While Newcastle United are currently second in the Championship table and on course for an instant return to the Premier League, it could have been even better were it not for some disappointing results this season – especially at St James’ Park.
Rafa Benitez’s side have lost seven of their 25 league matches this term, with four of those coming at home and three away.
While every club has their ups and downs over the course of a campaign, it is perhaps more alarming for the Spanish manager that his team scored just once in those four reverses at their 52,000-seater home.
With the defeats on Tyneside coming against Huddersfield Town, Wolves, strugglers Blackburn Rovers – who have done the double over the Magpies – and Sheffield Wednesday, it begs the question as to whether the players have been too complacent, believing that when Newcastle turn up to a fixture at this level, they will easily take the three points.
Here are THREE changes Rafa Benitez must make to prevent Newcastle complacency…
Play his strongest XI
Most Newcastle United supporters know what their side’s strongest XI is, and the manager should too.
When you’re fighting for promotion you want consistency, and while Rafa Benitez has stuck to that philosophy for the majority of the campaign, there have been times when he has made multiple changes and it has backfired.
One example of this was when a lowly Blackburn Rovers came to St James’ Park in November and Benitez decided to make six alterations to his starting XI, including dropping top marksman Dwight Gayle to the substitutes’ bench.
The match ended in a 1-0 defeat and the lesson that was learned is that you can’t rest your players, or on your laurels, in the Championship.
Preparation
While Newcastle certainly have the players and squad to beat any other side in the Championship, sometimes it isn’t that easy and Benitez must prepare his players for those scenarios.
The Spaniard will know the way he wants his team to play but that style may not always work against every club in the Championship – especially those that come to St James’ Park and stick 10 men behind the ball with the hope of picking up a point.
The Magpies might need to be more inventive or more direct and it means that Benitez must have a plan B – maybe even a plan C – ready for each fixture, which could just help them avoid any more disappointing losses as they look to win promotion.
Mentality
Whilst the players – and probably the supporters too – will automatically be more up for clashes against the likes of Aston Villa and Leeds United than they will against Burton Albion and Rotherham United – with all due respect – Benitez must work with his players to make sure they are at the top of their game every week.
The Championship is a division where you don’t get away with having an off day, and the Spaniard must instil that mentality of not underestimating any team if they are to achieve promotion back to the Premier League this term.
