Firstly, let me say that this is the minority. The vast majority of Newcastle fans remain firmly behind Rafa Benitez. The media have and will continue to drive a wedge between us and the manager; Richard Keys the latest to launch an ill-informed stance on Bentiez’s NUFC tenure and our current slump in form.
Let’s be clear though, Rafa is NOT above criticism and has made some mistakes like all managers do. But to point to these as the main factor to why we are struggling would be ridiculous and could put the future of not only our season but the club as a whole at risk. People are entitled to their opinion, but I struggle to accept negativity being thrown around in the total wrong direction.
Here’s my message to any Newcastle fans suggesting the Spaniard should be sacked following our recent slump in form:
He is the reason we are the Premiership in the first place
It’s important to remember the club was on its knees last summer. We all expected Rafa Benitez to leave the club after our relegation; after all he could walk into most jobs in the Champions League. We had a high wage bill, a group of players who were desperate to jump ship and an owner who had managed to get us relegated, again.
Benitez stuck with us. He is of course paid well but he would be anywhere he worked. He took a massive risk putting his reputation on the line managing in the Championship, the knives would have been out and everyone in the media was desperate to see us fail that year. We were the only team that went down that year to come in the top six – we won the league. Look at Aston Villa, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hull City – they would take a Premier League relegation battle over where we are now.
We also did this with a net profit of £30m on transfers. The football wasn’t great to watch and we didn’t blow the division like we did last time we went down. But make no mistake, it was a fantastic achievement. We certainly wouldn’t be considered for a takeover now if we were in the second tier and the likelihood we still would be if it wasn’t for Benitez.
He’s vital to the takeover
A proven winner and world class manager at the helm makes us a far more attractive proposition to buy. It is reported Rafa is central to PCP’s bid and they want to base the future on him being at the club. We have wanted Ashley out more or less since he arrived – he doesn’t understand the club, doesn’t want to invest in it any longer and doesn’t understand football. He hired Jo Kinnear, sold our best players, and re-named the stadium, relegated us twice. We finally have light at the end of the tunnel and Rafa is key to securing that and getting us to this position in the first place.
He is the most decorated manager we have had – who would do better?
There have been some farcical claims on social media that Rafa should move on. These will be the minority of course and the problem with social media is doesn’t represent the views of the majority. However, if you consider it – who would come in? We have the potential to be a big club again but certainly under Ashley the best manager we could attract would likely come from the basement managerial carousel of Paul Clement, Tony Pulls and Steve Bruce et al. Do we really want that?
Under Benitez we have hope that if we get new owners we have a manager who has a pedigree of winning things. He isn’t a relegation specialist but he was supposed to fail in the Championship too as ‘he had never managed there before’. Do we want someone to come in, maybe keep us up and then what? Another decade of mediocrity would await. If we had Pardew or McClaren still in charge we would be calling for them to be sacked, yes. Because they were average managers with average records. They also had far better squads than the one we have currently and made no effort to build a report with the fans.
Benitez is of a far higher calibre than anyone we have had since Sir Bobby Robson. Let’s cherish that.
His mistakes stem from the chronic lack of investment from the Ashley regime
As mentioned, all this doesn’t mean Benitez is immune from criticism. He has made mistakes that have contributed to our bad run. You can point to rotating the goalkeepers, switching and persisting with 4-4-2, continuing to isolate Mitrovic or benching Jonjo Shelvey.
His signings have also come in for criticism – Murphy, Lejeune and Manquillo have been poor at times. But let’s be clear, these were not his priority targets. It was pretty clear he wanted the likes of Abraham, Loftus Cheek, Gibbs, Townsend, Reina, Maguire, Cairney. All far better than the faces who eventually came in.
Rafa even wanted some of these last January in the Championship to get momentum for the Premiership and was let down by the lack of investment then too. He may have been backed heavily prior to our Championship season, but that was to build a squad for the second tier. In the two windows since then he has not been given the backing to create the Premier League outfit he desires.
We may have a top class manager, but it’s possibly our weakest Premier League squad to date in a league that has never been more competitive and full of quality. Just look at relegation rivals Crystal Palace and West Ham and compare their front four to ours. Benteke – Zaha – Loftus Cheek – Townsend / Hernandez, Arnautovic, Lanzini, Antonio / Joselu, Atsu, Perez, Ritchie. It’s a total mismatch but this is what we and Benitez are up against.
