TK-421

Here is Douglas' bit from the Q&A blog...

Aye, haven't read it all yet, but it starts about the fans expectations ("belief among fans that they should be challenging for honours every season") then the first few paragraphs talks about how we haven't done/won anything for years - almost like its setting it up for, just accept what you've got/Mike. Also this... Aye, and the rest. If the price was between £200m and £300m, he'd have sold by now.

Was Polygon, not Sports Direct, that registered nufcdirect.com Is this guy barking up the wrong tree then? Poor fella definitely thinks he’s onto something! Who are Polygon, and is he right that the domain was registered months before the club was sold? Seems they were part of a consortium who were looking to take over in Jan 2007, can't say I remember much about that though..... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6229885.stm

Saw him (Kenedy) in the Metrocentre one night earlier this week. Missus saw him first, as someone had stopped him for a selfie. Then when he turned around, I realised who it was. Was wearing a very 'inconspicuous' matching designer patterned hoodie and shorts combo. Was heading towards Debenhams..... or jacamo.

Stelling: "3 new signings on the bench, fernandez not even in the squad. Mike might as well have kept his hands in his pockets" I'm sure it was fairly tongue in cheek, but still.

Just been to the Metrocentre. 70% sale on at HoF already!!

Wasn't sure where to put this... some propaganda from Bishop, but apparently a 'joint statement' signed off By Charnley, Benitez and Lascelles. https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/a-message-to-fans

On the flipside, maybe the stadium will be plastered in HoF advertising now? Coming soon... www.houseoffraserdirect.com

Yes and yes. Might have got wind Marlon wouldn't get a work permit. Or Jose has decided Lascelles is the centreback for him. If we plan to get both someone is going. Was just gonna say... Ashley sanctioning the (potential) signings of 3 centre backs in this window? He's clearly praying for a late Lascelles bid.

If we had £6m to spend on a defender, why did the club not make a formal bid for Joe Bryan?? A 24 yr old, British player (age/time to increase in value), and in a position we actually NEED someone??!!! Jeez... this ****ing cloob!

This is from Wikipedia, but guessing its accurate, and probably how Keegan took them to trbunal, and how Rafa could (arguably) do the same... It all depends whats in Rafa's contract about his role, and control over things, but the relationship does seem to be breaking down, with serious trust issues, given Ashleys comments, and then subsequent actions.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/rafa-benitez-left-seething-deadline-15008731.amp?__twitter_impression=true

His feud with Laurent Robert . Stupid fucker never seemed to give him higher than a 5. Seem to remember him being a proper apologist for Shepherd too, in the whole Souness and then Roeder appointments.

I thought the issue was that Ashley was trying to cut the bonuses, along with raising the bar for when they kick in (6th place)? Not that the players were looking for more money than last year?

Once again, a piece by Mark Douglas critical of the regime, whilst Ryder says nowt. Clearly values his press pass too much.

https://twitter.com/StewartTweets/status/1025381278068043776

Didn't seem too bad until I got to this bit... Oh aye, stability and sustaining our position is gonna be easy when everyone around us is strengthening their squads, and Rafa is having to beg steal and borrow.

Nah man...its the 21st century, remember... http://www.itripoli.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Fax-Online-17-300x224.jpg

Next...

Loan with option to buy. Probably.

Yep, blatantly clear now that at very least they wanted him distracted from summer transfers. Alternatively, they probably hoped he'd do well and either be poached permanently by Spain, or want to/ask to leave to do the job. Either way, its just more proof that despite what the club (or Charnley) says, Ashley wants rid of Rafa, but (seemingly) can't or won't wont sack him. Suppose he hasn't done a bad enough job to justify a sacking, but is making their life difficult, and won't just sit and accept things like his predecessors have done.

I'm sure all of the recent Chronic(le) pieces questioning the club, spending, Ashley have all been written by Mark Douglas or a couple of other guys. Have yet to see (unless I missed it) an article by Ryder ('Chief Sports Writer') questioning or raising concerns about anything that's going on.

It probably does look like a Meltdown over there, considering how chilled they have been in taking back-to-back relegations, with barely a whimper. Yes they (well, most of them) have stopped going, but apart from that, what else did they do to fight for their club?

Better than Joselu then.