Rafa's Masterplan

Last updated : 05 March 2017 By Footy Mad - Editor

The young pretender won the battle of St James’ Park, but he succumbed during the reverse conflict - and may ultimately have lost the war in the process.

Image result for Huddersfield 1 Newcastle 3David Wagner’s Huddersfield Town have rightly drawn plaudits for their excellent season to date. In just 18 months the German has taken the Terriers from Championship also-rans to real promotion contenders, scoring an impressive 2-1 victory on Tyneside in the process.

But Newcastle United fans have unwavering faith in Rafa Benitez for a reason. And Mike Ashley pays the Spaniard £5million a year for a very good reason.

After being caught off guard and, to a certain, having been out-thought by Wagner earlier in the campaign, Benitez ensured there would be no repeat performance at the John Smith’s Stadium as he his masterful gameplan delivered a vital 3-1 away victory.

The former Real Madrid boss knew Huddersfield would dominate possession so, rather than try and compete in that regard and risk being picked off, Benitez decided to sit off the Terriers.

Daryl Murphy was deployed as a lone frontman, with Newcastle pumping balls long to the Irishman in order to bypass Huddersfield’s high midfield line, with Matt Ritchie and Christian Atsu tasked with collecting any second ball they could and exploiting the space in behind.

DeAndre Yedlin was replaced in the line-up by Vurnon Anita, with Benitez no doubt having watched footage of Daryl Janmaat repeatedly being exposed by the Terriers back on Tyneside, and the Dutchman put in a brave display despite suffering from a tight during the second half.

The stats show the home side has 76-per-cent possession to United’s 24, and they also show that the Terriers completed more than three times the number of passes Newcastle did.

Yet the scoreline at the full-time whistle read 3-1 to United, and the table shows Newcastle are now five points clear of Brighton and Hove Albion, and 11 ahead of the third-placed Terriers.

All-action, high-intensity managers like Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Wagner may be very much in vogue at the moment, but Benitez’s experience and world-class nous remain priceless assets for United.

The Spaniard displayed a tactical masterclass in West Yorkshire, and it has put the Magpies firmly on course for an immediate return to the Premier League.

Newcastle fans adore Benitez for a very good reason: he is one of the very best.

 

The Toon's Greatest 100 Players. . .Ever! - £10.99

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This book is a collection of the 100 Greatest Newcastle United players of all time, as voted for by NewcastleUtd-Mad.co.uk readers and a panel of journalists who contribute to the website.

The players are in an order of five-per-chapter, counting down from 100 to Newcastle United's greatest ever player (as viewed by the author), but the whole point of the book is for You (the reader) to decide who goes where.

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There will be controversy over who is on the list, and chances are, more controversy over who is not.

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 NEWCASTLE UTD FIXTURES 

Reading vs Newcastle United - Tuesday (8pm)

Newcastle United vs Fulham - Saturday, March 11 (3pm)

Birmingham City vs Newcastle United - Saturday, March 18 (3pm)

Newcastle United vs Wigan Athletic - Saturday, April 1 (3pm)

Newcastle United vs Burton Albion - Wednesday, April 5 (7.45pm)

Sheffield Wednesday vs Newcastle United (Sky Sports) - Saturday, April 8 (5.30pm)

Newcastle United vs Leeds United (Sky Sports) - Friday, April 14 (7.45pm)

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HUDDERSFIELD 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ritchie pen, Murphy, Gayle)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback (Gouffran 72), Atsu (Yedlin 81); Diame; Murphy (Gayle 66)
Subs not used: Hanley, Perez, Elliot, Gamez

BRIGHTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Diame, Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (Murphy 74), Shelvey, Atsu, Diame, Gouffran (Perez 82)
Unused Subs: Elliot, Hanley, Gamez, Anita, Mitrovic

NEWCASTLE 2 BRISTOL CITY 2 (Smith (og), Clark)
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Colback (Diaméat 58), Ritchie, Pérez( Gouffran 79) Atsu, Mitrovic 
Subs not used: Elliot, Hanley, Gamez, Anita, Murphy

NEWCASTLE 2 ASTON VILLA 0 (Gouffran, Lansbury (og))
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Colback, Shelvey; Ritchie, Diame, Gouffran; Gayle (Mitrovic 33).
Subs not used: Elliot, Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Gamez.

