The Newcastle job has never been an easy one. The Magpies mad city are desperate for their team to achieve success. Come wind or shine the Toon Army seem to be at St James Park for home games in massive numbers, despite not having seen much recent success. However, the Magpies finishing in the Premier League top-ten after promotion last season has to be regarded as a success.
A 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday means that the Magpies have now recorded four wins on the trot in the Premier League. The victory also saw the north east side move 13 points clear of the drop zone and into tenth place in the table.
Boss deserves immense credit
When Newcastle suffered relegation, the season before last, experienced Spanish boss Rafa Benitez decided to stay with the north east club. Reportedly, a number of clubs in his homeland were set to offer him an escape route.
However, he stayed with the Magpies to help guide them regain their top-flight status. They did just that at the first time of asking last season. This season has been a mixed one in terms of results, but the Magpies have stuck in there.
Benitez was clearly not happy with the backing offered to him in the transfer market last summer. There were even murmurings that the Spaniard may leave the club in the summer and also earlier in the season.
The former Real Madrid boss has stayed the course. He has helped the team achieve their primary objective in the team’s first season back in the top-flight, which was to retain top-flight status.
Benitez deserves immense credit for his team staying up this season. They could even finish in the top half of the table, which they are 1/ 4 to achieve.
Fans will expect more next season
The Toon Army will want their team to move to the next level next season. They are just like any set of fans in any country. Once they reach a certain level, they want to move to the next level.
Not so long ago the Magpies somehow finished fifth-place in the top-flight table. If the team finish in the top ten this season, then some of the Toon Army will want to finish in the top-six next season, which is mightily hard to do, just ask Everton.
The fans know that with the fanbase their club has, it has the potential to achieve far more than just being Premier League also-rans. The club has the set-up and also the right boss to move them forward.
Benitez needs the backing of the Newcastle hierarchy
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley comes in for a lot of stick from the Toon Army. This is because he is a businessman first and a football fan second. He is not from Newcastle, so it is unlikely he takes much joy from the Magpies victories apart from maybe that his shares in the club grow in price.
This summer Ashley and his fellow Newcastle hierarchy have to back Benitez with every penny they can. The Spanish boss has recently warned the Magpies hierarchy that they have to spend money on their academy and their first team to move forward.
The former Liverpool has also stated that he is happy at the north east club, which will be music to the ears of the Newcastle fans. However, that warning to Ashley about spending money should be heeded.
At the moment, Newcastle United needs Rafa Benitez more than Rafa Benitez needs Newcastle United. The Spanish boss could work into another job elsewhere, so this summer the club should go all out to back their highly-rated boss.
If they do, then the north east club may be looking up at the top of the table, rather than worrying about another relegation to the Championship.
