People say not to read too much into pre-season friendlies and I tend to agree, but that was absolutely horrific.
Not only was it 90 minutes of our life we’ll never get back and a performance that showed just how much we struggle on the pitch without our star men, Rafa Benitez’s post-match comments were even more concerning.
He admitted that he’s now ‘really worried’ after seeing things go badly both ‘on and off the pitch’ in recent weeks and, to make matters even worse, he now claims even he has ‘no idea’ how much money he has to spend – despite insisting that he needs ‘three or four’ new signings before the window shuts next week.
Rafa Benitez speaking to Sky after last night's 4-0 hammering vs Braga..
Wow. ??? #NUFC pic.twitter.com/VCMhlcDse3
— Black&WhiteBarmy (@BlackWhiteBarmy) August 1, 2018
The game itself was a horror show. Pre-season may be about fitness levels above all else, but we looked dejected and all over the shop in all departments. The fact the players opted against speaking to the press after the game (which is VERY rare) says it all to me and sets alarm bells ringing.
Wide open at the back, no organisation, no fluidity going forward and struggling to put 3 passes together. We looked flat, but can you blame them?
It’s a summer where we SHOULD have kicked on after ending the season on a high in the top half of the Premier League, but instead we have a frustrated Rafa Benitez who’s fighting a losing battle once again with the board.
Clark and Dubravka did well and Ritchie and Yedlin didn’t disgrace themselves, but the rest were well below par – with Dwight Gayle’s anonymous display reminding Rafa just why Salomon Rondon is being pursued as a much needed upgrade in attack.
The result was not what worried me. It was the manor of our performance, the demeanour of our players and the damning post-match interview that followed from Benitez – a manager who sounds as close to giving up as I’ve ever heard him be in two and a half years at the club.
A week left of the transfer window and worrying times ahead.
It’s time we took a stand – especially on a night where Rafa clearly has.
(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)
Rafa doesn’t sound like a happy chappy.
Brisvegas(Quote)
He should be delighted, Bris, shouldn’t he? I mean, who needs money to spend, good players don’t cost money. I assume you will be the only NUFC fan not concerned.
Players refused to speak to media last night because bonus structure hasn’t been agreed. WTF is happening at this club…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart. Did I pick up on you saying you don’t know what’s going on last night?
PremAndUp(Quote)
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NUFC players didn’t speak last night because no bonus schedule has been agreed reports @lee_ryder
And that’s how to treat a team who gave 100% and finished 10th is it ?
Bloody awful owner, treats top athletes like his warehouse staff, he’d have them on zero hours if he could get away with it . 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Rafa said the fans know what’s going on. I said nobody knows what’s going on at this club. The only thing we know is that it’s not going well and something is going seriously wrong. I’m just surprised it’s taken supporters this long to finally cotton on.
Stuart79(Quote)
My solution to this is that we need to start negatively effecting the value of his Sports Direct. It’s his baby’s and if shares started to get effected by his ownership of NUFC then he would need to do something.
We do have power.
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s just that you’ve chided me in the past for questioning your opinion, and being told that you know the truth and you don’t care whether I believe you. As you say, you know as much as me, nothing.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I do agree that something is seriously wrong,
PremAndUp(Quote)
This window is panning out just as I thought it would, we are dead in the water, no way this team will reach 10th again, too much **** going on behind the scenes.
kimtoon(Quote)
There’s a bunch of total incompetents running NUFC. From Ashley down to Charnley via Bishop and Barnes. Not one of them knows anything at all about football. Nothing! About running a club. About how to treat a manager or players. About how to communicate with fans or the media. We can argue all day about the merits of the budget or this or that but those fckers should be nowhere near a football club.
No wonder Rafa is angry.
georgio(Quote)
Home friendly this weekend – time for the fans to do there bit on mass – but do we turn up and protest or stay away?!.
I say turn up this game and stay away the televised game against Spurs
Sharpy17(Quote)
As things stand I think we were foolish to get rid of Mitro. Rafa would have been better building bridges with the lad coz he’s not getting better with the money Ashley’s not handing over.
We look doomed this season, especially now Rafa is understandably sounding so negative and the player are so pissed off.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Premanup: what is the psychology term where you don’t tackle the real problem and do something else? It is not displacement but it is something similar?
