A likely theory behind Benitez’s potential talks with West Ham – a must-read for all NUFC fans

West Ham may be busting a gut to bring Rafa Benitez to the London Stadium, but I’d like to bet that the Spaniard is only entertaining their interest for one reason and one reason only – to make Ashley believe he’s serious about leaving and force him into action.

Us NUFC fans woke up to some pretty horrible news today, with Sky and various others stating that West Ham are planning a big move to activate his £6m clause and give him whatever he wants this summer.

I have absolutely no doubt that they’re interested, but I have serious doubts as to whether he’d genuinely be interested in taking that job.

They may have a few quality players he’d like to work with and could throw a bit of money his way, but when you see how he talks about NUFC, the community, the fans, the potential and what he’s spent two years trying to build, why would he swap us for a club in such a similar position?! I’d be shocked – especially given their owners aren’t much less unpredictable and erratic than Mike Ashley himself!

His future is a real concern and talk of him leaving makes me feel physically sick given his importance to this club and everything he stands for at NUFC (hope), but I’m hoping (and am quite confident) that it’s all a big ploy on Benitez’s part – make it look like you’re about to leave and Ashley will probably panic, realise what he could be about to lose and pull his finger out.

The worry is that Ashley is a massive risk taker, but he’d face a backlash like never before if Benitez left and he’d also see the value of his asset (NUFC) fall incredibly. Why would he want to oversee the mess he’d create in allowing Rafa to walk away?

Rafa is a clever man. Talks over a new deal clearly haven’t progressed quickly enough so he’s taking action. He’s not got any intention to join West Ham in my opinion, he’s just going to make it look that way in a bid to force Ashley into action.

The key for me will be how Ashley now responds to this. If he doesn’t then he’s an even bigger fool than I could have ever possibly imagined, and then, who knows that will happen with Rafa Benitez..

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

244 thoughts on “A likely theory behind Benitez’s potential talks with West Ham – a must-read for all NUFC fans

  1. So Arsenal are appointing Emery and not Arteta. Better choice I think.

    “Oh you are awful but I like you!” ?

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  2. Stuart79:
    Wonder if Rafa goes back in for Ings? He’d a be a decent replacement for Gayle I reckon.

    Stu – I hope so, I like Ings a lot, and Origi who they sent out on loan last season – I’d take either of those.

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  3. Stuart79:
    So Arsenal are appointing Emery and not Arteta. Better choice I think.

    “Oh you are awful but I like you!”

    Showing your age there mate 😆

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  4. I knew the transfer window was complicated but here is a summary.

    England window opens May 17, can buy/sell between English Clubs

    International Window opens Jun 7, can buy/sell anywhere

    English Window closes on August 7, cannot buy/sell from English clubs. Cannot BUY from International clubs but can SELL until end of August.

    This is why we have not officially bought Dubravka. I said it was complicated.

    http://www.theweek.co.uk/premier-league/93672/premier-league-transfer-window-summer-2018-closing-date-efl-fifa

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  5. Stuart79:
    So Arsenal are appointing Emery and not Arteta. Better choice I think.

    “Oh you are awful but I like you!”

    I saw some journalist taking the **** out them this morning wondering what the hell they were doing when Emery had resigned April 28 and they just now realized he was available. Even West Ham knew it.

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  6. What I am saying is that there will probably be loads of people on Ed’s and The Chronic comments wondering why we haven’t signed anybody, especially Dubravka. The simple fact is that most of our targets are probably international and cannot be signed until June 7th.

    Just want to cut that one off at the pass in case someone starts up on here.

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  7. kimtoon: Showing your age there mate

    Not enough cross dressers on TV since **** Emery and Les Dawson.

    It is OK though because every black comedian over here dresses in drag every chance they get – Eddie Murphy, Tyler Perry, Martin Lawrence… I am sure you get the movies on Netflix.

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  8. Remember Danny LaRue? That was the strangest one. Wasn’t he dressing like a showgirl and doing Panto when he was about 70?

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  9. It gets even worse for the Mackems. This Stuart Donald guy does NOT have an international consortium of backer but is looking for some. He paid Ellis Short 40 million for the club and is now being helped by a PR consultant. So the club have last years payroll and only really parachute payments to rely on on since the average income in League 1 is 6 million.

    This is a massive gamble. I thought they were fcked until Short for some strange reason wiped out their debts. I cannot understand why any “international consortium” would invest in this chancer given his record at Eastleigh. On my Mackem-o-meter I give it 6 months and 70% chance of administration summer 2019.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/21/sunderland-takeover-stewart-donald-chris-coleman-return

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  10. Eric, the guy has leveraged his purchase of the club using the clubs money. It’s brilliant! What risk has he taken… ?

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  11. Eric, Danny la rue was brilliant, he was my mums favourite , she had a crush on Errol brown from hot chocolate too .

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  12. Stuart79:
    Eric, the guy has leveraged his purchase of the club using the clubs money. It’s brilliant! What risk has he taken… ?

    Massive gamble by SAFC. None of the journos were saying this guy is a complete chancer. He looked like it to me from the beginning and I said so. The fact that there is no “international consortium” tells you it was all PR BS from his Partner anyway (no not the lapdancer or his estranged wife, the spin-Dr.).

    We know all about PR spin since we have had to suffer it for years from Keith Bishop. You know, the one who sits next to Charnley in the posh seats. Stu, I think you call him Harold.

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  13. Stuart: you have to read between the lines on the SAFC stuff. Louise Taylor has been the only one really doing any research but it has all been held back. Eventually you find out what is going on as the drip, drip, drip of details comes out.

    Most people are probably not that interested but I think this means the new owner is not a white knight and sounds like a complete bullshitter with no backing. Unless they get really lucky this could turn really bad, really quickly.

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  14. kimtoon:
    Eric, Danny la rue was brilliant, he was my mums favourite , she had a crush on Errol brown from hotchocolate too .

    He was doing leg kicks when he was 70. I could not do one when I was 30 🙂

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  15. Eric Sykes: He was doing leg kicks when he was 70. I could not do one when I was 30

    Aye, he was a workaholic too mate, went bankrupt after being ripped off by dodgy accountants and bad money decisions and rebuilt his wealth all over again .

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  16. Stuart79:
    Eric, the guy has leveraged his purchase of the club using the clubs money. It’s brilliant! What risk has he taken… ?

    Stuart: I hadn’t seen all of the information on this and it just keeps getting worse for the Mackems/more of a joke for us.

    This chancer has put a “downpayment” on the club agreeing to play the balance in the next 2 years. You are right, he is buying the club on tick using their own money to pay off HIS loan.

    Meanwhile, Ellis Short has put a lien on the parachute payments so that if this chancer doesn’t pay him he will get some money from the PL.

    When I was ranting about why the Journos were not even covering the Mackem meltdown I suggested one way for Short to at least get some money was to grab the parachute payment for himself and then put the club in administration. He must have read this blog because he is doing this the long way round by appointing the failed Eastleigh FC owner who has no financial backing.

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  17. If this works it will be a miracle. Donald is getting the club for nothing and agreeing to pay Short 40 million over 2 years with money generated from the club. Again, I am shocked and appalled that none of the local journos are looking at this with a critical eye. This chancer has nothing to lose and it is an almost guaranteed failure because of the payroll and the massive reduction in revenue in League 1. They have nobody to sell and are they really going to play only their U23s. At least Lee Cattermole has finally found his level. If they are not promoted 1st go round they are in administration.

    After seeing this new information, my Mackem-Bankrupt-o-meter is at 85%.

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