The fixtures for the upcoming season have been announced and to say we’re facing a tough start is an understatement , with us due to face FIVE of last season’s top 6 in the opening eight games.
As a result, NUFC fans are all saying the same thing on social media – ‘It’s time to start signing players – and quick!’.
It’s not rocket science, but it’s absolutely essential after today’s announcement.
Our daunting start makes it even more important for us to do business early and be in a strong position to compete in the opening few weeks of the season. Failure to do so and we could face a pretty dismal start to a season where Rafa was expecting/demanding progression.
Seen the fixture list & my god first 5 games are brutal if the alarm bells aren’t ringing it should be starting now .. wake up Mike & support Rafa bcos signings is what we need now #NUFC
— john_NUFC42 (@john_nufc42) June 14, 2018
The Chronicle revealed yesterday that we’ve not even made a SINGLE bid for a player so far this summer, despite Benitez putting forward a long list of targets and asking for ‘four of five’ players to be signed before pre-season gets underway in just over 2 weeks time.
The tough start should send a warning to Mike Ashley that the need to bring in new signings is now urgent. Rafa will want to be prepared, work on tactics and integrate new players as it is, but when facing some of the league’s top sides and their elite players, it’s made even more important.
There may still be two months left to sign players so any excessive panicking is probably premature, but with the World Cup likely to complicate some deals and the window shutting earlier, it won’t be long until we’re running out of time again and scrapping for signings Rafa wanted sorted weeks in advance.
If that happens then it’ll just stink of last season, making Rafa’s mind up that this will be regrettably be his last season at St James’ if Ashley remains at the helm.
Let’s hope this kicks Ashley and NUFC into action. The ball is in his court and it’s time to back Benitez before it becomes another case of ‘too little too late’.
Ashley has no choice if he wants to stay in the prem,No way that Rafa can produce another miracle without ASHLEY,letting him buy some quality, the ball is definitely in his hands, back RAFA and we will bo fine, DO as he has done for the past 3 or so years then he will not only loose one of the best managers you will find but he can half the prise of his sale as once again CHAMPIONSHIP here we come again.It’s in your hands Ashley DO what’s right and back RAFA, haway ths TOON
MAG71 years(Quote)