A message to Rafa Benitez – Our dream manager in the midst of a Mike Ashley nightmare

To say I am absolutely devastated by today’s news is an understatement, but I can’t thank Rafa enough for his efforts over the past three years.

He was more than just a manager, the best thing that happened to use since Sir Bobby and the one reason we believed the good times could return.

That’s what makes his exit all the more unbearable, and absolutely unforgivable that Mike Ashley made no real effort to keep him.

He saw our potential, he gave us hope and he fought for change, but he clearly couldn’t win against a man who only saw pound signs. He constantly fought a losing battle, but he never gave up on us.

This genuinely feels worse than the two moments we were relegated. Why? Because Rafa leaving means all hope dies with him for as long as Mike Ashley remains. It’s the hope that kills you – and Rafa brought us so much, even in this torturous Mike Ashley era.

He stayed with us when we went down, he got us back up, he kept us up, he finally created a strong defence, he signed incredibly on such limited resources, he improved average player, he reconnected a divided fanbase, he challenged Mike Ashley and he made us believe that the good times may just be around the corner.

He wasn’t just a brilliant tactician, father figure for players and inspirational football manager, he was a man who ‘got it’, understood us fans and lived up to his position at the centre of the Newcastle community.

I hope to see him back the day new owners finally release us from the chains Mike Ashley attached to NUFC 12 years ago.

Sadly, Newcastle United isn’t a football club to Mike Ashley. It’s a business and a cash cow he’ll milk for all it’s worth. He treats it like a business and won’t change for no one – even if he drives out a world class manager and hurts fans in the process.

One man isn’t bigger than Newcastle United, but this club will remain dormant until he (Ashley) has gone, with the fans being the only thing ready to erupt at this stage.

Thank you for everything Rafa, you will be missed – it’s just an absolute travesty that the only person who couldn’t see that was Mike Ashley.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

166 thoughts on “A message to Rafa Benitez – Our dream manager in the midst of a Mike Ashley nightmare

  1. It’s almost like Rafa knew what he was doing and Ashley and Charnley dont…

    and on we go. The farce unfolds.

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  2. Stu – I’m not sure the Rondon deal is dead in the water.

    I think it’s age older NUFC of not spending until they have the money in the bank to spend – the old sell to buy approach. I think it’s the most ridiculous approach and is a square peg to a round hole when it comes to this industry. It’s the reason we languish behind while other clubs strengthen – it’s the reason why our deals take so long – and it’s ultimately one of Rafas biggest hang ups, and a likely cause of him not renewing his contract.

    However, when Perez is sold and that money comes in, I think Rondon could well be bought.

    I know that goes against the Ashley way, but my theory is this.
    The fans are raging Rafa has gone, and he has season tickets to shift.
    Whilst it’s not what he wants, he could well look at it as – I’m signing their player of last season and the fans love Rondon – and he proved he can do it last season.
    But more importantly, he’d only cost half of Perez.

    Then when he sells Gayle for £20m, there will be more in the pot – but not enough. So whoever comes in better be looking at free transfers and loans.

    I agree, the squad will be short again. But until we have an owner prepared to speculate, it always will be.

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  3. Stuart79:
    Rondon

    Stu – maybe, maybe not but I think fat lad and his advisers may well see him as a way of easing tension with the fans alittle bit – coz whilst usually they don’t give a $hit, they do have tickets to sell and Rondon is a cheap (ish) way of doing that.

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  4. Stuart79:
    I wouldn’t be surprised if Leicester also replaced Maguire with Schar either.

    Stu – I had Schar going to Arsenal mate. I think Leicester would be more interested in Lascelles – a big physical CB to replace a big physical CB.
    Schar seems a better footballing fit for Arsenal, if he goes anywhere.

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  5. Might as well sell them both and let Longstaff go. Heading into nightmare territory.

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  6. Longstaff will be next. No danger. Why would he want to stay here?

    Sharpy – One of the sticking points with Rafa was Rondon. If you think we will spend £16.5m on a striker that Rafa wanted you’re mad. That would make things ten times worse. More likely Joelington arrives for £30m and he will be useless because he will need time.

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  7. Stuart79:
    Longstaff will be next. No danger. Why would he want to stay here?

    Sharpy – One of the sticking points with Rafa was Rondon. If you think we will spend £16.5m on a striker that Rafa wanted you’re mad. That would make things ten times worse. More likely Joelington arrives for £30m and he will be useless because he will need time.

    Stu – I’m not saying he will, I’m saying it wouldn’t surprise me.
    I can well imagine their thinking being – he was a fans favourite, player of the year.
    Signing him would please the season ticket renewers – it would give an established CF – but it could also be used to say ‘we were ready to get Rafa the players he wanted’.

    I’m not saying I agree with that, just I can see that mentality from them.

    Gayle and Perez out for £50m. Rondon and your lad in for £46.5m.
    Net spend of a small profit – sounds about NUFCs style.

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  8. We are also talking about a club who struggle to sign players in good time because money is the biggest concern and always will be. How many times have we seen them fail miserably… Bored of it now.

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  9. Stuart79:
    BTW Telegraph reporting it’s only £16m for Perez…

    Backs up my point of journos writing $hit.

    He has a release clause of £30m which is why it’s happened so quickly.

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  10. Well I don’t think anybody knows that do they? Was anybody aware of any buy out claue before yesterday?

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  11. Is it only NUFC who offer a lot less than their buy out clause when wanting to buy a player?

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  12. What a ***** build up to the new season.
    I’m totally fecked off with the club at the moment.

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