Anyway, I am fed up with the NUFC **** but will still follow.
I think we will be bottom 3 by October.
To that end I am going to plan a trip to the Pacific Northwest of the United States. I figured this would happen and have bought 2 travel books in advance and have a very good friend who lives in Seattle.
So, when we are 2nd bottom in October I will be in Vancouver. When we are bottom I will be watching whales in the Puget Sound.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
These journos writing that things weren’t right at the club back in June didn’t just make it up eh? Who knew!
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart – there’s things going on at the club (or not) that even the wildest of journalists couldn’t make up. As the days go by it gets ever more clear.
georgio(Quote)
That was in reference to Rafa’s frustration and transfer goings on. I stand by that. Rafa’s views are vindicating that. As for the recent comment. That’s in reference to Ashley’s logic at the way he’s running the club. Only he knows that.
So all in all, I stand by what I have said. I have known about things that have happened and although I was told I knew nothing and journos were just making stuff up, them chickens are coming home to roost.
I’m sure many on here are still happy and think I’m over reacting.
Stuart79(Quote)
What are they doing though? It is insane to try to sabotage their own club.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
STUART: most on here did not have a go at you. I thought you were negative but I also thought that Fatty could not be as stupid as he has turned out to be. And we would never reach this frightening point where it looks like we will lose Rafa.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well I was with Stu, leopards never change their spots, 10 previous years showed us that much.
Every summer he’s off buying up some company ( see HOF ) this year and all the while the managers of the club he owns are left floundering .
He has used Rafa on the back of lies, bullshit and deceit, I will be gobsmacked if Rafa sees out the season let alone starts it.
Lascelles and any other decent player will be gone soon too and frankly who can blame them.
kimtoon(Quote)
“He should be delighted, Bris, shouldn’t he? I mean, who needs money to spend, good players don’t cost money. I assume you will be the only NUFC fan not concerned. ”
Why would you assume I’m not concerned? I’m always concerned at the incompetence of the Newcastle hierarchy. Always have been. All the way back to the one-eyed ponce we had back in the 60s.
Just because I don’t cover myself in sack cloth and ashes at every opinion expressed in the media doesn’t mean I’m not concerned. And just because I don’t screech hysterically at every cul-de-sac that Ashley takes us down doesn’t mean I don’t think the guy is a psychopathic ********.
Of course I’m concerned. I’m very concerned. I’ve never been anything other than concerned.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Stu, WAS ridiculed on here and had comments about the press reporting thrown at him and comments about toys being hoyed out the pram cause we are not spending xxxxx number of pounds. When all he and many of us have said it’s about paying the going rate for players.
What have the club actually done ? loaned, got freebies and secured Dubs, that’s **** all and relegation beckons, a blind man can see we are on a hiding to nothing under this owner.
Oh and the underwhelming prospect of getting Rondon is all but gone as even his contract release fee has elapsed now apparently. 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
It’s not about being proved right even, it’s the fact that he never learns and is a pig headed prat who has effectively cut off his nose to spite his face.
Honestly, I said yesterday, just once prove me /us wrong, you fireplace vomiting, rancid piece of ****.
Ashley out
kimtoon(Quote)
ive got nowt to say,ime fed up with the whole show
icedog(Quote)
Rondon’s release clause has expired. Does that mean we have to pay more than £16.5m or less? I don’t expect us to pay anywhere near enough to get him permanently.
Stuart79(Quote)
Can’t see Rondon costing any more as it’s obvious nobody else wants him anyway. It’s also obvious that the hands of the incompetent Bishop and Barnes are fulfilling the Ashley brief of minimal spend at all costs. The incompetent Charnley then annoys every club he approaches over a potential transfer. Rafa should just come out and say it – the buggers above me are absolutely useless at their jobs.
georgio(Quote)
Muto work permit granted
icedog(Quote)
That Braga team that hammered us last night cost £10m to assemble. Somebody in football knows what they’re doing.
georgio(Quote)
They’ve probably not be grown down to dust by their odious owner.
Stuart79(Quote)
Mike Ashley doesn’t care about Newcastle United and has clearly used the takeover as a excuse not to spend money. If last nights result is anything to go by then it could be a painful season.
