Benitez to Newcastle? Silence Speaks Volumes as Charnley catches cold

The only people associated with Newcastle United that seem surprised by the side’s recent abysmal form and Steve McClaren’s ineptitudes are the people in control.

That’s what the past 72 hours of silence since the Bournemouth debacle suggests to me. Charnley and co were totally unprepared for this eventuality.

They assumed that McClaren’s men would manage a total of at least 3 points from the games against The Potters and The Cherries. To come out of those matches with nothing would be totally unacceptable…now that it has happened, the Newcastle hierarchy are scrambling around in the shadows as they leave a bewildered McClaren to supervise meaningless training sessions as they try to persuade a more competent manager to take over and save us from relegation.

The thing I find most disturbing about this is that most Newcastle fans, like me, would have been quite ready to show Steve the door following the 5-1 defeat to Pardew’s Palace at the end of November and have playfully been lining up suitable successors since.

Yet, Charnley however, seems to have been taken totally off guard. And having realised that to allow McClaren to continue would result in almost certain relegation, has spent four days brokering a deal with his replacement before relieving the poor bloke of his duties.

It’s another bizarre period in the Ashley era for Newcastle but the latest rumours Wednesday night suggest that we have approached Rafa Benitez and could possibly have him in place before the weekend.

Quite why they didn’t just sack McClaren on Mothering Sunday and openly go about their recruitment procedure is a bit of a mystery and makes a mockery of this new open and honest approach with the fans which has seen us all receive those cringe worthy emails from club staff telling us how hard they are working behind the scenes.

More cloak and dagger stuff it is as Moncur, Charnley and Carr jumped on a train to York in order to discuss McClaren’s future, or lack of it.

It’s not all doom and gloom though as finally Newcastle target a manager with proven pedigree. During the Ashley era we have seen plenty of uninspiring appointments right from JFK, through Pardew (sacked by Southampton), Carver (the best in the league) and lastly The Wally (sacked by Derby).

Benitez (Sacked by Real Madrid but former Champion’s League and UEFA Cup winner) is a much more ambitious appointment and one which certainly backs up the money spent in the past two windows that shows finally Newcastle are at least trying to move forwards.

SRF

129 thoughts on “Benitez to Newcastle? Silence Speaks Volumes as Charnley catches cold

  1. Dreadful from the club, Poor sod was out of depth but keeping him hanging for nearly a week & sacking him via Sky

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  2. Just seen a pic of an obviously distressed McClaren leaving training.
    The doorman’s giving him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
    The image alone convinces me he’s gone!

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  3. Kim – oh I still fully believe that a large portion of our plight is down to a number of the senior players just not doing it.

    Mind that said, decisions like playing Gini wide left for a large part of the season, sticking with Colo, playing Goof last week & Rivi as a lone CF this week – Mc has made some mad decision in his 28 game tenure.

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  4. Sharpy, yep he lost his way for sure, pity as there were fleeting signs of good play but it just fell away. Add in our horrific injuries and no defensive reinforcements and it was a hiding to nothing.

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  5. If McClaren is not going to be in the dugout against Leceister, why the **** is he taking training still?.

    This is a real messy transition from one man to the next.

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  6. He deserves the sack and the club are entitled to search for a replacement before letting him go. Good riddance to the **** haired useless tool

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  7. Just saw Shelveys interview on SSN. Very honest & very mature in his words. He’d keep the captaincy for me.

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  8. Paying supporters didn’t deserve to see Rivierre start as a one man striker, see ya Steve

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  9. Jay Jay – I understand your stance on McClaren mate, I just think the club could have been more professional in their conduct.

    That said, if they can bring Rafa into the club, that is a HUGE signing for NUFC and I won’t wasted too many tears on Mc 😆

    I would put Rafa in with KK and Sir Bobby – that’s how highly I rate him.

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  10. I saw the first real pre-season game in Milwaukee (Gateshead didn’t count) and we were *****. We haven’t improved at all.

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  11. If we sacked Steve before sorting a replacement then the board would get slated for taking risks. It’s a tough situation but I think they have put the good of the club before a manager who fell well short of expectations. Personally I think they have done a good piece of business, if it comes off.

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  12. Hear hear Jay Jay @ 15:06.

    The toss@@ should have walked ages ago and is putting himself through this embarrassment by refusing to do the honourable things and resign. Placing himself and money before the clubs and fans needs.

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  13. It will be interesting to see how many of our ‘injured’ players suddenly get fit and able to play for Rafa.

    I reckon the likes of Aarons may well sign a new contract now as well. The chance to work with and play regular football for one of the worlds best managers might well be more of an incentive to stay at NUFC during this period of his career.

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  14. If it happens and we stay up then this could be huge, Rafa is a different class to any manager we’ve had since KK and Sir Bobby

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  15. I dare say, along with the improved tv deal money, rafa’s presence will hugely affect the calibre of players willing to come up to the cold North East too. Especially the continental players.
    We simply HAVE to make this work and stay in the prem.
    Could, finally, be some exciting times ahead for once.

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  16. I don’t think there are any other words I can use to describe this situation other than what have already been mentioned.

    How on earth is this happening?

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  17. To be fair I’m sure I read it took Chelski a week after Mourinho’s last defeat to appoint Hiddink and they were selling the current Premier league champions and practically unlimited funds…still want it done now tho! 😛

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  18. Yup Rafa, stay in the premier league and a 100m transfer budget in the Summer…then I may break a smile.

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  19. Question is, will it be a 10 game contract or long term . Huge difference between the two. The latter would indicate a complete change in policy and a far brighter future. The former would be business as usual.

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  20. I wish he’d hurry up, I might get lucky at home, wor lass has wanted him to manage the Toon for over 10 years!

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  21. I wonder what Rafa will think of Graham Carr’s french reject’s, Dutch rejects and Nottingham Forrest reject’s ? Over the year’s he has bought player’s that can’t adapt to the premiership.

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  22. Wow. Right?

    A succession of ok PL managers at the very best and we finally have another manager brimming with ambition and with a track record of winning things.

    Anyone with any negative thoughts towards this change needs to go take a swim in Whitley Bay…

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