Get behind Benitez or contribute to our downfall
There is no mistaking that we are on an awful run and things look bleak at the bottom of the table. The game at West Ham is massive for us but let’s not define Rafa’s reign in 9 games. He had a good run when he took over which almost kept us up, won us the Championship and we had an excellent start to the season.
He clearly hasn’t lost the dressing room, we have a group of committed players who give their all. We lack quality in every area of the field. Our starting XI is arguably the weakest in the league, or certainly one of them. If in June we were told we would start the season with no new keeper, left back, number 10 and our new striker was a Stoke reserve striker we wouldn’t have believed it. Ashley let Rafa down badly in the last two transfer winnows.
Rafa stayed because of the support he had from the fans. He could have walked when we went down, when he didn’t get investment last January and then again this summer. If fans turn on him he will walk. No matter how bad this run gets we need to stick together and with the manager, as we have been doing. It is this that makes Newcastle a big club and why both Rafa and investors see us going places.
Who has called for Rafa’s head?
shamrock(Quote)
who ?
Stem(Quote)
One or two **** heads mostly on f/b
Icedog(Quote)
That was going to be my question Sham – not seen one person.
But then I’m not on Facebook – so 1) I’ve not seen them & 2) it means I can’t be one of Ices dickheads ? – well not one of his Facebook ones anyway ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think I’ve been one of Rafas biggest critics on here – but I think my comments have always been fair and considered.
Do I think Rafa could be doing better – yes. Do I think he should be sacked – no. Do I think he above the sack – absolutely not!!.
If McClaren or Pardew were in charge and we were where we are with them – answering honestly, would their heads be being called for though?.
I recognise Rafa as a better manager than those 2, which is why he should be given more time – and supported more in the window.
Sharpy17(Quote)
No way your a ********,the only reason Ime on f/b is to keep in touch with my son
Icedog(Quote)
Ice – I think it’s great for that purpose, but when some plank has just been to Tesco and feels you need to know about it ? no, not for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see games like Watford and Bournemouth as much needed points especially at home so Rafa and the players need a bit of stick imo. Leicester also was a much needed point. Lets look at the facts we only have Gayle who’s scoring. A midfield not creating enough chances and a leaky defense. What has Perez got to offer this season ? Daime ? Ritchie ? Plus we have all this take over **** and a owner who wont spend a penny more than he has too.
Maybe I was a bit harsh on McClaren, Carver and Pardew because every owner even King Kev himself would struggle under Ashley.
Stem(Quote)
Manager sorry
Stem(Quote)
totely agree mate,but mind you you get some real laughs at what ***** people put on f/b,s/media you can keep it,not for me
icedog(Quote)
Ice – the wife is on coz her best mate moved abroad & they wanted to keep in touch & share pictures of the bairns – face time is class. The little uns are funny on that like.
But she shows me some of thd stuff people post and I’m like ‘why would you say things like that to the world – why make yourself look so stupid’
Sharpy17(Quote)
Any preferred options for a new #10 for us anyone?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ditto.
shamrock(Quote)
http://www.nufcfansutd.com/news/december-21st-2017
Apologies if this has alrwady been posted
Interesting that they claim to have contacted pcp
GlosMag(Quote)
Don’t get me wrong folks, this is a message to the minority (I’m sure 90+% are full behind Rafa), but we post all these articles on our Facebook page and you’d be surprised how many comments we see from people suggesting Rafa is the problem.
Things like ‘we’d have been calling for Pardew/McClaren’s head by now so why not Rafa!’, also suggesting he was backed by Ashley and are sick of him referring to ‘we have what we have’, or sick of him benching Shelvey or not playing Mitro.
It’s the minority, but there’s more than I’d like to see saying such nonsense. Critiquing him is fair – maybe he should give Mitro a shot or stop referring to our summer mistakes, but to suggest he’s the problem and should be the one to make way is so short sighted.
He’s the bloke whose held us together over the past 18 months. They’d soon regret asking for him out when they see who we’d be left with if he walked.
He stayed to give something back to this football club and the fans who he felt deserved more. If there’s a feeling that some fans want him gone then he might just be pushed over the edge.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Fair enough. I think Rafa has spent money for the sake of it when he may as well had held onto it for the next window. I also think he is being stubborn not playing Mitro when Joselu is clearly not up to it. However every manager makes mistakes and I have personally not seen anybody call for his head. I guess the people on facebook that you refer to is the reason you won’t find me on facebook haha!
shamrock(Quote)
Olly – in fairness though mate, we would be calling for them to be sacked – or certainly a majority would over the minority.
