Rafa's Reign - A Newcastle United Story

JasonTindallsGrin

JasonTindallsGrin

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Rafa Benitez Confirmed As Newcastle Manager

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Newcastle United is delighted to announce the appointment of Rafa Benitez as the Club's new manager. Benitez joins United on an initial three-year deal. The Club can also confirm the appointment of Fabio Pecchia, Francisco de Míguel Moreno, Antonio Gómez Pérez, who will join Ian Cathro and Simon Smith to form Benitez's coaching team. Paul Simpson, Alessandro Schoenmaker and Steve Black will part company with the club with immediate effect.

Speaking of his appointment, Rafa Benitez said: "I have the pleasure to confirm I have committed to a legendary English club, with the massive challenge of remaining part of the Premier League. "It will be a challenge not just for me and my staff but for the players, the Club and the fans. "All of us must push together in the same direction and with the same target in mind. This is the reason why I'm going to ask for your total support to successfully complete this task."Personally, it means my return to the Premier League, closer to my home and my family. I can't be happier."C'mon Toon Army! The club and I need your total involvement!" Managing Director Lee Charnley said: "I am very pleased to welcome Rafa Benitez to the club. In Rafa we have, without doubt, secured the services of one of Europe's top managers. "He has managed some of the most successful teams at the very highest level of the game and we are proud to now have him as our manager. "Our sole focus now is to give our full support to Rafa, his coaching team and the players in order to secure our status in the Premier League.
"I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Paul Simpson, Alessandro Schoenmaker and Steve Black for their service to the Club."
 
Interested to see how you get on! Will you try to have a similar looking table as this year's or are you starting the season from scratch? :)
 
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Rafa arrival sparks new life into failing Newcastle

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Benitez barks out orders to his new players at clubs Benton base

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The signing of Rafa Benitez on a three-year deal marks the start of a new era for a Newcastle United who are in dire need of rehaul. Benitez is appointed in the role of 'manager' which indicates a shift in policy of the club as they ditch the 'head coach' model which has consistently failed them. The Newcastle United fans have been extremely impressed with the clubs choice and have been left pinching themselves in disbelief at having suh an astute character at the helm of their beloved side.

Rafa is expected to inject life into a team that has developed a losing mentality and soft touch under the the management of Pardew, Carver and McClaren, and is backed by many to be the man to bring success to the bare trophy cabinets of St James Park. The players of Newcastle United will try to show in pre-season that they deserve a starting spot in the team that Benitez chooses and will have games against LASK Linz, Austria Vienna, First Vienna FC, Floridsdorfer AC, Hamburg and Gateshead to prove their worth under the Champions League winner.

Benitez will not be making any changes in terms of bringing first team players in until Summer 2016, granted he can keep Newcastle up. However we can expect a number of fringe/young players to leave on loan across the stage of the season.
 
Linecoigne1998 said:
Interested to see how you get on! Will you try to have a similar looking table as this year's or are you starting the season from scratch? :)
Click to expand...

I'll just be starting from scratch but disabled the transfer window, thanks for your reply!
 
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Rafa moves quickly to tie down Toon prospects

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Aarons and Mbabu commit long term futures

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Newcastle United have today confirmed that Rolando Aarons, 19, and Kevin Mbabu, 20, have signed new and improved deals which will keep them at the club till 2019 as their current deals were due to expire in the summer. The duo are obviously highly thought of by new manager Rafa Benitez and look to develop into fine players under the Spaniard.

The club are also discussing the potential loans of Curtis Good, Gabriel Obertan, Lubo Satka, Freddie Woodman, Callum Roberts and Ivan Toney whilst discussions go on behind the scenes about Benitez setting up an affiliate partnership with a Sky Bet Championship club to send Newcastle youngsters to speed up and aid development.

