It is a FACT that the Newcastle United is a mess from top to bottom. It is a FACT that Lee Charnley does not know what he is doing when it comes to the footballing side of running a club. It is a FACT that Graham Carr has failed in his recent, expensive recruitment drives. It is a FACT that Lee Charnley and Graham Carr were wrong to hire Steve McLaren. It is FACT that we hovered around the relegation zone all season whilst the board dithered. It is a FACT that Steve McLaren should have been sacked before the January transfer window. It is a FACT that the Academy is not keeping up with its rivals. It is FACT that the transfer strategy in place for the last few years has failed.
It is FACT that Rafa Benitez is the first world class manager to grace our club with his presence in our dugout since the late Great Sir Bobby Robson. It is FACT that Rafa Benitez has taken us on a 6 game unbeaten run. It is FACT that Rafa Benitez just orchestrated a 5-1 demolition of a Top 3 side that still had something to play for, even though we did not. It is a FACT that Rafa Benitez represents genuine hope for Newcastle United’s future should he stay.
It is a FACT that Rafa Benitez wants to stay so long as his conditions are met. It is a FACT that his demands are reasonable and logical given the club’s long standing failed footballing and transfer strategy. It is FACT that keeping Rafa Benitez represents more than just signing the first manager more than worth his salt in 12 years. Retaining Benitez represents a change in the structure and strategy of the club from top to bottom. He represents hope and provides a silver lining to a very big storm cloud. Rafa Benitez represents a viable, enjoyable and successful future for Newcastle United.
No other name will do. That is a FACT.
[poll id=”94″]
Sham: we also scored 3 yesterday with 10 men. Maybe that is the cunning plan that we have been missing?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS – Agreed, wouldn’t have taken Defoe either, not just because he is a mangy mackem but because we have younger players who are far better up top, and Vardy has to be taken because he has been sublime and will work his socks off.
Newkie(Quote)
Dier can also play at CB and full back – so I think that’s Roy’s thinking with the lack of defenders.
I just don’t rate Henderson & have never watched an England game where Milner makes a real contribution or has changed/won a game.
Defoe should feel pissed as well with Rashford being in ahead of him. Rashford looks a real talent, but how dependable is Defoe man.
But all that said. Look at the Belgium squad & it’s all irrelevant anyway 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
That stare of Mitro’s yesterday, I think he got that from my wife. 😯 😯 that was an “I’m going to kill you” look if ever there was one 😆
We played well, but really Spurs were on their holidays for sure. But happy to take 6 points from them. Just a pity that it didn’t keep us up..
Dubai Toon(Quote)
You think Belgium will win Sharpy??????
I will bet you evens. Me France and Germany. You Belgium 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Belgium have never won anything except a waffle and endive competition. Or a very confusing language competition like the difference between Walloons and Flemish?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And French.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Perez has said he’s staying. Krul making similar noises.
Will take them two plus Colback, Dummett, Lascelles, Anita, Mitro, Townsend, Shelvey, Mbemba, Aarons, Darlow, Elliot and De Jong as a starting point. If the likes of Gini and Sissoko can handle the Championship they can stay too and get us out of the mess they got us in.
Stuart79(Quote)
There’s also something not quite right about Mitrovic. He looked completely mental yesterday and has behaved that way before. He could have broken a leg with the sending off tackle and he looked like he would’ve liked to take a piece out of the ref as well. What is going on there?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Possibly have Mitro work at a children’s petting zoo this summer? He could learn to calm down while chatting with the kids and feeding the goats. We have flatulent, fainting goats here in Canada that Mitro could also work with. He would have to be a kinder gentler Mitro or they would be passed out all the time after just one of those ref glares he does.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I don’t think they gave Mitro his tetanus injection when he arrived. Despite him being a nutcase, I quite like him. He is building a good understanding with Townsend.
Shamrock(Quote)
Shelvey’s massive wage is a bit of a problem if it’s true he’s on 80K a week. And his poor play makes it almost impossible to do anything in the way of a trade or sale. I hope Rafa or whoever can motivate him. There are going to be some losses to take as with the release of Obertan and Marveaux. A lot of money down the drain. That’s what happens when you make terrible mistakes in the transfer market.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Mitro’s happy pills are definitely not working all the time. I recommend we up the dosage until we’re out of the Championship….