It’s true that some of the players he brought in in the summer are poor – actually throughout his time in charge to be fair. I think some have lacked quality and some have been short term signings which have proved difficult to then move on.
Yes they weren’t his first choice – but I have to be honest, I can’t say I was blown away at the thought of Tammy Abraham or Tom Cairney either.
Rafa has to take his share of the blame mate. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he should be sacked. Equally though, what he did at other clubs, or even last season shouldn’t give him the freedom to keep producing poor results.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’ve never suggested he shouldn’t take part of the blame, but I really struggle to comprehend how people may think he is the problem.
You’re right, when Pardew and McClaren had these sort of runs there was calls for them to be sacked but it’s a different ball game here. He’s not lost the dressing room like they did, he isn’t saying the wrong things (not smiling like SM lost match or being arrogant or deluded like AP) and he hasn’t got the squad those two did. McClaren got Mitro, Mbemba, Thauvin & Wijnaldum ( and those £12-£14m then are £25m now) and a far better squad around them too – Pardew also had some talents in that squad.
Our side has so few stand out players at this level, but we’re still competing in games and never throw the towel in. We’re just low on quality.
You say Cairney/Abraham didn’t blow you away, but there’s no way we’d get relegated if Benitez was given some of the guys he wanted (Reina/Maguire/Gibbs/Loftus Cheek/ Townsend/ Abraham etc.)
I agree he should be judged on what he’s doing for NUFC, but aside from the last 9 games, he’s transformed so much of the club, got us promoted and gave us a solid start to the season after an incredibly frustrating summer. He’s made mistakes and has, at times, contributed to our downfall recently but in the grand scheme of things he can’t polish a turd!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
You’ve got yourself around the right people then mate. And yeh, Facebook is full of them! Drives me mad
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
To be fair though, if they are drawing comparisons to McClaren & Pardew – are they calling for Rafa to be sacked or are they asking the question playing devils advocate?
If Rafa had got his preferred CF – Abraham over Joselu, I’m not sure we would be in a much better position than we are now personally. I can say Cairney would have set the world alight, coz he isn’t at Fulham this season.
Previous managers got slaughtered for similar records. Graham Carr was slaughtered for poor signings – yet it does seem that if you speak up about Rafa, it’s frowned upon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Olly – I think what you say is very balanced and a fair assessment.
I think a slight issue I have is this ‘he wasn’t backed’ – I’m not sure that’s 100% correct though it seems so on the face of things. From your list there – Reina and Townsend didn’t actually leave the clubs they are at. There’s not a great deal we can do about that – we didn’t loose out to another club. Same with Kennedy and Cairney actually.
I think Loftus Cheek preferred a stay in London & Abraham said Clement was a big reason for going to Swansea. Maguire I think highlighted another big issue in the summer – players going for bigger fees than you’d expect. Gibbs I think was a wages issue.
I know people who don’t want to hear that, or would rather say that the club won’t back him would say they are all excuses – but I think they are very real reasons.
After that, I would agree with Sham. If you can’t get the players you want, go with what you have. Keep Anita rather than spending on Manquillo. Could keeping Daryl Murphy have been any worse than Joselu?!.
I agree with you though mate. The squad is weak, and I’ve said before, the only real criticism I have is we should have done better against Brighton, Huddersfield and WBA – to get no points from those possible 9 is very poor. I think 4-6 would have and should have been achieved.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think Rafa will turn it around but he does make some baffling decisions regarding Joselu, Diame and Perez and not playing Mitro, Gayle and MBemba. I could understand it if any of the players he is playing looked good, but they don’t. His record speaks for itself though which is why I have been critical of past managers – their records speak volumes.
Pards had a history of doing the same thing at every club he had ever Managed and did it again with us and then again at Palace. I have no doubt he will do it again at West Brom.
Ugly John was sacked by Toronto and was totally unqualified to Manage NUFC.
McClaren was sacked by his 3 previous clubs then by us and then by Derby again. So that’s 5 jobs he was sacked from.