Sky Sources also understand that Newcastle have contacted former Paris Saint Germain left-back Siaka Tiene with the hope of securing the 32 year old left back on a short term deal. The Ivorian was released by Montpellier at the end of last season and Benitez hopes he can provide cover at left back with Massadio Haidara the only fit option as Paul Dummett faces months on the sidelines.


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Tiene in Toon?: Ivorian offered Magpies deal
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Newcastle announce shock triple exit as they wrap up pre-season


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Gouffran, Cisse and Tiote all leave on loan


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Newcastle United have today confirmed that three of their most senior players have left in shock loan deals. Yoan Gouffran, Papiss Cisse and Cheick Tiote have all left the club today on season long loans to clubs on the continent. Gouffran has joined Montpellier, Cisse has joined Galatasaray and Tiote has joined Bordeaux.

The Chronicle understands that Newcastle wont pay a penny towards wages and it remains to be seen whether the deals have buy-out clauses but what is clear is that these three players did not fit into Rafa's plans for this, all important, season for the club. All three players have been the subject of frustration on Tyneside with all starting their careers on Newcastle in very positive fashion before trailing off and becoming shadows of their former selves. The club will NOT look to replace the trio.
In other news, Newcastle wrapped up a brilliant pre-season with a win over local rivals Gateshead. Rafa Benitez will now have a firm idea of his XI for the tough season opener against title-chasing Manchester City.
Pre-Season Fixtures

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Transfer Round-Up
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8th Aug 2015

Plucky Newcastle Beaten by Impressive City

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Man of the Match: Aarons shines in brave defeat
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Rafa Benitez's Newcastle United started their season with defeat at home to an impressive Manchester City. However the manager expressed his delight at his sides attacking endevour and character and claimed that the performance wasnt far from what they want to be.

It was a dream start for Newcastle as Sissoko drifted on to a Rolando Aarons cross at the back post to put the Magpies ahead and it was a lead they'd hold into half time. Then the City reaction came with two oppurtunisitic goals in two minutes from Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero. However St James Park was rocking again just two minutes later as Rolando Aarons got a goal for himself after cutting in from the left. The youngster, who was only drafted in after Andros Townsend failed a fitness test, earned the Man of the Match award for his blistering attacking play and cutting edge final product. However the difference in quality shone through late on as City put the game to bed with goals from De Bruyne and Aguero.

NUFC XI (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat,Lascelles,Mbemba,Haidara; Saivet,Shelvey; Sissoko,Wijnaldum,Aarons; Mitrovic

Match Facts

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15th August 2015
West Ham ****** impressive away victory
View attachment 168972Emmanuel Eminike stars for Hammers
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Newcastle United fans went home disapointed today after their side succumbed to defeat after dominant half-hour display from West Ham United. The defeat leaves the Magpies in 19th place, propped up by Southampton on goal difference.

West Ham got out of the blocks quickly and orchestrated numerous early attacks, it only took 8 minutes for one to pay off after Eminike beat his man and slotted the ball across Tim Krul. Newcastle looked shell shocked and sturggled to react, so much so that the Hammers doubled their lead after Eminike slotted the ball through to Lanzini who curled it to the far post. Newcastle quickly halved the deficit through a smart Mitrovic finish but West Ham held on through late barrages to take home 3 points.


(4-2-3-1) Krul; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Saivet, Shelvey; Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Aarons; Mitrovic

Match Facts

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22nd August 2015
Newcastle in horrendous collapse
View attachment 168970Rondon double downs Toon
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Newcastle United fans will be left scratching their heads as their team were in such control against high-flying West Bromwich Albion only for it to go horribly wrong.

A patient first half display from the visitors was rewarded when Sissoko popped up in first half stoppage time to give the Magpies a deserved lead. However, 62% of possession was not enough for Newcastle to hold on and West Broms front two exploited Newcastles frailties with three goals in the last 15 minutes which have actually took the Baggies to the summit of the table. Newcastle fans are choosing to remain optomistic at this stage and are confident that Benitez will get the team firing in due time.


