Rafael Benitez

[mrmojorisin75]

Suppose I could have missed it but hoping Rafa is pretty candid whenever he speaks next. He's obviously not going to come right out and slag Ashley off but he's a master of saying what he wants without explicitly saying something.

 

He could turn a lot of fans against Ashley with the right words.

[cp40]

West ham/Arsenal- any club that has ambition to play in Europe, and is willing to fund it, he is a viable candidate- probs what Ashley wants tbh, now Rafa stood up to him, he is a Bully who can not tolerate people standing up to him.

[Wallsendmag]

He should just resign. He's better than this.

[lovejoy]

Rafa doesn't have to quit. He just has to wait for a club to come and take him from us who at least has a little more interest in success than Ashley. I'm sure West Ham will come knocking.

 

this is what will happen. give it 4 weeks or so, west ham will be at the door and he'll go.

[Ketsbaia]

Caulkin's thread is both encouraging and worrying. Because it sounds like he'll stay but doubt he will beyond this season. Sounds like he's rapidly losing all passion for the club, all the things which attracted him to us in the first place.

[Andy84]

Justin fucking Barnes deciding not to sanction deals man 

[hakka]

What actual experience does Justin Barnes have of football transfers in a market that's ever evolving?

 

I hope the cost of these deals is more than another year in Championship, as that's the sort of call he's balancing this against.

 

Silly question really, we all know Barnes has been brought in to stifle money being spent so he takes the heat and Ashley doesn't so much.

 

[taxfree]

What actual experience does Justin Barnes have of football transfers in a market that's ever evolving?

I hope the cost of these deals is more than another year in Championship, as that's the sort of call he's balancing this against.

 

Silly question really, we all know Barnes has been brought in to stifle money being spent so he takes the heat and Ashley doesn't so much.

 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/06/15/mike-ashley-drafts-trusted-abrasive-lieutenant-help-run-newcastle/

Barnes has helped Ashley make a series of acquisitions for Sports Direct and is part of his notoriously publicity-shy inner circle, but has never worked in football before.

[TRon]

Caulkin's thread is both encouraging and worrying. Because it sounds like he'll stay but doubt he will beyond this season. Sounds like he's rapidly losing all passion for the club, all the things which attracted him to us in the first place.

 

You could read between the lines for the past few months anyway. Rafa's too honourable to resign, plus it would cost him a lot of money. I'm not even convinced he'll leave for West Ham because I'm sure he'd rather be here in anything approaching decent circumstances. But he's not going to be played for a fool so the emotional pull is only going to hold so long. Tthe clock is ticking, if we are lucky West Ham won't come asking and we might get a season out of him.

[mozy]

I'm less worried about Rafa leaving for West Ham, going from working for Mike Ashley to working for David Gold / Sullivan is like Sophie's choice.

[Bimpy474]

While I wouldn't blame Rafa for walking I hope he doesn't. In the hope we do get bought out like say Everton have, and whoever the new owner is they might just value out manager and us.

 

I'm ill as feck so maybe I'm delusional but its the only faint hope I have left.

[Zero]

No.  As much as I love Rafa, we don't need to.  The faster we sinked to the bottom the better, the faster we get rid of the fat cunt, and if we are back to a "normal club" we will be able to attract someone like Rafa again.

[Away Day Gadgie]

Even though i saw this coming it doesn't make me any more dissapointed or angry.  It's very clear now that Ashley and his cock slaves are trying to force Rafa to resign.  Rafa thought he had a good relationship with Charnley but i'm sure he realised today that the little worm has been leading him along the whole time.  Getting rid of Carr and putting the new "head of recruitment" was purely to try and appease Rafa in the short term after we failed to get any early transfer work done, i wouldn't be surprised to see him get the boot once Rafa is gone.  This Justin Barnes c*** that's been brought in is only there to make sure Ashley doesn't get taken to court again and to make things awkward for Rafa, they're hoping Rafa won't be able to take any more and walk, or just as good he takes another job and the fat man scores for some compo.  If these rodents all die a slow, painful and humiliating death i'd be ok with that. 👍

 

Mike Ashley feels threatened by anyone who is popular with the fans - Keegan, Shearer, Hughton and now Rafa all forced out and treat like s***.  Even popular players with an opinion get shown the door (Nolan, Barton etc.). It's much easier for him to appoint a yes man and use him as s*** deflecter, no matter how useless he is.  Thinking about who our next manager is gona be genuinely makes me feel sick.  Whoever it is, i won't be "giving him a chance" i'm afraid!

 

If Ashley wanted rid of Rafa because he's popular, then why not get rid after promotion when talks were held to persuade Rafa to stay? He could, in theory, have parted ways with Rafa and brought in a puppet with barely a murmur of discontent (most of us would have considered it a real possibility that Rafa would leave after what happened in January). Could have put out news stories about Rafa wanting to move on or wanting different challenges compared to what NUFC can offer to placate fans.