You could say Rafa was sacked by Madrid but they were 2nd in La Liga and through to the last 16 of the CL at the time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If Rafa left I think it would be a good bet that we would implode like the Mackems or Bolton or Wigan. The Fatman is not interested and Mandy and her mates would walk away. They probably will anyway until they see if we are relegated.
We have no choice. It is not like Palace who have the makings of a decent squad and just needed sorted out. We have the makings of a top half Championships squad. Part of that is down to Rafa but he also had to settle for his 2nd and 3rd choices. Actually you could say the same thing about Carr because if he was given a bit more money we would have had Lacazette and Aubamewang (sp?).
No, there is one constant in the last 10 years of pain.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Amanda must be really thinking forward she has already made contact with some toon groups,wonder if she’s looked in on here?
Icedog(Quote)
Talk Pardew wants Mitro?
Icedog(Quote)
I would hate Rafa to leave but I do question his selection. Especially that ****** Joselu. Why does he persist with someone that does nothing and gives nothing? Surely Mitro should have been given his chance a long time ago. If he had of we may not be in the position we are in. We are ideal candidates for relegation again the way we are playing. No spine, no guts and no back bone. The way we are we will be lucky to get two more wins this season ffs
Danny(Quote)
Ice – is that true?, if so thats a very promising sign I’d say.
Sharpy17(Quote)
of coarse its true,i dont put **** on here mate
icedog(Quote)
hoots says they are going to break their transfer record
icedog(Quote)
Ice – I think it was you that posted he’s interested in Dembele from Celtic – I’d take him in a heartbeat!!.
He’d be a Lukaku type signing I reckon – yeah he may cost £20-25m to sign but has the potential to go £60-70m plus if he had a few big seasons
Sharpy17(Quote)
We better break our transfer record. Bottom 3 with potential buyers ready to walk if we are relegated, costing the Fat Man about 150 million quid. It is as plain as the nose on Phil Thomson’s face that we need to spend 50 million in January plus whatever comes in from sales. This team is not good enough to stay up.
I am not so sure about the loans either. Does anybody really think there will be no competition to get Ings or Batshuay on loan? Of course there will. Any team in the bottom 14 with a loan space left will be squabbling over them just like they were with Abrams.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
she wont walk even if we go down mate from what i hear
icedog(Quote)
That is what I read a couple days ago – she was discussing with Ashley on price – how much it will be if we relegate, implying she will still buy even we relegate, as long as Rafa is in place.
funrafa(Quote)
How on earth can we make serious comparisons with Pardew and McClaren? Neither had a squad as bad as this and McClaren even spent £80!!! Pardew even had players like Remy, Cisse, HBA, Colo, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye and Debuchy. So let’s just put that stupid comparison to bed.
And let’s put this “should be doing better under Rafa” to bed too. Look at most games we’ve lost against the average teams. Brighton, Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Everton and Southampton (draw). In all those games we’ve had a lot of chances and have not taken them. In fact 4 of the them games we’ve not scored even after creating many chances. That’s down to a lack of quality, not Rafa. In a lot of games his season I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said “keeper needs to be doing better there.” In the summer Rafa wanted to improve in these areas and the club failed him.
Can anyone seriously tell me we have actually improved the team since last season?
I take Shams point about buying for the sale of it to get numbers in. But, Sham, if he’d have spent £20m on one good player he’d be getting criticised if that player then got injured. He’d look ridiculous and so would the decision. I’d also like to say the chances of the club actually paying the higher wages of a £20m player are zero so he couldn’t have done it anyway.
Stuart79(Quote)
You’re right to not be convinced about the loans. Don’t forget these players are on good money. We won’t pay anywhere near that in wages.
Stuart79(Quote)
I dont agree Stu. The money saved on multiple **** buys for 1 decent one would mean.the 1 players wage would be covered and then some. I know there will be a wage cap but if Shelvey is on 80k then I am sure we could push out 90 or 100k for a proper striker.
I’d like to see Shelvey sold in Jan btw. Waste of space overall. We need a CM to replace him. Can’t see any sane club taking his wages off our hands mind. He is a joke, full of himself and does not produce the good consistently through 90 mins, never mind a run of games.
shamrock(Quote)
We can muddle by without a top striker whilst they are injured. We cant muddle by if they are not at the club in the first place.
shamrock(Quote)
Sham, this season so far is what “muddling through” without a top striker would be like. Are you sure we could “muddle through”?
