Newcastle 2-2 QPR - Match Reaction

Newcastle drew 2-2 with QPR on Wednesday evening after Jamie Mackie and a Ciaran Clark own goal cancelled out goals from Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie. After an electric start, Newcastle were poor through the first half. They were slopping in possession, lacking in energy and focus, and went into the break deservedly pegged back. Newcastle were better in the second half, and three points looked likely until sloppiness prevailed once more – miscommunication between Clark and Darlow led the defender to flick the ball into the net.

Benitez rested a number of key players in the FA Cup defeat at Oxford, but the break seemed to have the opposite effect. A number of players seemed unfocused, and the performance seemed to be in keeping with a general malaise that has haunted many of our performances this season. Especially at home, we seem nervy, unable to cope with a demanding home support. Paul Dummett’s permanent inclusion in the team suggests, at least to me, that Rafa is concerned about our ability to defend given the left back offers little going forward. There is an imbalance to this side at the moment, an over-reliance on Shelvey, and players who perhaps thought that status or reputation would carry them in this league. I’d include Lascelles and Perez in this category.

The headlines were dominated by the developing tension between manager and board after Newcastle failed to sign a single player in January. Rafa was visibly frustrated in the post-match interview, and this will clearly be an ongoing issue right up until the summer. Newcastle fans will be rightly concerned, as it seems Ashley’s temporary non-interventionist policy has ended. To add a dose of an opinion: it seems absolutely ridiculous that Ashley could be upset that Newcastle are not in a commanding enough position in the league. His inability to acquire a sound understanding of football has plagued him throughout his tenure, and his obsession with the business side of things renders him incapable of setting realistic ambitions. Let’s be clear, we are where we are in the league because Rafa rescued a decaying, disjointed squad and turned it into a team. He even did that still accruing a profit. There is no justification for increased board involvement.

Newcastle are visited by Steve McClaren’s Derby on Saturday, and a loss there would be a huge kick in the teeth. Rafa needs to rejuvenate a squad that has been coasting for a while, and he needs to postpone his transfer frustration until the summer, when serious conversations will be had.