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Newcastle relegation can be forgotten now, as rival fans give Rafa the nod

Newcastle United's Daryl Janmaat looks dejected at the end (Reuters)
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Daryl Janmaat left relegated Newcastle United for Watford in the summer.

Newcastle United's Daryl Janmaat looks dejected at the endDaryl Janmaat looks dejected at the end

Watford fullback Daryl Janmaat believes contrasting personalities in the Newcastle United dressing room, and a lack of momentum played a key role in the club’s relegation, the Telegraph reports.

Newcastle suffered relegation to the Championship last term, despite boasting a number of talented players at the club – and a total wage bill likely to be in or around the Premier League’s top ten.

Despite the best efforts of (then) new manager Rafa Benitez, Newcastle ultimately lost their Premier league status as North East rivals Sunderland put in a decent late to preserve their own place in the top-flight.

Newcastle's Daryl Janmaat in action with Fulham's Floyd AyiteDaryl Janmaat featured for Newcastle in their Championship opener

Janmaat, one of the Newcastle first-team regulars last term, told the Telegraph: “I don’t know what went wrong. Maybe different mentalities (among the players), maybe too much difference.

“We never had any momentum, any flow. We didn’t have those four or five games without losing. It was win one, then lose and we struggled. We just did not perform.”

Janmaat joined the likes of Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum and Andros Townsend in leaving Newcastle over the summer to move back to the Premier League.

Newcastle United manager Rafael BenitezNewcastle United manager Rafael Benitez

The doom and gloom of last season is well and truly behind Newcastle United now, though. Despite a tough start to life in the Championship (defeats against Fulham and Huddersfield), 5 wins on the bounce sees the club in second place in the league. QPR fans, leaving Loftus Road on Tuesday after witnessing their club thrashed 6-0 by Newcastle, were heard to say that Benitez was the club’s best signing this season.

General view outside St James' ParkGeneral view outside St James’ Park