Stuart79(Quote)
If this top striker had played the first 8 games and we were top 8 as we were and then he got injured for 6 months we’d be exactly where we are now.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sometimes I just don’t get Rafa. We know that Perez and Joselu do not score often enough. Gayle has his off days but when he is on his game he always looks like he will score. And Mitro!!!! Just bend a bit Rafa and play him. If, after 3 games, he looks shyte then what have you lost? Joselu wouldn’t have scored anyway and the fans would see that Mitro either isn’t good enough or is an accident waiting to happen.
What do you have to lose after, what, 8 losses in 9 games? I have said it before that I think he just doesn’t want him injured before selling him to Pards. But why not play him in the first 10 gsame (minus his trial by MOTD suspension).
BUT, BUT, BUT… Imagine if we sold Mitro to West Brom and they started winning!!!! Then facebook would really go like batshit crazy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Joselu is apparently stealing 50k a week.
Mebemba 30k, Games 35k, Mitro 60k, Diame 45k!
Joselu, Manquillo and Gamez’ wages alone would come to over 110k p/w.
I honestly think his transfer strategy could have been better handled.
Do I think he is the right person to take us forward? Yes. Do I think he has made some poor decision? Yes.
shamrock(Quote)
Yeah if the stars aligned exactly in that way to fit your argument Stu. Highly unlikely though – and I know I would rather a squad with less depth sprinkled with a few game changers than a squad with more depth but nobody with the ability to turn a game at the drop of a hat.
shamrock(Quote)
I can’t believe them wages, Sham. We are the stingiest club in the country. These wages don’t make sense.
Stuart79(Quote)
So would I, Sham. But you’re talking about one game changer.
Stuart79(Quote)
I think an Mbemba, Mitro and Mbabu could have done at least the same job as Lejune, Joselu and Manquillo – whilst keeping the funds free for an actual game changer to enter the fray.
Manquillo and Joselu were both known to be **** at this level. They should not have been signed. Now we are lumbered with them.
shamrock(Quote)
Why isn’t Rafa picking Mitro if he really thought he’d be the answer to our prayers? I really want some answers? It doesn’t make sense for him to ignore a player who might make a difference? Does he want us to struggle and go down?
Stuart79(Quote)
Got to start somewhere Stu. Filling the squad up for the next 5 years with **** players on good wages is not going to entice good players to the squad, or give the club capacity to get into that position.
The wages are taken from multiple sources online for this season. They are about right when you compare other clubs using the same sources.
shamrock(Quote)
Stu – I don’t want to put the ‘we should be doing better’ to bed mate. That’s my opinion, and whilst the subject matter is being written about I will have my opinion.
As for the if we paid £20m on one player people would kick off – I don’t believe that for a second. Personally, I really don’t care what a player costs – whether it be £30m or £10m – providing we are buying quality players. But I think the set up under Ashley is that we will not pay over a certain amount – that is what needs to change with the new ownership.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Totally agree mate
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think he is arrogant because Mitro is not following his every instruction. But the facts speak for themselves. It takes Joselu an extra 80 minutes to contribute to a goal compared to Mitro.
shamrock(Quote)
Stu – on the flip side it could be asked, if Mitrovic isn’t in his plans – why is he putting him in the squad. If he’s training so poorly and Rafa doesn’t think he can do it, why put him in?
Sharpy17(Quote)
We really need a win.
If Rafa doesn’t play Mitro at least don’t play Joselu. Play Gayle and Perez up top. Perez at least looks like he might score eventually, runs around a bit, and doesn’t just have a scuffed shot and a very lucky rebound to his name in like 15 games. That’s what Joselu has. I would be fcking embarrassed going by one name if I was as sh!te as him 🙂
I am not trying to pick on the lad but that’s about all he has done for us.
It is not like me to rant about players or Managers. I am a Saint, me. No Pards, Rooney, or Ugly John rants in my past!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am looking forward to Rafa getting a proper budget (both transfer pot and wages) from PCP – and seeing what he can do when on a level playing field with our rivals. There is bo doubt that he has been severely hamstrung – I just dont think he has handled it as well as he ought to have done.
