This afternoon Newcastle United take on Arsenal in a Premier League fixture.
With the side having yet to win a Premier League game this season, the Newcastle support will be hoping that the side can register that crucial first victory against a side they beat last season.
However, in our last Premier League home fixture, against Chelsea, the home support were a little perplexed as to the tactics employed by Rafael Benitez.
On that day, Newcastle were prepared to sit behind the ball and defend vigorously, without offering any real attacking intent until Chelsea had, through a disputed penalty, took the lead.
I’m probably not alone in suggesting I’d rather see Newcastle go hell-for-leather and end up losing 4-2 than play the way they did against Chelsea.
But, in talking to the local media source, the Chronicle Live, Chelsea was a case of how you say, horses for courses, with the boss quoted as having remarked,
“Every game is different.
“We will try to set a team up that can win with the tactics, and that’s what I have to do. We will try to do something that’s enough to win the game.
“We will have a chance, but you are talking about a team with good players.
“The tactics have to be right.”
I know Rafa knows best but let’s, at least, have a real go this afternoon!