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Mitro lacks pace and guile. He’s more or less a giant, glaring bulldozer sent out to terrify wor opponents and the ref. I’m happy with that!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Why don’t we all get together and buy Mitro a puppy? Surely that will improve his mood?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Or we could bring Mitro’s mum to the matches. I’m sure she could settle him. Possibly his puppy held by his mum while she watches him play? It’s just that I fear for some of those Championship players and refs if we can’t get him calmed doon.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
He is a total loop. I personally enjoy characters like him but I can still admit he is a thug and purposefully went for Walker. The replay clearly shows it.
I am a fan of Barton though so what do I know, lol.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Mitro had chilled so much up until yesterday. Was it purely because we are getting relegated? He obviously has that snap in him, but I can’t really work out why it was set off yesterday. He was pissing all over their mighty defence.
Newkie(Quote)
Pisses me off. Some trash media linked us to Warnock and now people are debating it. Absolute bullshit.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
If that ended up being true, then I would definitely be done with the club
Kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy
The thing about players like Henderson and Milner is that their work rate is very high. They don’t have too many outstanding games but they also rarely have stinkers. We need players like that. Haven’t had too many players like that at Newcastle recently either…need more too.
Townsend has the work rate for sure, Dummett and Tayls I’d say too, though the latter has no brain. Janmaat perhaps too…and a few more since Rafa came in have had much better work rates, Anita and Sissoko especially.
A central midfielder who works his socks off every single came is what we need. Tiote of old, Carrick of old…Kante was amazing this season doing that, Alli very good too. Sissoko has all the attributes, just not every game. I think that’s why they put him on the wing..
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Kim
Me too. Don’t believe it, can’t believe any players would like it, and I can’t imagine many fans would turn up to matches. I wouldn’t.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Eric – the Germans as well of course mate. But the Belgiums just seem to have a real strong squad of players. Good keeper, the Spurs boys at CB, Dembele knocking the ball round in the centre, Hazard hitting form, De Bryne and with Lukaku & Benteke they have goals.
Ze Germans can never be looked passed though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric
My point about Defoe is that if we needed a goal, I’d put Kane, Vardy and Sturridge ahead of him as a like for like replacement, as I believe all 3 offer everything Defoe does and more. We don’t need another similar striker to sit on the bench if we have those 3. That’s why I don’t think we’ll take Rashford, unless one of those gets injured. Saying that…if one of them got injured, I’d take Defoe ahead of Rashford. But at least Rashford is one for the future. Defoe won’t play the next World Cup.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I know it’s irrelevant now coz the choices have been made, but I would have taken Carroll instead of Rashford. I just think he offers such an aerial presence which could really make the difference against certain defences.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What we do t need is Townsend to have a cracking Euros from a NUFC point of view…
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy
I don’t think Rashford will go anyway, so if it’s a choice of which player to invite to the training camp, I’d pick Rashford as he’s definitely one for the future. Definitely I’d pick Carroll or Defoe over Rashford to actually go if there was an injury though.
But I can’t blame Roy for looking at the future…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Roy’s problem will come if Rashford has a couple of great games in the warm ups.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy: I think Belgium are rated number one in the FIFA rankings so everybody recognizes the talent there. I am just not sure if they will win. It is a bit like The Dutch in 1974 when they were the best team in the world but the Germans still beat them in a one off game. I was seeing if you would bite on a dumb bet of the 2 favourites against your pick. I think you can get 12-1 at the bookies so you would be mad to have taken evens from me.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My hope for England at the Euros is that they just don’t suck. I bought a 55 inch TV for the South Africa World Cup and had a party when England played The USA. The Yanks weren’t that much into “soccer” and I kept explaining that England were not really that bad and that the fat lad Shrek lookalike was actually considered quite good even though the ball seemed to bounce off him and my mother-in-law could beat him in a 100 yard dash.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Belgium won’t do much. Really disappointed in the World Cup and Komoany isn’t playing, Benteke hasn’t played all season, Fellaini is rubbish and their best player Hazard has had a shocker!
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – I got 4/1 for Germany & 11/1 on Belgium – daft tenner on both.
But what I couldn’t believe as they were offering 9/1 on England.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I didn’t think you would be daft enough to take my bet, especially as I wouldn’t pay you if you won 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Ashley has agreed to ALL of Rafa’s demands…
Stuart79(Quote)
Does that one game yesterday make us want to keep Wijnaldum and Sissoko? The economics say we need to sell to lower the wage bill and get some cash to make up the shortfall for dropping down. Ashley would have to dip into his own pocket if we keep them, although I don’t think there is much chance Sissoko will stay.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ashley has agreed to all Rafa’s demands Stuart? Where did you see that?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have impeccable sources, Eric.
