Danny Murphy thinks a great Rafa achievement if Newcastle survive again after Mike Ashley’s actions
Danny Murphy looked back on Newcastle’s three goal defeat to West Ham and saw one ‘obvious’ difference between the two teams.
The BBC Sport pundit saying the ‘final third’ was the defining thing on the day.
Newcastle had more possession, corners and shots…but it was West Ham who created the better chances and of course, scored the goals.
Rafa Benitez made reference after the game to the money spent, or not spent, by the two clubs.
It was there for all to see at St James Park on Saturday.
Whilst Rafa Benitez was forced to make a profit of over £20m+ on transfer deals this summer and look for frees, loans and bargains, Manuel Pellegrini was given £100m to spend and ended up with a net spend of around £90m.
Felipe Anderson took Newcastle, and in particular DeAndre Yedlin, apart yesterday, West Ham paid around £36m to Lazio for him in the summer.
Anderson, Arnautovic and Hernandez cost between £70m and £80m, whilst Rondon, Atsu, Ki, Perez and Kenedy have cost Newcastle £7m or £8m.
With Mike Ashley starving the manager of funds, Danny Murphy declared on Match of The Day that: ‘If Rafa Benitez keeps them up, it is another great season (in the circumstances).’
Every penny indeed…
Danny Murphy:
“In the first half Newcastle were not that bad.
“They had chances.
“But there was an obvious difference in quality in that final third.
And Rafa Benitez has a point…it is the difference in type of player, with the money that he has been given.
“If Rafa Benitez keeps them up, it is another great season (in the circumstances).”
Jermaine Jenas:
“Felipe Anderson gave DeAndre Yedlin a torrid afternoon.
“He didn’t know what to do with him.
“He (Anderson) was toying with Yedlin by the end. It was almost like.
“He actually should have got more than one, Yedlin couldn’t handle him…”
Stats from BBC Sport:
Newcastle 0 West Ham 3
Goals:
West Ham: Hernandez 11, 63 Anderson 90+3
Possession was West Ham 41% Newcastle 59%
Total shots were West Ham 7 Newcastle 16
Shots on target were West Ham 4 Newcastle 4
Corners were West Ham 3 Newcastle 7
Referee: Paul Tierney
Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Manquillo, Ritchie (Atsu 54), Diame, Ki, Kenedy (Shelvey 70), Rondon, Perez (Joselu 78)
Unused Subs:
Woodman, Longstaff, Lascelles, Clark
Crowd: 51,853 (West Ham 3,200)
(Damning Alan Shearer verdict HERE)
(Newcastle 0 West Ham 3 – Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to Saturday’s defeat HERE)
(Has Mike Ashley finally broken the Newcastle fans – Read HERE)
(Rafa Benitez makes clear to Mike Ashley “What they spend, what we spend…you can see that on the pitch” – Read HERE)
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