---
title: "Newcastle United: Fans slam ‘anti-Rafa’ agenda following Charlie Nicholas comments"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-fans-slam-anti-rafa-agenda-following-chronicle-piece/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2019-12-04T16:40:49Z"
modified: "2019-12-04T16:40:49Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Fans slam ‘anti-Rafa’ agenda following Charlie Nicholas comments

**After Newcastle United picked up an incredible result at the weekend, [drawing 2-2 with Premier League champions Manchester City](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50526605), supporters have hammered a Newcastle Chronicle piece detailing Charlie Nicholas’ praise of Steve Bruce.**

The Magpies, after losing to [2-0 to Aston Villa](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50455604) in a limp performance the weekend before, pulled off one of the shocks of their campaign as they nicked an incredibly unlikely draw against one of the league’s top sides at St. James’ Park on Saturday.

\[freshpress-poll id=”259134″\]

As a result, pundits from all over football have [been praising Bruce’s side](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/there-base-club-grow-joe-17345265) for their energy and organisation after surviving wave after wave of City’s onslaught to nick an equalising goal in each half – both strikes coming minutes after the Sky Blues took a lead.

Brilliant strikes from Jetro Willems and Jonjo Shelvey sealed an afternoon to remember for the Geordie faithful, but fans still aren’t forgiving of Bruce or the ‘anti-Rafa agenda’ against their former manager.

Speaking to [Sky Sports via the Newcastle Chronicle \[14:42\]](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-news-live-magpies-17352062), Nicholas said:

“He is doing a much better job than what Rafael Benitez did.

“They may only be four points above Southampton but they are better than where they were last season. Newcastle are hard to break down and look to counter-attack.

“Bruce is clever, he is going back to Sheffield where he will get plenty of abuse but he will have his players pumped up. If their shape is good, the counter attack will be a strong weapon for them.”

Here’s what fans had to say in response on Twitter.

> The toon army will never forget Rafa and what he did for us, he united us and we will never forget that, the anti Rafa agenda pushed by the media, fans can see through it [@rafabenitezweb](https://twitter.com/rafabenitezweb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#nufc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/nufc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Chris Cossey (@Cosseycj) [December 3, 2019](https://twitter.com/Cosseycj/status/1201963572521242624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Considerably weaker yet he’s had a huge nett spend in comparison. 😂😂😂 [pic.twitter.com/6DzsJrExoG](https://t.co/6DzsJrExoG)
>
> — Ian (@ian\_riches) [December 3, 2019](https://twitter.com/ian_riches/status/1201965202914324481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Sounds like Nicholas would fit right in at the chronicle
>
> — Jonny (@j\_wilson1988) [December 3, 2019](https://twitter.com/j_wilson1988/status/1201928588955656196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> ⏺ Charlie’s opinion ‘meaningless’
>
> — Steve McKenna (@SteveMcKenna\_) [December 3, 2019](https://twitter.com/SteveMcKenna_/status/1201906922372452352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Villa away, Leicester away we were shocking
>
> — Davey Boy (@23FenhamEusebio) [December 3, 2019](https://twitter.com/23FenhamEusebio/status/1201918460026064898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Another disgraceful anti Rafa club PR article.
>
> He should have just let our club rot in Championship instead of staying to turn our sinking ship of a club around.
>
> Rafa turned club around, promoted it & then got it 10th
>
> Most important jobs=Rafa(Turned club around),Bobby,Keegan❤️ [pic.twitter.com/boZmXndO2m](https://t.co/boZmXndO2m)
>
> — Rafa Facts (@FactsRafa) [December 3, 2019](https://twitter.com/FactsRafa/status/1201901524496134145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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