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Newcastle United Fan View: 2018's off to a flyer!

In my last article of 2017 I wrote how Newcastle United had all but limped to the 2017 finish line; the year itself was most definitely a “game of two halves” with magpies fans watching their team lift the EFL Championship in May, only for our poor past Premiership form to return in the new season. Thankfully though, a wonderful performance by the magpies against Stoke City on New Years Day got the new year off to a flyer!

Once again, Rafa Benitez rang the changes, making 5 changes to the side that struggled to a 0-0 draw at home to Brighton. Whilst some managers get criticised for tinkering, this is something we have got used to under Benitez and for the most part, we welcome the changes as it often breathes some fresh air in to the side. Of course, the cynic in me feels the changes are not simply down to players needing to rest, I still think Benitez is still trying to find the right formula within his current squad to get a performance on the pitch and if the performance against Stoke yesterday is anything to go by, he got it spot on.

The victory moved Newcastle United up to 13th in the league and above Stoke City who I thought were incredibly poor against us. We played well, especially on the counter attack and we played with a freedom that I have not really seen this season; we played well which in itself is an achievement! Perhaps it was playing away from home that took the pressure off? Perhaps it was a poor Stoke side that helped? Or perhaps we have discovered a system, a starting eleven and a new found confidence that we can take in to the next home league game against Swansea City in a couple of weeks. Who knows, maybe we might have even signed someone by then (apologies, getting slightly carried away with myself there – course we won’t have signed anyone!).

Whilst the victory lifted us up the league table it also did a hell of a lot for lifting the spirits of Newcastle United fans far and wide. It had been an awful run through November and December but we have now put back to back away wins together and the point against Brighton, albeit from a disappointing performance is another towards the survival target.

We have moved beyond Rafa’s 20 point target my the end of the year, albeit a day late and whilst it is reassuring to be sat in 13th with a bit of a cushion of teams between us and 18th place, we are all very well aware that things can change quickly. A win against Swansea at home will help cement their place at the bottom and move us further away from danger but up next is the FA Cup, a home tie against League 2 leaders Luton waits and if you think 5 changes against Stoke was a bit overboard, I wouldn’t put it past Rafa to make 11 changes on Saturday. This tie is a banana skin if ever there was one and if there is one thing that Newcastle United do consistently under Mike Ashley, it is exiting cup competitions at the first stage. I have a bad, bad feeling about Saturday! Still, 13th, I’ll take that!