Stuart79(Quote)
Don’t rule out Carr leaving
Stuart79(Quote)
I always thought Carr would be sacrificed – it is him or Charnley. As I said earlier today, I don’t think our buys have been that bad this year, just mismanaged.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Feel a bit sorry for Carr. He only gives the club a list of players and then the club choose who was cheapest.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, man. The problem was that Carr also gave us Schteve and I am sure encouraged Charnley to keep Ugly John as a seat warmer. He then made his power grab to have himself, the gopher (Charnley) and the coach as a 3-headed monster to run NUFC. It didn’t work and that is why he has to go, not so much for his scouting which has been about the same as most PL scouts – hit and miss.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hope you are right Stu. As for Carr, he signed Cabella. Then Thauvin. ‘Nuff said.
Shamrock(Quote)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/16/rafa-benitez-close-to-agreeing-terms-to-remain-at-relegated-newc/
And the press catch up…
Stuart79(Quote)
Cheers Stuart. Makes me feel a bit better. The goal celebrations in the bar yesterday were a bit muted. We were surrounded by Spurs fans who were a bit glum, but that wasn’t it. It was more like “we are relegated, we shouldn’t really be that happy!” There were also a lot of Chelsea fans in there who went from serenading John Terry to mocking Spurs. It was a very strange and surreal atmosphere.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
From the Telegraph article you posted Stuart:
“As revealed by Telegraph Sport, that means chief scout Graham Carr will be leaving the club this summer, although Charnley is highly unlikely to leave , despite overseeing the disaster of relegation.
One of the players who will almost certainly quit St James’ Park is winger Andros Townsend, who has a £13m release clause in his contract after relegation.”
I thought the rumour was 8 million? And I don’t see why he would leave unless it is for a top 4 side. Really, would he want to go to Watford or Everton?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They says he’s almost to leave and then go on to quote him almost saying he’ll stay. ❓
Stuart79(Quote)
Townsend sounded really positive about the future under Rafa so I don’t think he will leave.He has just years at Spurs as a bit part player and now he is a main man under one of the best managers in the world with 50k fans filling the stadium every week. He is even talking about Europe when we come back up.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sissoko.will go. Not sure about Gini. Depends if anybody comes up with the 14m transfer fee otherwise can’t see the club taking the hit on somebody that can still contribute to meeting us back up ASAP.
Shamrock(Quote)
Well, if we keep Rafa then I think that the NUFC blogs will not die. We will keep most of the players and walk The Championship. It is such a pity we had to get relegated AGAIN for Ashley to come to his senses.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham: NUFC also have the recent buys locked down on long term contracts so they can decide who goes or not.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If Rafa stays it’s on his terms and that means no player leaves unless he’s happy for them to leave. This squad with a bit of tinkering would **** the Championship.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: that is what is so sad because we all knew there was talent in the squad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also, the Fat Man can now see the prize. He knows that the TV deal is worth 100-180 mil per year in the PL and doesn’t want to give that up. To be sure, the deal is only for 3 years but the money will not go down after that. It doesn’t work that way in sports. That’s why you have so many Oligarchs, Hedge Fund types and Sheikhs in the PL. It is about as ego stroking sure fire bet as you can get. And all of the high profile managers will only make it more attractive. Mikey has been naive but he is not dumb.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If he stays on, I will feel more positive about our club than I have done in 4 or more years. And that is following relegation. Madness.
Also if he stays, then all is forgiven with Mike Ashley and he gets a clean slate from me.
Shamrock(Quote)
Record points haul in the Championship if Rafa stays. Could be a very fun year.
Shamrock(Quote)
Every time somebody said take relegation and get a new start, I could never see it, take it all back now. I suppose if we had stayed up, the contract would have just continued as it was, now Rafa has demanded changes and if reports are true, got them and staying on. This really could be the new start and what we have been waiting for. As Sham says, if all true, we do have to give Ashley another chance and a new start. Might be what he needs to be like he was when first bought the club, a football fan who wants to enjoy it and have a good time. Hopefully meaning spend a bit more cash and season after next, help to start take us up the league with better players and challenging to win something
Simon(Quote)
Well my Shamrock-o-meter has gone up from 90 to 95.
Shamrock(Quote)
With you there Sham, 95-98% looking forward to topping 100 points next season, can we be the championship invincables
Simon(Quote)
Shamrock: I am with you man. I can’t believe I have such a positive feeling after we were relegated in such a shambolic fashion. I mean, I have suffered 2 years of Pards’ anti-football, then Ugly John never making any sense, only to be followed by a grinning idiot.