 

Obviously we don't know if contract clauses would have affected those discussions, though if Rafa was unhappy with the discussions what other option would he have had other than to leave? And whilst I imagine Rafa allegedly communicating his unhappiness with the transfer situation through the media during the summer may have irked Ashley, Rafa did the same in January, so it's nothing new.

 

Nothing makes sense with Ashley. There's many possibilities, but one of them that I won't rule out just yet is that this is all to do with not wanting to spend until the money is actually received and banked. Wishful thinking probably, but it's still a possibility.

 

That's a fair point but my thinking is that Ashley felt it was within his interests to keep Rafa here short term.  Like you said, before those discussions there was a lot of suspicion amongst supporters over what was gona happen with Rafa, that statement put a lot of people at ease and had them looking forward to the new season under the best manager we've had for 13 years.  I would imagine that statement secured quite a lot of season ticket sales and renewals.  Remember Mike Ashley's sole aim is to advertise his brands (s*** Direct and Flannels) and those boards look a lot more attractive in a full stadium than a half empty one, especially at a club like Newcastle that is known for packing the stadium out.

 

  He would've also been aware that there's a small possibility that Rafa might stay on a while and have us in a healthy situation by the time he leaves so it was worth pissing him around for a few months.  Some journalists are already saying Rafa won't go until there is a scenario that suits him personally, we don't know when that will be, it could be next week or it could be the end of the season, either way it looks like the fat man will get some compensation for him.  He'll be very chuffed with himself when that happens no doubt.

[mozy]

I prefer supporting a Rafa led team (even with MA ownership) and wanting us to do well and win every week than how toxic it was with Pardew and MA and wanting us to lose.

 

I think it's possible to disconnect the on and off pitch sides of the club when they both contrast such different emotions, I know some won't be able to do this but that's my view. Ultimately it comes down to people enjoying themselves.

[TRon]

Even though i saw this coming it doesn't make me any more dissapointed or angry.  It's very clear now that Ashley and his cock slaves are trying to force Rafa to resign.  Rafa thought he had a good relationship with Charnley but i'm sure he realised today that the little worm has been leading him along the whole time.  Getting rid of Carr and putting the new "head of recruitment" was purely to try and appease Rafa in the short term after we failed to get any early transfer work done, i wouldn't be surprised to see him get the boot once Rafa is gone.  This Justin Barnes c*** that's been brought in is only there to make sure Ashley doesn't get taken to court again and to make things awkward for Rafa, they're hoping Rafa won't be able to take any more and walk, or just as good he takes another job and the fat man scores for some compo.  If these rodents all die a slow, painful and humiliating death i'd be ok with that. 👍

 

Mike Ashley feels threatened by anyone who is popular with the fans - Keegan, Shearer, Hughton and now Rafa all forced out and treat like s***.  Even popular players with an opinion get shown the door (Nolan, Barton etc.). It's much easier for him to appoint a yes man and use him as s*** deflecter, no matter how useless he is.  Thinking about who our next manager is gona be genuinely makes me feel sick.  Whoever it is, i won't be "giving him a chance" i'm afraid!

 

If Ashley wanted rid of Rafa because he's popular, then why not get rid after promotion when talks were held to persuade Rafa to stay? He could, in theory, have parted ways with Rafa and brought in a puppet with barely a murmur of discontent (most of us would have considered it a real possibility that Rafa would leave after what happened in January). Could have put out news stories about Rafa wanting to move on or wanting different challenges compared to what NUFC can offer to placate fans.

 

Obviously we don't know if contract clauses would have affected those discussions, though if Rafa was unhappy with the discussions what other option would he have had other than to leave? And whilst I imagine Rafa allegedly communicating his unhappiness with the transfer situation through the media during the summer may have irked Ashley, Rafa did the same in January, so it's nothing new.

 

Nothing makes sense with Ashley. There's many possibilities, but one of them that I won't rule out just yet is that this is all to do with not wanting to spend until the money is actually received and banked. Wishful thinking probably, but it's still a possibility.

 

That's a fair point but my thinking is that Ashley felt it was within his interests to keep Rafa here short term.  Like you said, before those discussions there was a lot of suspicion amongst supporters over what was gona happen with Rafa, that statement put a lot of people at ease and had them looking forward to the new season under the best manager we've had for 13 years.  I would imagine that statement secured quite a lot of season ticket sales and renewals.  Remember Mike Ashley's sole aim is to advertise his brands (s*** Direct and Flannels) and those boards look a lot more attractive in a full stadium than a half empty one, especially at a club like Newcastle that is known for packing the stadium out.