NORWICH 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Perez, Lascelles)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (70' Atsu), Shelvey, Colback (54' Diame), Gouffran, Perez, Mitrovic (76' Gayle)
Subs: Hanley, Hayden, Elliot, Gamez

WOLVES 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Mitrovic)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (82' Murphy), Colback, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame (88' Perez), Mitrovic (45' Atsu)
Subs: Hanley, Hayden, Elliot, Gamez

NEWCASTLE 1 DERBY CO 0 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden (49' Perez), Gouffran (90+3' Lascelles), Diame, Mitrovic (84' Ameobi)
Subs: Lazaar, Elliot, Gamez, Murphy

NEWCASTLE 2 QPR 2 (Shelvey, Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Perez (86' Diame), Murphy (66' Ameobi)
Subs: Hanley, Lazaar, Gamez, Mitrovic, Sels

FAC OXFORD UTD 3 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Sels, Gamez, Hanley, Lazaar, Haidara (77' Ritchie), Hayden, Barlaser, El-Mhanni (68' Gouffran), Perez, Mitrovic 
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles,Shelvey, Elliot, Yedlin

NEWCASTLE 4 ROTHERHAM 0 (Murphy, Ritchie 2 (1 pen), Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin (80' Sterry), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran (64' Ameobi), Perez, Murphy (75' Lazaar)
Subs: Barlaser, Hanley, Haidara, Sels

FAC NEWCASTLE UTD 3 BIRMINGHAM 1 (Ritchie 2 (1 pen), Gouffran)
Sels, Yedlin (75' Hayden), Hanley, Findlay, Lazaar, Shelvey, Tiote (82' Colback), Ritchie, Ben El-Mhanni (70' Perez), Barlaser, Gouffran 
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles, Elliot, Murphy

BRENTFORD 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle, Murphy)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden (62' Anita - 72' Hanley), Colback, Gouffran, Perez, Gayle (28' Murphy)
Subs: Lazaar, Sels, Sterry, Ameobi

FA CUP BIRMINGHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Murphy)
Sels, Yedlin, Lascelles, Hanley, Haidara (69' Ritchie), Anita, Colback, Tiote (65' Hayden), Lazaar, Murphy, Mitrovic (10' Gouffran)
Subs: Clark, Dummett, Gayle, Darlow

BLACKBURN 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Anita (87' Murphy), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback (77' Perez), Gouffran (85' Atsu), Diame, Gayle 
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels

NEWCASTLE 3 NOTTM FOREST 1 (Ritchie, Gayle 2)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (83' Lazaar), Colback (67' Diame), Hayden, Atsu, Perez, Gayle (88' Mitrovic)
Subs: Anita, Mbemba, Gouffran, Sels

NEWCASTLE 0 SHEFF WED 1
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback (80' Mitrovic), Gouffran (62' Atsu), Diame (69' Perez), Gayle 
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels

BURTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle, Diame)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie (85' Gouffran), Diame, Gayle 
Subs: Lazaar, Anita, Perez, Mbemba, Sels, Mitrovic

WIGAN 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Diame, Atsu)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (69' Atsu), Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle (82' Perez)
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Mitrovic

NEWCASTLE 4 BIRMINGHAM 0 (Gayle 3, Gouffran)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden (82' Lazaar), Gouffran (70' Atsu), Diame, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Yedlin, Tiote, Sels

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez (45' Anita), Gouffran (77' Diame), Gayle (87' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Tiote, Sels, Atsu

LC HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (Diame) * Lost on pens
Sels, Anita (108 Yedlin), Lascelles, Clark, Lazaar, Ritchie (80 Atsu), Shelvey, Hayden (105 Murphy), Gouffran, Diame, Gayle 
Subs: Dummett, Mbemba, Tiote, Darlow

NEWCASTLE 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
Darlow, Yedlin, Mbemba (85' Gayle), Clark, Gamez (55' Dummett), Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Atsu, Perez, Mitrovic 
Subs: Lascelles, Anita, Diame, Gouffran, Sels

LEEDS UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (83' Hayden), Shelvey, Gouffran (76' Diame), Perez, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Atsu

NEWCASTLE 2 CARDIFF 1 (Atsu, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (89' Diame), Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran (72' Anita), Perez, Mitrovic 
Subs: Colback, Hanley, Lazaar, Gayle, Sels

PRESTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Mitrovic 2)
Darlow, Yedlin (90+5' Hanley), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (90+2' Atsu), Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame, Mitrovic (86' Perez)
Subs: Lazaar, Anita, Gamez, Sels

LC NEWCASTLE 6 PRESTON 0 (Mitrovic 2, Diame 2, Ritchie (pen), Perez)
Sels, Yedlin, Mbemba, Hanley, Dummett (58' Anita), Ritchie (75' Perez), Hayden, Colback (32' Shelvey), Atsu, Diame, Mitrovic 
Subs: Clark, Gayle, Gouffran, Darlow

NEWCASTLE 3 IPSWICH TOWN 0 (Perez 2, Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback, Shelvey (83' Hayden), Gouffran (75' Atsu), Perez, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Anita, Diame, Mbemba, Sels

BARNSLEY 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie (83' Atsu), Diame (90+2' Colback), Gouffran, Gayle    
Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Yedlin, Sels, Mitrovic  

NEWCASTLE 3 BRENTFORD 1 (Clark, Gayle 2)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles (Hanley 60), Clark, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Atsu (Yedlin 72), Perez, Gouffran (Lazaar 84); Gayle.
Subs: Sels, Hayden, Diame, Mitrovic.

ROTHERHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Atsu)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (67' Ritchie), Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran, Diame (87' Hanley), Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Hayden, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels

NEWCASTLE 4 NORWICH 3 (Gayle 3, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (92 Atsu), Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback (71' Hayden), Gouffran, Diame (71' Mitrovic), Gayle 
Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Mbemba, Sels

ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Elphick og)
Sels, Yedlin (75' Tiote), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle (80' Mitrovic)
Subs: Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Darlow, Atsu

LC NEWCASTLE 2 WOLVES 0 (Ritchie, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Lazaar, Shelvey, Colback, Ritchie (86' Lascelles), Diame (72' Perez), Gouffran (75' Atsu), Murphy 
Subs: Dummett, Hayden, Woodman, Mitrovic

NEWCASTLE UTD 0 WOLVES 2
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Hayden (Mitrovic 62) Shelvey, Ritchie (Atsu 63), Diame, Perez, Gayle
Subs not used: Clark, Colback, Gouffran, Yedlin, Darlow

QPR 0 NEWCASTLE 6 (Shelvey 2, Perez, Clark, Mitrovic, Hanley)
Sels, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (65' Hanley), Gouffran (61' Atsu), Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez, Mitrovic (74' Yedlin)
Subs: Colback, Gayle, Diame, Darlow

DERBY CO 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gouffran, Yedlin)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran (73' Yedlin), Diame (88' Hayden), Gayle (76' Perez)
Subs: Clark, Lazaar, Darlow, Mitrovic

NEWCASTLE 2 BRIGHTON 0 (Lascelles, Shelvey)
Sels, Anita (72' Gamez), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran (88' Yedlin), Diame (81' Colback), Perez 
Subs: Clark, Hanley, Darlow, Armstrong

(LC) NEWCASTLE 2 CHELTENHAM 0 (Perez 2)
Darlow, Sterry, Lascelles, Hanley, Gamez, Aarons (24' Gouffran), Shelvey, Colback, Perez, Diame, Mitrovic (38' Gayle)
Subs: Dummett, Hayden, Mbemba, Sels

BRISTOL CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gayle)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie, Hayden (87' Shelvey), Colback, Gouffran, Diame (63' Perez), Gayle (88' Aarons)
Subs: Dummett, Hanley, Darlow, Sterry

NEWCASTLE 4 READING 1 (Hayden, Ritchie (P), Gayle 2)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie (90' Aarons), Perez (76' Lascelles), Gouffran (84' Colback), Gayle 
Subs: Hanley, Janmaat, Darlow, Armstrong

NEWCASTLE 1 HUDDERSFIELD 2 (Gayle)
Sels, Janmaat (83' Armstrong), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Anita, Hayden, Shelvey, Aarons (45' Ritchie), Diame (75' Perez), Gayle 
Subs: Clark, Colback, Darlow, Gamez

FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Sels; Janmaat, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett; Hayden (Shelvey 77), Colback (Aarons 61); Ritchie, Perez (Armstrong 70), Anita; Gayle. 
Subs Mbemba, Darlow, Jesus Gamez, Sterry.

NEWCASTLE 3 VITESSE ARNHEM 2 (Leerdam (og), Gayle, Colback)
Sels; Janmaat (Sterry, 74), Hanley (Gamez, 62), Lascelles, Dummett; Hayden (Saivet, 74), Colback (Shelvey, 62); Anita (Mitrovic, 74), Perez (Armstrong, 62), Ritchie (Aarons, 62); Gayle (Gouffran, 74). Subs not: Darlow, Tiote, Thauvin.

SOUTHEND UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Gouffran) 
Darlow; Janmaat (Sterry 63), Mbemba (Hanley 63), Lascelles, Dummett; Hayden (Colback 63), Shelvey (Saivet 73); Anita (Thauvin 78), Perez (Mitrovic 73), Aarons (Gouffran 63); Gayle (Armstrong 63). 
Sub not used: Sels.

SPORTING LOKEREN 0 NEWCASTLE 4 (Perez 2, Perez, Janmaat, Shelvey)
Sels (Darlow 72); Sterry (Gouffran 63), Mbemba (Saivet 72), Lascelles (Dummett 63), Anita (Gamez 46); Hayden (Shelvey 46), Colback (Tiote 72); Janmaat, Perez (Mitrovic 46), Aarons (Thauvin 63), Gayle (Armstrong 63).
Subs not used: None.

DONCASTER ROVERS 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 2 (Hayden, Perez)
Sels, Janmaat (Sterry, 45), Mbemba (Saivet, 65), Lascelles (Dummett, 45), Colback (Hayden, 45), Anita (Gamez, 45), Ritchie (Gouffran, 45), Aarons (Perez, 45), Shelvey (Wijnaldum, 79), Mitrovic (Gayle, 45), Armstrong (Thauvin, 60).

BOHEMIANS 0 NEWCASTLE 6 (Ritchie, Mitrovic, Gayle, Thauvin, Aarons, Wijnaldum) 
Sels, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Sterry, Aarons, Colback, Gouffran, Ritchie, Saivet, Mitrovic.
Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Dummett, Wijnaldum, Shelvey, Hayden, Perez, Gayle, Janmaat, Tiote, Thauvin.