Match Facts

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Tough start but that only makes for a more interesting story! Good luck!
 
25th August 2015
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Toon Get First Win With Weakened Side
View attachment 167846Kevin Mbabu put in a Man of the Match performance
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Struggling Newcastle finally got their first win under Rafa Benitez as a heavily changed XI swept Millwall aside. With a number of United's fringe players desperate to impress their new boss, things became nervy when Jamaal Lascelles mis-kicked the ball into his own net and the frustration around the ground could be felt. However, it took only 9 minutes for the impressive Rolando Aarons to level things up before Roma loanee Seydou Doumbia gave them the lead before half-time. Vurnon Anita doubled the lead minutes into the second half before Aleksander Mitrovic, who was subbed on with just minutes to go, killed the game off. Benitez will hope this performance will inject urgency into his failing firt-teamers.


Match Facts

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29th August 2015
Newcastle Breathtaking in First League Win
View attachment 167830MOTM: Aleksander Mitrovic, thorn in the side for the toffees
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The Newcastle United fans beathed a sigh of relief when filtering out of St James Park on Saturday evening as their side managed to pick up that delayed first win. Rafa Benitez put emphasis on his side to start strongly and thats exactly what they did as they laid on one of the best first half displays of any team so far this season. Moussa Sissoko got his side off to a flyer with 7 on the clock as he got on the end of a fabulous Andros Townsend cross. United kept on knocking and it only took nine more minutes before Mitrovic muscled off two defenders and slid an inch-perfect pass through to the on-running Wijnaldum who tucked it away for his first off the season. Mitrovic capped off a perfect 30 minutes when his brilliant movement got him onto a Sissoko square ball. Aaron Lennon unnerved proceedings slightly with a goal immediately after half-time but his Everton side could only huff and puff without reward.

Match Facts

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13th September 2015
Newcastle Unlucky to Not Hold On
View attachment 165553Harry Kane popped home in last minute to stop impressive Magpies result
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Newcastle United will be happy with their performance today against a talent-laiden Spurs side but will be dejected following the late goal that robbed them of a well earned point. Aleksander Mitrovic gave the Toon Army something to shout about early on as slotted home on nine minutes and Newcastle had the chances to grab a couple more over the course of the first half however it wasnt to be. Erik Lamela levelled proceedings just after half-time however the Argentinian looked slightly offside. Newcastle then did well to frustrate Spurs and looked set to see the game out in comfortable fashion until Harry Kane dealt a heavy blow after his deflected strike beat Krul.


Match Facts

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19th September 2015
Newcastle deservedly triumph in classic
View attachment 165537Substitute Seydou Saves the DayView attachment 165539

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Newcastle United showed just how dangerous they can be after they hit newly-promoted Watford for 5, however question marks still heaily weigh over the sides defensive capabilities. Newcastle were quick out of the blocks and were far superior in the opening stages, even having two goals chalked off from Mitrovic and Wijnaldum in the opening 10 minutes for offside. The Magpies kept on attacking and it looked a matter of time before they would take the lead which made it more of a shock when Watford hit two goals in two minutes which didnt make St James Park a nice place to be. Things looked to improve just three minutes later though as Newcastle were awarded a penalty which in-form Mitrovic failed to convert, things werent looking good. Wijnaldum did manage to halve the deficit just before half-time which gave Newcastle something to build on, and they did exactly that when Sissoko netted on 49 minutes. United did all the attacking to take the lead and the key moment was when the misfiring Mitrovic was replaced by loanee Doumbia who raced through to score ten minutes from time. Watford werent done there though and equalised 3 minutes from time to deflate Newcastle. Rafa Benitez barked out orders to galvanise which worked after Newcastle were awarded another penalty which Shelvey smashed home before Doumbia netted a second to calm the nerves. And Breath!


Match Facts

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Tough start but a good turn in form as of late!
 
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