Sean

He also said we'd sign Grosicki. Didn't realise it had already been posted. But tbd theres been a few deals supposedly lined up by Rafa that have then not been followed through on. Possible Grosiki could be the same? Also possible he's talking bollocks but i'd doubt that seeing as he does know Rafa well. It was already reported by Caulkin that the Grosicki stuff is bollocks though, i don't particularly believe he knows anything tbh. While it's obvious Rafa is frustrated i do feel it's not to the extent the media are playing it up to be. Yeah this is where I'm at with it as well. I think Rafa will want to stay for the fans and for the players he's brought in, even though he is probably getting pretty exasperated.

He also said we'd sign Grosicki. Didn't realise it had already been posted. But tbd theres been a few deals supposedly lined up by Rafa that have then not been followed through on. Possible Grosiki could be the same? Also possible he's talking bollocks but i'd doubt that seeing as he does know Rafa well.

John Richardson saying Rafa's even more pissed than previously:

This, his movement, timing of his runs and finishing is all good enough if given the right service. Only slight concern is his fitness record tbh.

Yeah it was, good signs.

Yeah it was definitely Ritchie on a second look.

Yeah really good ball. He's looked OK so far tbh.

That pass from Diame was fucking atrocious

Referees taking the piss here like

Good free kick, but what's the keeper doing showing him that much space and then diving behind the line?!

I was going to say this, just imagine some of the decisions we're going to be on the end of this season in the Premier League.

Yep it's pretty clear he's looking leaner than before which can only be a good thing.

What if it's more windy at one end though. Need to swap ends after each pen imo Good thinking...might have to alternate ends too

The only 100% 'fair' way would be simultaneous penalties, one keeper each end, when the ref blows both players take their penalties Ridiculous.

That's the first thing I noticed. Was hoping he'd speak the language but not expecting it at all, that'll help him settle and communicate with his teammates no end.

Telegraph reporting it now: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/07/26/newcastle-agree-deal-sign-borussia-dortmund-midfielder-mikel/

Colback will be in League 2 within a year if we ever get rid of him.

As i see it, the main functional problem in the transfer market is the clubs failure to give Rafa full control over who we sign, for how much and how much wages get allocated to certain players. Yes prices are high, but I doubt our manager has his sights set on ridiculously priced targets, and even if he does, I'd trust his judgement. Same with players we need rid of, Rafa needs the final say on the financial aspects of the deal. In terms of wages, again leave it to Rafa. He's not stupid. Ashley and Charnley on the other hand...

Unsurprisingly theres not a lot of interest in our deadwood. You'd think that we could find buyers for Darlow and Hanley. Krul, Saivet, Riviera, Haidara and maybe even Lazaar may have to be sent on loan, with us paying a proportion of their wages still as they haven't exactly impressed anywhere lately. Also Gamez possibly. That leaves Mitrovic, Colback, Diame and Mbemba as the only real saleable assets. Can't (unfortunately) see Rafa getting rid of Colback or Diame this summer, think Mitro may well be sold. That would leave us with 20 senior players, and needing a new GK, LB, CM, CF and hopefully no10. Lot of work to be done if we want to be prepared for the season.

I think it's fair enough really. We need another striker and a number 10, but if they fell through we at least have Gayle and Perez who at least has a season of playing well. Our goalkeeping situation is pretty s*** whoever's played at the moment, so getting someone solid and dependable in would be great. It's shit because he's making it that way in my view. Krul is a perfectly capable number 1 in the PL, he's proved it over a number of years, Darlow is a fine back up, hell we've even been able to rely on Elliot in the past and we have Woodman of course who personally I think we should seriously consider pushing through. It's nowhere near a bad situation, unlike the clear weakness in CM, number 10 and up front, those should be the focus areas not wasting time chasing small improvements to the GK. Krul's really not as good as some people seem to think...as a shot stopper he can be OK however he doesn't command his area well, organise his defence, he's not very good dealing with crosses, etc etc. It's not a massive surprise that theres no Premier League teams looking to sign him up. It seems pretty clear those traits above are qualities that Rafa values in a GK. Reina would be perfect in that respect, although seems unlikely still.

Who's quote is it? Rafa's from his interview... http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/rafa-benitez-james-mccarthy-everton-13352565 Interesting, not like Rafa to comment on players we are looking at. If it's true then I wonder who our first target is? Be a bit of a comedown for McCarthy to be second choice to Clucas. We've been linked with a certain player he managed at Real Madrid but I can't see it! Who's that then? I must have missed it. Kovacic I believe...we can dream eh.

Same here, I trust Rafa knows why he wants him.

Think that's bollocks personally, Pardew has been rumbled, even Ashley wouldn't touch him now. I don't think Ashley would care mate. He'd care about relegation and the plummeting value of the squad that we were headed towards last time Pardew was here. I don't think he cared the last time tbh...Pardew wasn't sacked remember. Ashley probably thought he was doing a great job. Pardew was definitely under pressure by the end no matter what Charnley said publicly. He turned down Palace initially then when he realised the writing was on the wall he knew his time was up. That's how I remember it. I think the fans turning on him might have had more to do with it. Either way, I have full confidence that Ashley would manage to make the worst possible appointment if things go bad, and theres no doubting who that would be. Anyway I wouldn't give a shit in that case as I'd already be done with the club.

Think that's bollocks personally, Pardew has been rumbled, even Ashley wouldn't touch him now. I don't think Ashley would care mate. He'd care about relegation and the plummeting value of the squad that we were headed towards last time Pardew was here. I don't think he cared the last time tbh...Pardew wasn't sacked remember. Ashley probably thought he was doing a great job.

Why do we need to get rid of deadwood first? If the money's there we should spend it. Then if someone wants to buy our deadwood we can shift them as and when. TBF I think that's just how football clubs work by default. We won't just stockpile players we don't have a squad number for. Is the last line (about deadwood) actually a genuine quote? Can't find it anywhere. Erm, he's not going to call his players deadwood :lol: