According to the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, Mike Ashley has a ‘lack of trust’ in Rafa Benitez when it comes to signing players, believing several of his buys were not ‘success stories’.
Quite incredibly, it’s also claimed that Rafa gets ‘pointed back to a Lazaar or a Hanley’ when the Spaniard makes a request to sign a certain player – almost suggesting as though the board know better than the Champions League winning manager when it comes to capable footballers.
Speaking on the Chronicle’s latest podcast this week, here’s what Lee Ryder had to say about the issues between Benitez and Ashley when it comes to buying new players:
“It’s very complicated – I think there is a lack of trust on both sides.
“Rafa feels he has been let down in the last four windows, but from what I understand Ashley feels that not all of the signings that were made were success stories.
“Whenever Rafa points to a player who he wants, he gets pointed back to a Lazaar or a Hanley.”
It’s easy for Ashley to point to the mistakes, but for every Lazaar or Hanley there’s been several success stories.
Just look at Rondon and Fernandez. They were two ageing players Benitez clearly had to persuade the board to sign over the summer, yet both have had terrific seasons so far – with it looking like a big mistake that we only signed Rondon on loan after refusing to pay his £16m release clause.
Not backing Benitez is one thing, but having a businessman question his footballing nous is a step too far.
With loan bids going in for Gelson Marins and Antonio Barreca reported over the past 24 hours, it makes you wonder if Ashley’s lack of ‘faith’ in Rafa is one reason he’s refusing to sanction permanent deals on long-term contracts. Ridiculous.
Its not the bargain signings Ashley has issue with, its multi-million pound flops like Lazaar, Jacob Murphy, Mat Sells, Hanley, Joselu.
Ashley is more likely to point to Jorgenson and Sandro Ramirez, players who were on Rafa’s own wish list and who he kicked up a fuss about not getting the 20 odd million to sign one of them. Both turned out to be very lucky escapes for us as both went on to totally flop.
Rafa’s success with players like Schaar, Fernandez, Ki, Merino and Dubravka has probably worked against him with Ashley.
Its not that Benitez hasnt had success, he has made some brilliant signings at the bottom end of the market and so failed to convince with his big money targets and signings on fees of more than £5m.
Victim of his own success under someone as greedy as Ashley unfortunately
Alex(Quote)
Thauvin. Cabella, De Jong. Mbemba. Saivet. Doumbia. Riviere. Ferrerya. Who bought all them then?
sickandtired(Quote)
‘Multi million pound flops’ implies they cost £30 millon each! Sels,Hanley, Lazaar and Joselu (£5 mil or less???) were the best Rafa could get for the money at hand and were probably regarded as squad bolsterers. Jacob Murphy is still young enough to not know whether he is a success or not. Not fair to judge players who have flopped elsewhere,since as Rafa’s fault. Players perform differently for different clubs. Trying to make reasonable excuses for Ashley, when it comes to football is futile.What’s going on Alex???..
lee blakey(Quote)
For a start most of those mentioned by you sick and tired weren’t signed by him; Thaivin, Cabella, Mbemba, De Jong all here before he arrived. Kinda makes your comment a bit daft.
Mag From Cram(Quote)
I think that’s his point no?
Juliolaker(Quote)
Sandro Ramirez was a £5m release clause?
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I have thought this myself for quite a while now because this has been a staple of the Ashley Era at Newcastle.
They have always basically tried to pick the players themselves who come to the club and tried openly telling Chris Hughton who he should pick for the team.
The so called scouting appointments at the club are in name only because as Joey Barton said : “Ashley Is The Ayatollah”, And nothing happens at that club without his say so !
X,Y,WHY,MAN.(Quote)
Murphy, Merino, Manquillo, Lazaar, Sels, Gamez, Hayden, Hanley, Slimani,
Going the other way
Marveaux, Thauvin, Cabella, Janmaat, Mbabu, Gibson, De Jong, Mitrovic.
Everyone has their own idea about who’s good and who’s not but I don’t think there’s a Toon manager in the last 40 years who has brought in more players who can’t get a game or moved on as surplus to requirements so many who have suddenly become quality elsewhere than Rafa.
Sounds like we’ve got the old Broon Ale Goggles on again.
Brrrian(Quote)
You don’t think that’s anything to do with the fact Rafa’s been forced to sign players who don’t even appear on his initial list of targets, Brian?
Merino was a great find and simply a player who we couldn’t stop leaving, but don’t tell me you think Murphy, Manquillo, Lazaar, Sels, Gamez & Slimani etc. were Rafa’s top targets?
Aside from Murphy, every one of those was clearly bought on a real budget! (And I’m certain Rafa would’ve had lists of targets above Murphy if Ashley had been happy to spend an extra £5m)
You’re not honestly suggesting Ashley is right not to trust Rafa, are you..
Olly Hawkins(Quote)