You could feel the mood changing and see he was getting us organised. That is really the recipe though isn’t it? You need organisation and to be strong at the back in order for your flair players to shine.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do you know that Pascal explained his “belief” in God by saying it was easier to believe than not? Therefore, if the zealots were right you would be saved and if they waee not, there was no risk as you would go to hell anyway?
I totally disagree. You have to make up your own mind.
That is why I disagree with Troy’s adulation of Pards AND Ugly John. It doesn’t make much sense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know that was a straw man argument 🙂 But when it come to the Troysta that is the only way to deal with him. He is a man made of straw and 1970’s Wide World of Sport wrestling, Dickie Davies and baba ganoush.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
For all you music lovers out there and Tony Blackburn and Noel Edmonds, I will do a review of Radiohead’s “A Moon Shaped Pool”
Number 1, it is boring. There isn’t a hook in any of the songs. The opener sounds like Katy Perry’s “Firework”. Not such a bad thing because Katy has really good tits, but a bad thing because Thom York does not.
Radiohead has always felt like Black Sabbath to me. That they oscillate in their music and you feel it as much as hear it. This record is more insomniac than amnesiac. Some bands changed music and Radiohead are one of them along with The Beatles, Elvis and Sabbath. But they are the few, the bands that had more than 3 good album in them. Radiohead just doesn’t have it anymore.
Now Radiohead are like their stepchild offspring. Muse and Coldplay. Boring.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
By the way, I hate Jamie Carragher’s voice. It is like nails being scraped down a chalkboard with Brenda Blethen trying to do a Geordie accent and Tony Blair giving a speach.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What is annoying about “a moon shaped pool”is that it sounds so similar to other Radiohead records when OK Computer sounded so different to almost anything. Same with The Bends. It is not bad, it is just not really brilliant like Radiohead have been in the past.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I played “moon shaped pool” again. It doesn’t have any hooks in it.
When I first listened to Radiohead I remarked to my ex-wife that they did not have choruses. They still don’t, but now they don’t have the hooks they once had.
It is like having an Albert Hall classical music rendition of songs you loved. The old ones were better and if you don’t put that baton down you cnt I will stick it up your ****! I would much rather hear David Knofler than some chamber music. So there !!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do you know the Young brothers are not even Aussie?
Angus went there when he was 8 along with Malcolm and he was 10.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
played it again and it is not very good – Moon Shaped pool. Daydreaming is not that bad = very Radioheady.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Or Neil Young.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nah, it is shyte.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
well for all that has been said. i’ve always maintained short term pain, long term gain.
I was questioned enough about my logic by Troy who couldnt see past another 7yrs of mediocre footy under Pardew or Clarky. (& this is the reality train??)
I wasnt phased by relegation as it would require drastic actions by the Fat one..
I’m glad I stood by my beliefs and didnt call for El Tel to replace Rafa. If Rafa stays we might even enjoy the Championship 😀
Gashley(Quote)
The funny thing is that if Rafa stays we have a better future than the Mackems. How mad is that? But brilliant!
This certainly would be a game changer.
Stuart79(Quote)
id be gutted to lose Townsend, & also be a bit pissed we didnt secure Aarons before now.
a big building job that can only be done by Rafa.
This was my only worry. If Rafa left would we give the power to another manager to take control or would we ask Carr / Charnley to keep buying & planning our future.. no thanks to the latter…we’d be doomed
Gashley(Quote)
Gash – no mate, I think this a one time offer and applies only to Rafa.
If he doesn’t sign on (which I think he will now) then it’s business as usual IMO.
I think if Rafa stays the only players who would still actively look for the move would be Sissoko & Gini.
Rafa will have a list of players he wants to shift as well but that will be his choice.
I think I could live with loosing Sissoko & Gini though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
aye sharpy. that was my main concern. business as usual would be unthinkable.
I’d be happy to lose Gini and Sissoko. Good players but only show up now and then
Gashley(Quote)
Agreed Sharpy. Ashley will see Rafa as an exceptional manager and so he will make an exception in order to keep him – as he represents the clubs best chance of being successful and profitable. No other manager anywhere near his calibre would touch us, so Ashley would never cede that level of control to another candidate.
If Rafa stays then then I won’t be upset about any player leaving – except Townsend.
Shamrock(Quote)