It was reported late last night by several national and local press that Rafa Benitez has become increasingly frustrated by Newcastle’s lack of progress in the transfer market, with the Daily Mail claiming his future at the club could now be in doubt.
Chief football writer for The Mail Rob Draper instigated last night’s frenzy on Twitter, suggesting NUFC’s failure to land Rafa’s ‘key targets Abraham, Delph, Mangala and Caballero has raised doubts over Benitez’s future:
Doubts about Benitez future at #NUFC after failure to secure key targets: Abraham, Delph, Mangala, Caballero. More on @MailSport shortly
— Rob Draper (@draper_rob) June 24, 2017
The Mail claim Benitez was ‘convinced’ that Tammy Abraham and Willy Caballero would join the club, however the Chelsea striker and Manchester City goalkeeper have since agreed deals with Swansea and Chelsea respectively.
Mark Douglas of The Chronicle then responded to these rumours, suggesting that Newcastle United must ‘get their fingers out’:
He's frustrated. #nufc need to get their fingers out..
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) June 24, 2017
North-East sports reporter Luke Edwards then weighed in, suggesting our lack of transfer activity has not been to Rafa’s liking, but calling for calm on the matter (hinting that suggestions he could quit are currently wide of the mark).
News that Rafa is frustrated is fair, I imagine he is, but The Mail’s suggestions that he could quit is stirring the pot and slightly unnecessary in my opinion.
The local press have made it known that Benitez is frustrated, we all are, but I believe the national press (Daily Mail) have jumped on this in an attempt to make this a bigger headline than it needs to be.
The following tweet sums it up perfectly for me.
Believe @MsiDouglas and @LukeEdwardsTele above more sensational nationals. Rafa letting people know his concern, wants the window on track.
— Chris Holt (@bigchrisholt) June 24, 2017
Yes it’s concerning, but as the above tweet alludes to, I believe Rafa will be frustrated, but in no way ready to quit. Benitez wants to get his business done early and this is an ideal reminder that the board must pull out all the stops to back him this summer.
Headlines, who doesnt love a headline if you’re hoping for clicks on to your site so you keep your job for another day in this harsh brave new journo world ?
Seriously you’re never gonna hear that Rafa is unhappy. If he leaves you wont hear about it beforehand but the Fatman selling up wont be too far behind.
AndyMac(Quote)
Absolute tosh!
Rafa’s going nowhere fast. There’s plenty of time for signings especially the right one’s and there’s plenty of good players in the mix
Let’s not forget that is difficult for any newly promoted club to sign Premiership quality… And we’re still in the northeast! Even if we do have a manager with a top drawer pedigree we better get used to playing second fiddle to teams seen to have a more secure hold on their Premiership status.
Be patient… Rafa’s got plenty up his sleeve, I’m convinced of that…
PAUL SALKELD(Quote)
Actually the Mail just copied the story from the Mirror. They sensationalised the views of “Peter Mann, of the Toon Talk fanzine”. Interesting, because I hadn’t heard of this particular fanzine. Neither had Google, it had no links to any articles mentioning it in the last few years, other than the Mirror’s article.
The last mention of it was on the LinkedIn profile of someone called Peter Mann who states he was a Freelance Sports Writer with “Toon Talk Fanzine
May 2010 – August 2013 (3 years 4 months)”. His current job is “Press Officer for the Northern Football Alliance providing round-ups and previews, results, fixtures and table on a weekly basis for the regional print press.”
So someone appears to be telling porky pies.
potski(Quote)
The Mail are a lot of **** and hate NUFC. They’ll do anything to stoke the fire a Team st James.
Next.
Moreno(Quote)
Totally agree newspaper rag are a load of *****
Tony Tufts(Quote)
I don’t believe anything ‘The Daily Mail’ publishes regardless of what page it is on! Its a despicable ‘scumrag’!
Tom Cadwallender(Quote)