 

  He would've also been aware that there's a small possibility that Rafa might stay on a while and have us in a healthy situation by the time he leaves so it was worth pissing him around for a few months.  Some journalists are already saying Rafa won't go until there is a scenario that suits him personally, we don't know when that will be, it could be next week or it could be the end of the season, either way it looks like the fat man will get some compensation for him.  He'll be very chuffed with himself when that happens no doubt.

 

On the money.

[Ankles Bennett]

I don't understand why we are annoyed at the lack of incoming transfers.  What Ashley actually said in his interview was Rafa could spend every last penny the club generates.  To me that was using the future tense so it's money the club has yet to generate that Ashley was pledging not the transfer profit from our promotion season. 

[dinotheprehistoricgeordie]

I don't understand why we are annoyed at the lack of incoming transfers.  What Ashley actually said in his interview was Rafa could spend every last penny the club generates.  To me that was using the future tense so it's money the club has yet to generate that Ashley was pledging not the transfer profit from our promotion season.

 

So the money we got for being in the premier league this season isn't something that we've generated yet?

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I suppose technically it's not, don't we get it at the end of the season?

[Sho Time]

I don't understand why we are annoyed at the lack of incoming transfers.  What Ashley actually said in his interview was Rafa could spend every last penny the club generates.  To me that was using the future tense so it's money the club has yet to generate that Ashley was pledging not the transfer profit from our promotion season. 

 

How is that using the future tense? The club generates this money from promotion - whether it's there or not RIGHT NOW is irrelevant, it is coming in so even if money was put in by Ashley it can be offset at the end of the season if you want to take this argument.

 

What Ashley is doing is knowingly twisting his words and moving the goalposts in the hope that he can force Rafa to walk or have another club take him off his hands before the end of the season, then that way he can appoint yet another yes-man and not fulful this promise built on lies and deceipt.

 

Anyone defending Ashley over this is a fucking idiot, completely naïve and absolutely deserve this shower of shit Newcastle United. Crack on.

[Paully]

I don't understand why we are annoyed at the lack of incoming transfers.  What Ashley actually said in his interview was Rafa could spend every last penny the club generates.  To me that was using the future tense so it's money the club has yet to generate that Ashley was pledging not the transfer profit from our promotion season. 

 

How is that using the future tense? The club generates this money from promotion - whether it's there or not RIGHT NOW is irrelevant, it is coming in so even if money was put in by Ashley it can be offset at the end of the season if you want to take this argument.

 

What Ashley is doing is knowingly twisting his words and moving the goalposts in the hope that he can force Rafa to walk or have another club take him off his hands before the end of the season, then that way he can appoint yet another yes-man and not fulful this promise built on lies and deceipt.

 

Anyone defending Ashley over this is a f***ing idiot, completely naïve and absolutely deserve this shower of s*** Newcastle United. Crack on.

 

Beat me to it! Actually, Ashley is the poorest billionaire in the world so couldn't afford to loan the club a penny to receive back when we receive our Premier League money  :lol:

[AyeDubbleYoo]

The club could borrow money from a third party presumably, knowing we have massive income coming in a few months. Spend about £30m and we'd be guaranteed to stay up.

[Scoot]

I suppose technically

I suppose technically it's not, don't we get it at the end of the season?

 

Next summer we're going to be splashing cash all over like.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I suppose technically

I suppose technically it's not, don't we get it at the end of the season?

 

Next summer we're going to be splashing cash all over like.

 

Sure, I'm not saying I believe that. It's about 20% possible IMO. Although we still won't spend what we 'could' of course.

[Sho Time]

The club could borrow money from a third party presumably, knowing we have massive income coming in a few months. Spend about £30m and we'd be guaranteed to stay up.

 

Or Ashley could not spend £65m on shares (£40m Debenhams & £25m GAME) within the transfer window and actually back his investment and help the club he owns push on. The TV money is already gone tbh.

[David Icke - Son of God]

I don't understand why we are annoyed at the lack of incoming transfers.  What Ashley actually said in his interview was Rafa could spend every last penny the club generates.  To me that was using the future tense so it's money the club has yet to generate that Ashley was pledging not the transfer profit from our promotion season. 

 

The fixation appears to be on cash, however from what I've been told the main issue was the club dragging their heels on deals Rafa had orchestrated himself with the blessing of the club.

 

For example when he told them he wanted Willy Caballero the club said "go and get him". Rafa sorted everything and kept everyone who needed to be informed in the loop throughout. Everything just needs to be finalised, it's handed over to hierarchy to complete and then silence. Days turn into weeks. Rafa presses them, is told everything is in hand and then the next thing Rafa knows he's off to Chelsea. He questions it, the higher ups turn around, shrug and say "too expensive". This happened multiple times during the summer too.