Jamie Redknapp shared that he believed Newcastle United’s squad must be running out of patience with manager Rafa Benitez after losing 1-0 to Brighton on Saturday.
The Sky Sports pundit shared that the Magpies’ results and performances this season didn’t correctly reflect the talent of the players and that they were being held back by Benitez’s negative tactics.
Redknapp claimed that due to this, the current crop of players must be running out patience with the Magpies’ senior man after struggling in front of goal once again when playing the Seagulls.
“Newcastle struggled in front of goal once again in their home defeat by Brighton and the players must be running out of patience with Rafa Benitez,” wrote Redknapp for his Daily Mail column.
“Newcastle’s players are not as bad as results and performances suggest but they are being hamstrung by their manager’s negative tactics.
OPINION
It’s hard to imagine the Newcastle players running out of patience and blaming Benitez for their troubles. If Redknapp is right that players are taking their frustrations out of the Spanish manager, then it’s just because their failing to recognise their own contribution to the club’s struggles this season. There are only a handful of players at best, who can honestly make a case as to why they’ve played well this season, and that says a lot. Benitez’s tactics may have restricted the club’s attackers when facing the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, but the manager clearly encouraged them to push forward against Chris Hughton’s side on Saturday. Benitez can’t shoulder the blame for Ayoze Perez continuing to miss golden chances as the Spanish forward had the chances against Brighton in order to ensure that his side got all three points, but he fluffed his lines. So while Redknapp is right to suggest frustration is high among the Magpies’ squad, it’s doubtful they pointing their fingers at Benitez.
