Rafael Benitez

[Minhosa]

Genuinely concerned he'll give Gouff a new contract. Gouff seems a decent option to him in the Champo in 3 positions.

 

I'm really not that arsed. My only concern for the summer window is coming through it with Rafa still here tbqh.

[Robster]

Wagner got Championship Manager of the Month.

Good. It's often a curse.

[Sho Time]

 

*Insert Crumpy's "we must be the worst team ever to get promoted" line here.*

[Mick]

Genuinely concerned he'll give Gouff a new contract. Gouff seems a decent option to him in the Champo in 3 positions.

I'm not concerned by that at all, we're partly where we are in the league because of him, he's contributed to our season and done a job. He wouldn't be my first choice in any position but he rarely let's us down when picked.

[Mick]

Wagner got Championship Manager of the Month.

Good. It's often a curse.

Agreed, give it to Hughton next and we're up.

[Robster]

Wagner got Championship Manager of the Month.

Good. It's often a curse.

Agreed, give it to Hughton next and we'we up.

[TRon]

Genuinely concerned he'll give Gouff a new contract. Gouff seems a decent option to him in the Champo in 3 positions.

I'm not concerned by that at all, we're partly where we are in the league because of him, he's contributed to our season and done a job. He wouldn't be my first choice in any position but he rarely let's us down when picked.

 

He's not good enough that's all, but if Rafa wants to give him a contract and use him as a utility player, that's up to him. As long as he's not starting games I couldn't give a toss.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I'd keep almost anyone except Colback. The only issue is who we add.

[Greg]

Genuinely concerned he'll give Gouff a new contract. Gouff seems a decent option to him in the Champo in 3 positions.

I'm not concerned by that at all, we're partly where we are in the league because of him, he's contributed to our season and done a job. He wouldn't be my first choice in any position but he rarely let's us down when picked.

We won't be in the Championship next season. Bin him off. Not good enough.

[The College Dropout]

We won't offer him a new contract if he's not going to be immediate back-up in at least 1 position. I don't want that at all. I'd rather sign Atsu + another winger.

[joeyt]

Can see him and Anita being like Gallacher & Glass end of the 00-01 season. I remember a fair few fans being unhappy when they were released, but they ended the season pretty well, we thanked them for their efforts, then quickly forgot them when Bellamy & Robert were starting in their places at Chelsea.

I think we'll give Anita a new contract

[SEMTEX]

Aye there's no way we let Anita go free unless he chooses to peace out. Even if we don't envision him playing for us much in the future, he has value. Even if that value isn't in the UK.

[Ash]

I'd keep almost anyone except Colback. The only issue is who we add.

 

We need to get rid of numerous players to free up spaces in the squad.

[Guest neesy111]

I'd keep almost anyone except Colback. The only issue is who we add.

 

We need to get rid of numerous players to free up spaces in the squad.

 

This.

[Mick]

 

We won't be in the Championship next season. Bin him off. Not good enough.

 

I wouldn't mind that, it's hopefully up to Rafa who goes and who stays and I trust him while knowing that even he will probably make mistakes.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I'd keep almost anyone except Colback. The only issue is who we add.

 

We need to get rid of numerous players to free up spaces in the squad.

 

This.

 

Well fair enough, just saying that I think most of our players could do a job as a squad player next season (under Rafa).

[NG32]

Colback needs locked in a cage and fed fish heads for the rest of his life.

 

 

 

[TRon]

I'd keep almost anyone except Colback. The only issue is who we add.

 

We need to get rid of numerous players to free up spaces in the squad.

 

This.

 

Well fair enough, just saying that I think most of our players could do a job as a squad player next season (under Rafa).

 

Ironic that Gouffran was brought in to save us from relegation under Pardew because our players at the time were considered too shit to manage it without new blood. Now a lot of people wouldn't want him as a squad player. Just goes to show, buying genuine quality takes either big money or a really good eye for a player. At least Rafa seems to know what he wants from his players in their positions, so I'm happy to leave it to him for now.

[Chicane]

I'd only be concerned about Gouff being given a new contract if it was basically because Rafa isn't given the funds to bring in someone better. If Rafa thinks he has a role to play and wants to keep him then great, give him a contract

[Ronaldo]

Gouffran will be contribute fuck all in the PL. If Rafa's the manager I know he is and we have the funds we absolutely should have, he'll be out the door and scratching around in the French second tier by August.

[DJ_NUFC]

My working theory around players like Gouff, Colback, Raylor, etc., is that they're essentially teacher's pets in training and off the field, and once they're in the good graces of a manager, the manager is compelled by loyalty and good behaviour to keep giving them chances.

 

Edit: why is why I think we may still see Gouff and Colback next year, maybe even regularly in the team, especially if we don't spend and back Rafa.

[timeEd32]

My working theory around players like Gouff, Colback, Raylor, etc., is that they're essentially teacher's pets in training and off the field, and once they're in the good graces of a manager, the manager is compelled by loyalty and good behaviour to keep giving them chances.