So…. come on Staveley. Get the deal done!
shamrock(Quote)
You can have your opinion, Sharpy. I just happen to think the facts don’t support you. We had 3/4 relegation battles under Pardew/McClaren and both spent more money and had better players. In fact it’s even harder now because the likes of Bournemouth, Stoke, West Brom and the other perennial strugglers are all spending big money. We’re basically the same situation as under them only Rafa doesn’t have access to the same quality Pardew and McClaren had.
Stuart79(Quote)
I’m not disputing that. I’ve simply said I think we should’ve pick up more than ZERO points against Brighton, Huddersfield and WBA. The facts support me coz we got no points. But it’s the same group of players that beat Stoke, scored 3 passed WH and drew with Lpool and Saints. I’ve never said we should have taken 9 points – I believe 4-6pts from those teams should have been more than achievable with this group of players.
If we took 6pts we’d be on 21 and sat around 11/12 – unrealistic? – Huddersfield are 11th with 21pts right now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ah well. It is all subjective – so long as we can have a debate without getting personal ?
I think we are all agreed that Ashley has grossly mismanaged this institution and it is well overdue for a change of stewardship. The sooner Staveley gets on board the better, because I really do not see how she can make it any more dull or unsatisfying than Ashley has managed over the past 10 long and very painful years…
shamrock(Quote)
Sharpy – Average players are inconsistent. That’s why they’re average players. The games you mention we didn’t play badly. Are you blaming Rafa because Joselu scores a flukey goal against Liverpool but misses easy chances against other teams? Or are you blaming him for the fact Perez scored a goal against Southampton but missed sitters against Huddersfield and Brighton? If he’d have scored them we’d have got something from the games.
Stuart79(Quote)
“I believe 4-6pts from those teams should have been more than achievable with this group of players.
If we took 6pts we’d be on 21 and sat around 11/12 – unrealistic? – Huddersfield are 11th with 21pts right now“
Sharpy that would rely on these average players being more consistent and taking more chances than they are currently doing. How do you propose they do that?
Stuart79(Quote)
I agree with you there, Sham. I’m not sure how it would be possible to have a more uninspiring, boring or heart wrenching period for NUFC than the one Jabba has overseen.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I understand they are inconsistent – that’s why I don’t expect 9 from a possible 9. I think 4-6 is a fair expectation – I think zero is not acceptable mate.
Of course I can blame Rafa for Joselu missing chances – but I do think he could have had more of an impact with the substitution.
Actually, sorry I need to correct myself. We drew with WBA – but I still believe we should be getting 4-6 rather than 1.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah, I’ll go with that too boys. I look forward to disagreeing about £30m players ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Imagine the days when we are complaining that spending £30m on a players is a waste of money…
Stuart79(Quote)
I think you’ve probably got it absolutely spot on with all those signing examples mate. Rafa had his targets, but I suppose we can never forget that we were still a newly promoted club and one who, under Ashley, were not up to date with the inflated fees. Ashley wasn’t ready to match our record transfer fee by signing Maguire and the fact that someone like Andre Gray would’ve become our record signing should he have signed says it all about the crazy fees over the summer.
Missing out on the PL cash over the last year or so will have set us back against rival sides too. I think it was a combination of Ashley not backing Benitez enough and opting to sign on the cheap, Charnley not getting the deals done quickly enough (apparently Rafa was baffled how we took so long to secure Caballero and Abraham!) and Rafa’s targets not being totally sold on NUFC given we’d only just been promoted. I mean Harry Maguire for example – many fans will tell you we’re a bigger club etc. etc., but right now, there’s only one winner between us two based on recent history and level of playing squad..
Even the players who Rafa could convince – that’s only a tiny part of the deal, meaning Benitez’s ability to attract was always going to be limited if the owner above him couldn’t pull off the finer parts of the deal. We had to get a fee agreed before we could begin talking to players and use the ‘RAFA FACTOR’ and I imagine Ashley rarely wanted to offer the fee that would allow that.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Everyone praising Bristol City’s performance yesterday yet last season some fans wanted rid of Lee Johnson after an 8 game losing streak . They stuck with him and look at them now.
We are struggling because the quality isn’t quite at it save for 2 or 3 PL players in the team. That’s not down to Rafa though. I have had a moan that Mitro doesn’t play but there has to be a reason he doesn’t start games as I’m sure that Rafa would play him all game if he felt it would work.
Let’s judge him after he has gotten in some quality and not forget that he got us back into the PL when other relegated teams continue to struggle.
