Three changes Newcastle United need to make in order to secure promotion

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Benitez needs to less stubborn

Rafa Benitez is a world class manager and he shouldn’t be managing in the Championship. That much is fact. However, he needs to be less stubborn over the second half of the season. He is establishing very good practices in the first team that will stand Newcastle in good stead if they are promoted back to the Premier League. They are well balanced, concede few chances and operate well as a unit. That said, they are sometimes too predictable going forwards. Everybody knows that Newcastle are going to be playing 4-2-3-1 with inverted wingers and will look to get Dwight Gayle in behind at every opportunity. Teams are beginning to figure Newcastle out and Benitez needs to do something about that. He needs to be less predictable with his team selections on a game-by-game basis and be more willing to make changes earlier if his side isn’t winning.

If they are promoted, Newcastle will be well prepared as they are tactically tough to break down and have players that can thrive on the counter attack. However, they are having to dominate possession in the Championship and sometimes there is a need to be more inventive. It is difficult to critics Benitez as he has taken on a difficult job at St James’ Park and has done excellently so far. He is loved by Newcastle fans and is a much better manager than the ones the club have had in recent times. However, he has been punished for his lack of ambition in some matches. The last match against Blackburn is a great example. After seeing his side dominate the first half, he could have made an attacking change replacing one of his defensive midfielders with another attacker, or bring on his two attacking full backs (DeAndre Yedlin and Achraf Lazaar) to stretch the play. By the time he made changes, it was too late.

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