 

Edit: why is why I think we may still see Gouff and Colback next year, maybe even regularly in the team, especially if we don't spend and back Rafa.

 

If we don't back Rafa he'll go and the presence of Gouff and Colback will be the least of our concerns.

 

This is how I feel:

 

My only concern for the summer window is coming through it with Rafa still here tbqh.

[DJ_NUFC]

My working theory around players like Gouff, Colback, Raylor, etc., is that they're essentially teacher's pets in training and off the field, and once they're in the good graces of a manager, the manager is compelled by loyalty and good behaviour to keep giving them chances.

 

Edit: why is why I think we may still see Gouff and Colback next year, maybe even regularly in the team, especially if we don't spend and back Rafa.

 

If we don't back Rafa he'll go and the presence of Gouff and Colback will be the least of our concerns.

 

This is how I feel:

 

My only concern for the summer window is coming through it with Rafa still here tbqh.

 

Very true. Now you've got me worried about the real issues, lol.

[TRon]

My working theory around players like Gouff, Colback, Raylor, etc., is that they're essentially teacher's pets in training and off the field, and once they're in the good graces of a manager, the manager is compelled by loyalty and good behaviour to keep giving them chances.

 

Edit: why is why I think we may still see Gouff and Colback next year, maybe even regularly in the team, especially if we don't spend and back Rafa.

 

If they're in the first team it will be because Rafa has left. It's one thing to use them in the championship - where they still struggle in Colback's case - but he'll be wanting Premier league players in his starting 11 next season.

[HaydnNUFC]

Got in Spanish fitness coaches who've won the World Cup and La Liga to watch us train

 

https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/spanish-fitness-experts-visit-magpies-training-ground

 

Spanish fitness coaches Javier Miñano and Jose Angel Garcia dropped by United’s base to observe Benitez and his team’s preparations for this weekend’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Fulham on Saturday, as well as impart some of the knowledge they’ve gleaned from their successful careers in the game.

 

High-respected Miñano was a fitness coach with the Spain national team under Vincent Del Bosque when they won the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 – an achievement sandwiched by two European Championship victories in 2008 and 2012.

And Garcia spent 14 years as a fitness coach at Atletico Madrid, where he won a La Liga and Copa del Rey double at the end of the 1995/96 campaign.

 

Both Miñano and Garcia watched the Magpies train on Friday morning ahead of the visit of the Cottagers, and they are due to remain on Tyneside until early next week.

“This is the first time I have visited the training ground, although I have been to St. James’ Park,” said Miñano, who now teaches at the Instituto Nacional de Educación Física in Madrid, where Garcia is the director of the MA in fitness coaching.

“This was a great opportunity for us to touch base with Rafa, with his ways of working, and really to see first-hand the success of his project here.”

 

The duo were able to share their ideas with Benitez and the Magpies’ fitness coach Paco de Miguel, and have had the opportunity to take it some the methods already in place at the club – which Garcia describes as “top notch”.

“I’m very interested in things like injury prevention and all the rest of the issues that come with fitness coaching. We’re very interested in the different models of fitness coaching and the fundamentals of that,” he said. “For us, the model of work that Rafa and Paco have here is top notch – it is an example, and an extraordinary model.

“This is very much a family club, with installations that are simple and clear, where the resources are put to use to tremendous effect. For us, it is remarkable how committed the players are to the methods of coaching here. It is very clear that they are paying attention, they are concentrated on the exercises, and there is no distraction for them.”

 

Garcia – who is also the President of the Spanish Fitness Coaches Association and a board member of the Real Federación de Fútbol de Madrid met Benitez when the current United boss studied at INEF.

“We have been following Rafa’s trajectory since then with much admiration,” he said. “He is someone who has given a lot to football, and he is someone who knows the importance of and has put a lot of emphasis on fitness coaching.”

For both Garcia and Miñano, this week has also provided an opportunity to sample the culture of English football.

“I remember while working with Radomir Antic how he always used to mention to me the English culture, the English way of training and doing things in professional football, with a lot of admiration,” said Garcia, who worked with Antic, a former Luton Town player and Real Madrid and Barcelona manager, at Atletico. “For me, it’s very important to see this in person through Rafa and his group of coaches to contrast those ideas, that conception of the English game with what Rafa is implementing here.

“We were lucky to be invited to watch the preparations for the game against Fulham tomorrow. We’re very much looking forward to seeing how tomorrow goes, as there has been a lot of good preparation for tomorrow’s game.”

 

And for Miñano, who made the move from the development squad at Atletico Madrid to Benitez’s development squad at Real Madrid back in 1992, it was a chance to see how his former colleague and his staff were going about their task of keeping the Magpies ahead of the chasing pack in the Championship.

“We are very thankful to have had the chance to witness the very meticulous preparations that take place here at Newcastle United with Rafa and his team – how they are analysing and working on their strengths, and how they are analysing the strengths of Fulham tomorrow, how to tackle them, and seeing the players putting that into practice,” said Miñano. “It’s fantastic to see.”