Stem(Quote)
Unfortunately, finishing 10th under Ashley is a curse for the club.
The only solution I see is relegation and staying there, until Ashley is gone. Sometimes in life, we have to suffer in order to recover.
funrafa(Quote)
Funrafa I agree mate. We could easily go down this season. I really wish Rafa would resign he deserves better.
Stem(Quote)
I do feel sorry for the fan’s they’ve suffered enough.
Stem(Quote)
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/08/02/nufc-fan-reveals-his-big-mike-ashley-theory-could-he-be-right/
Someone has this theory that this is all about revenge … Ashley taking revenge on the fans… an interesting theory, however I don’t think even Ashley would be that Stupid…. would he?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Stu – I think their hope is less coz his contract expires next season. They probably hope WBA will take £10m now rather than loose him for nowt next season. Yet more gambling from the club rather than just buy the player Rafa seems to want early and get him settled in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Rondon would be worth a lot more to WBA this season than he is to us. I wouldn’t sell him if I was them now. He will score goals in the Fizzy.
Stuart79(Quote)
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/rafa-benitez-unhappyon-brinkdemanding-newcastle-13022240
whos this clown another Rafa hater
icedog(Quote)
Thanks mate.
funrafa(Quote)
I think this guy speaks out MA’s thought – Relax. Rafa is a good manager so you will survive and I can make some money.
funrafa(Quote)
Ice, are the mirror not the clubs media partner ? that would explain this pathetic attempt to lay the blame at Rafas door.
Andy Dunn is a terrible sports writer and he’s sold his soul to the devil here.
kimtoon(Quote)
To point out that Spurs haven’t got anyone is a redundant point as well as they don’t have anywhere near as weak a squad as us. Further more should they need a player they would take steps to get one , at some cost too I’d wager.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/rafa-benitez-will-not-walk-out-on-newcastle-united-despite-saying-everything-is-wrong-ph8xhkqsm
someone show this to Andy Dunn at the mirror, he may learn something .
kimtoon(Quote)
So Rafa’s outburst annoyed Charnley… ???? What a *****. What does he expect from Rafa? He’s use to dealing with people who are desperate for the gig.
Stuart79(Quote)
Cheers Kim
Icedog(Quote)
Wonder if it occurred to wonder why some drew more ridicule than others. More about the way of saying things than what is being said perhaps
GlosMag(Quote)
I’m glad he’s annoyed, now he knows how we and Rafa feels.
kimtoon(Quote)
Nah, people just don’t like to think anything bad is happening and want positivity. I find it almost impossible to find any positivity in anything the club does while Ashley is in charge. Rafa was the only positive thing about the club. But even he is being ground down.
Stuart79(Quote)
Indeed.
The most surprising thing about the current wailing over Ashley is that ashley is viewed as something different to the normal trait with Newcastle owners.
It has been thus since I’ve followed them .. can’t legitimately label myself as a supporter as i don’t go anymore .. going back to the start of the club. Theyve all been in it for themselves
Can’t remember if It was Milburn or wyn Davies who left a blank page in his autobiography as a description about what an owner / chairman knows about football.
GlosMag(Quote)
Agree Stu. I’ve never thought you or your words negative. The negative is what Ashley has been doing to this club year after year. We are just telling the truth.
funrafa(Quote)
Ouch 🙂
I really don’t think many on here were (or indeed are) too far apart from your unease / concern about the club
Agreed that Rafa offered some promise of improved football in an otherwise (mostly) bleak era for the club and he certainly brought togetherness in the players.
In that, he’s done a similar thing to Hughton. Wonder if thats a threat to ashleys megolamanic streak he cant tolerate?
GlosMag(Quote)
I said a while ago that part of me really believes poor Mikey is jealous of the adulation Rafa gets .
kimtoon(Quote)
I’ve always said that true,and me and you cannot be wrong
Icedog(Quote)
Stuart: you were getting negative the other day and it turns out it was justified.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
BUT: I decided to turn a bad thing into an even worse thing for one of my friends. I will go and visit him 🙂
I had 3 Stellas and a bottle of wine and booked a trip to Seattle. I think I was a bit drunk but more I was taking my mind off how I feel about NUFC.
So, it is Washington State and possibly Vancouver beginning October 6th. I was figuring we would be bottom of the league by then and we play Man U away (always a good fixture 🙂 )
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Negativity and reality are often confused. Ive always said anybody being positive about NUFC whilst Jabba is here need taken away with the men in white coats.
Stuart79(Quote)
I was in a pretty bad mood last night but then I realized that Donald Trump is President.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And the School Nurse is Prime Minister?
You can **** off lady if you think you are touching my balls !
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aye, Eric, we need someone in this country with charisma and a vision who sticks to their core beliefs and doesn’t try and be all things to all people. The choice at the minute is Corbyn or May FFS! One’s a terrorist loving anti Semite and the other is so weak she can’t even control her bladder let alone her party.
Stuart79(Quote)
Elect Boris. That’s what the UK needs another Old Etonian. Jobs for the boys.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
“Firstly any potential buyer would have to show they had the best interests of Newcastle United at heart and had both the commitment and finance to be worthy custodians of such a fine football club before I would even consider doing a deal.
“And secondly, I gave you my word that as long as I remain owner, this club would continue to be run responsibly at all levels. I hope you will accept that I have stood by that pledge.”
Mike Ashley
Aye, that’ll be why we went down twice and you hired goons to run us and won’t back our world class manager appropriately . 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7XlDse8mAM
kimtoon(Quote)
Can’t remember if It was Milburn or wyn Davies who left a blank page in his autobiography as a description about what an owner / chairman knows about football. Glos – it was Len Shackleton.
Eric – she wouldn’t touch your balls, just wonder what they are!
Stuart – sounds like you’re pining for Maggie Thatcher or perhaps the vision and charisma of a Mussolini.
I’m going to have to swerve this site for a while – everyone annoys me.
georgio(Quote)
Oh I’d take Maggie at the minute, georgio. Her gvts reforms and visions gave the country a massive boom. I’d like to see similar bonfire of regulations and a proper vision for what the UK should look like. Unfortunately I don’t see anyone in any party capable.
Stuart79(Quote)
Two things;
1) Apparently Rafa has fires his agent because he’s not happy with the contract agreed with NUFC.
2) It’s now my opinion Rafa should quit. I don’t want to hear him moan anymore about the patheticness of the club because we all know how bad it is.
It’s up to us to get rid of Jabba now.
Stuart79(Quote)
I see Keys is tweeting **** again, he should get a job as Ashleys PR officer , he’s that far up his **** he’d fit right in.
kimtoon(Quote)
Olly I have to keep registering my details to post on here, the option to keep my details has vanished. ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Not quite sure what you mean mate?
I’ll send this over to Andy
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Kim, Keys is a bit of a *** but in my opinion he’s right about Rafa in one respect; he should go.
Stuart79(Quote)
Same thing for me Kim/Olly. I have to fill out my name and email address to comment.
georgio(Quote)
I go back down and they’ve disappeared again
georgio(Quote)
and again!
georgio(Quote)
Actually this summer is pretty much deja vu of last summer then we made the game changing signings of Manquillo and Joselu!
Stuart – the northern half of this country is still struggling to cope with the decimation that Maggie dropped on us. We’ve been in depression ever since.
Some vision and charisma! 🙄
georgio(Quote)
Really frustrating having to keep filling out my name and email for every comment, where’s the box to say keep me signed in gone ?
left it a couple of hours to see if it sorted itself out but still not right.
That keys is never right Stu and he has a hatred of Rafa, he’s got previous for having a pop at him. He reckons Mike was right about the squad being good enough last year even though pretty much every journo and pundit said it was a championship squad. Not once does he credit Rafa with getting the best from that squad.
kimtoon(Quote)
Arma off to Blackburn then, good luck to the lad, he’s well liked up there. My daughters chap is from Darwin near there and a massive Blackburn fan and he’ll be very pleased with this news.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ooops. .. ta 🙂
GlosMag(Quote)
I didn’t realise May was anti semite as well as a terrorist flunkey. She is after all the only leader who’s made a pact with terrorists to hang onto power in this country when she whored herself and the country to the DUP.
GlosMag(Quote)