He has by in large connected the fans back to a fractured dysfunctional club and mostly brought us hope and if he is part of the reason we are getting taken over then he has hero status from me.
kimtoon(Quote)
Not having that, Sharpy. You’re giving the club excuses. Rafa wanted Loftus Cheek in the fizzy and the club refused to pay the loan fee. Abraham was a done deal, Rafa went to meet him at England training and he agreed. When we dithered, Swansea got involved and we weren’t prepared to match their loan fee. Townsend wanted to come back, again we refused to meet Palace’s asking price – that’s when we were in the Fizzy. Reina was about money too I’m sure.
Don’t give the club excuses, Sharpy – they don’t deserve them. Their past performance is there for all to see. I have no idea why you think it’s been different over the last 12 months. They should that they could do deals and act decisively of the summer when we were in the Fizzy. The motto was “What Rafa wants, Rafa gets.” All of a sudden there was a complete reversal and revert to type. It’s costing us.
Look at Villa, Sunderland, Norwich, Hull and Middlesbrough to see just what a brilliant job Rafa did and can do when he’s backed.
Stuart79(Quote)
More than that Stuart.
Look at Bolton, Wigan, Cov, Portsmouth! It can go tits up really fast.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Absolutely, Eric. The job Rafa did last season can not be underestimated. Back him and he will do the job, don’t back him and well, you end up here…
Stuart79(Quote)
Even after this window it could be hard to judge him, depending on what, if any; influence Amanda and PCP have on funds made available . We still have no confirmation that a deals been struck between both parties remember.
Even if we only get a quality forward and keeper I will be fairly content. One given service will score and the other keep clean sheets.
We have some pacey wingers who can provide well enough, a decent 10 and cmf will help if possible. Dummy should be back soon and we can get by until summer with him.
kimtoon(Quote)
There was a time when if someone mentioned Rafs’s name as a candidate for our future manager many got laughed at, now we have him some want him gone if you look at twitter and facebook.
All managers make mistakes , it’s human nature and you can’t win them all as they say.
It’s like sir bobby getting sacked never happened, and where have we been since him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stu – the thing is mate you are talking about a different league and a different group of players we are signing.
Newcastle with Rafa signing players in the Chanpionship will never struggle signing players. We are a big fish in that pond with a world class manager. But the players we signed – Gayle, Ritchie, Hayden, Yedlin – these are all players on the fringes of the clubs they were at. Along come NUFC offering similar wages or more than they are on now and despite dropping to the fizzy, you’re playing for Rafa and chances are you’ll be in the PL next season.
But we are now in the PL. We are an average sized fish with an unstable past in the PL – a far less attractive prospect – and the decent players have a bigger say in where they go.
I think the club definitely don’t help matters with this apparent refusal to pay over £12-15m on a player – that is a real problem now and has to change under the new owner. That imo has been the biggest strangler, because the market has changed so much in the last few seasons.
But it’s not just a case of Rafa wants that player so we get him. If the player don’t want to come, or fancies a different club more, there’s not much we can do about that.
I understand the wage cap – most clubs have them. But this fee cap is no good, and often the reason our transfer negotiations take so bloody long – but I think that restrict is from Ashley and probably frustrates Charnley just as much.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The thinking man’s blog. Well done guys – some excellent stuff in there recently.
georgio(Quote)
Not sure what’s going on with the Kenedy deal. One report says we’ve secured the deal and he’ll come on Jan 1st. Another says he’ll only come when Conte gets his replacement which could be Jan 29th or not at all. I’d be happier with the forst option. We need help fast and he’s a step above Hayden, Shelvey, Diame et al.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – that’s exactly my point on the transfer window. Im sure that was the case in the summer. We struck an agreement which was pending Conte getting players in – he didn’t so we didn’t get Kennedy.
There are more complications to the club not getting players in than simply just they are failing Rafa.
But I reiterated, this fee cap that Ashley has in place is without doubt the biggest complication for our recruitment.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The minute Chelsea start messing about like that , we need to choose a different option. We know how it panned out in the summer and why would you repeat that .
kimtoon(Quote)
Do you genuinely think that players prefer to play for Bournemouth, Swansea, West Brom, Stoke, Southampton or Crystal Palace rather than NUFC with Rafa as manager? Let’s be honest, it’s about money. If we were prepared to match them clubs financially we’d get the players.
Stuart79(Quote)