maximum points in most games largely as a result of the lack of luck rather than poor performances. With a bit of luck, according to Benitez, Newcastle would have picked maximum points in some of their opening 10 Premier League matches. Rafa’s assuring words could not have come at a better time as already some Newcastle fans were starting to show their disapproval by walking out before the end of the matches. Rafa’s words are also reassuring for bettors looking to pick Newcastle as one of the teams that will avoid relation at the end of the season at several bookmakers online including NetBet Sport.
What Newcastle Needs
Firstly, taking a cue from Rafa Benitez’s words, the team is in desperate need of luck. Unfortunately, there is nothing that the manager nor the players can do to attract luck rather than hoping that on any given day, lady luck visits.
Apart from luck, there are many more things which are crucial for Newcastle in order for the team to improve its performances. Most notably, the team needs the fans to be on the team’s side through thick and thin. Already, there are some sections that walk out before the end of matches. While this is a sign of protest on the fans’ side, it does no favours to the team. Fans protests psychologically affect the players on the pitch and in turn affect their performances. As such, there is a high need for fans to remain behind the team even when things are not going their way.