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Phil Thompson tells Mike Ashley ‘Don’t take the Mickey’ out of Newcastle United

5 years ago
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Reflecting on their three goal victory over Cardiff, Phil Thompson picked out three players in particular.

The Sky Sports pundit thought Salomon Rondon was ‘absolutely fantastic’ and praised his all round play, especially holding the ball up and linking play.

Fabian Schar was naturally another who caught the eye with his display, Phil Thompson calling it ‘terrific’ the way the Swiss defender scored the opening goal.

Nice to see the former Liverpool player pick out Sean Longstaff as a third to catch the eye, saying ‘Special mention for Sean Longstaff…this boy was great.’

However, Phil Thompson also fears for Rafa Benitez and his squad because in typical Mike Ashley fashion, the owner may see this performance and pulling out of the relegation zone, as a reason not to allow Rafa any January signings

His message to the NUFC owner: ‘You have a good manager, a good hard working team, don’t take the Mickey out them, give the manager a bit of help.’

Phil Thompson speaking on Sky Sports:

“These teams at the bottom have to work ever so hard for them [wins] but 3-0…

“Rafa Benitez and his staff able to sit there quite comfortable for a change.

“It was a very good performance and they [Newcastle] thoroughly deserved it, it was really great.

Schar got two, a great run [for the first goal] and he never realised everything would just open up – he goes and he goes and he just picks his spot – terrific.

“Rondon was absolutely fantastic.

“Plays up there on his own, got hold of every ball and brought everybody into play, I just thought his performance was terrific.

“There wasn’t a lot in this game but Newcastle were always the better team and as the game wore on, you saw a little more class from Newcastle.

“Great sportsmanship [from Rondon] as well. Rondon smashes the ball into the face of Joe Bennett and he is well inside the box, ball comes back to him as Bennett collapses to the floor. He could easily have gone [and went for goal] but instead launches it out of play.

“Special mention for Sean Longstaff.

“What a great display, a young lad coming through, what a performance. A lot of young lads come in and take the easy way out, pass the ball back all the time and square, but this boy was great. Got a good physique for the Premier League as well, hopefully he will get many more games.”

Jeff Stelling:

“The cynics might say this has come at exactly the wrong time because Mike Ashley will be thinking ‘We are now out of relegation, we don’t need to spend.’?

Phil Thompson:

“That is always the problem isn’t it.

“We get this double-sided sword with Mike Ashley

“He is looking at this ‘We’ve got enough, we are going to stay up, we’ve got plenty.’

“No you haven’t got plenty, you have to realise that. You have to invest, you don’t want to be slipping back into the relegation zone.

“You have a good manager, a good hard working team, don’t take the Mickey out them, give the manager a bit of help.”

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