Greg Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 It's worrying the club haven't dismissed this quickly clubs who have a manager the fans don't want to lose would normally dismiss this right away The manager has directly briefed the press. They are not going to dismiss it as it would only make the situation worse between Benitez and Charnley / Ashley. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xLiaaamx Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Newcastle United fans are beginning to become accustomed to doubts being raised over Rafa Benitez’s St James’ Park future at regular intervals. And as well they should - because, while Mike Ashley remains involved with Newcastle United, potential conflict between the stubborn, unpredictable owner and his single-minded, politics-playing manager will never be too far away. Benitez has been on Tyneside for 15 months now, and already there have been at least three occasions where he has sought serious reassurances from the Newcastle hierarchy. Unlike some of his predecessors under Ashley, Benitez will not sit idly by when he feels promises are not being kept by the Magpies board. After the failed January window, when Benitez wanted two additions to his squad and was instead left to stew without any signings, he ensured his feelings were made known to Ashley . First, there was the pointed interview on Sky Sports where the Spaniard made it clear it was not his “decision” to fail to sign anyone. Then, over the next few days, Benitez made sure his discontent reached Ashley through the media. He was never set to walk away mid-season, but he required reassurances at the end of the campaign - and most importantly he needed trust to be restored after a January in which promises were, in his view, unkept. At the start of February, one national newspaper oversold Benitez’s anger as the Spaniard being “on the brink”. It feels like this latest round of Sunday-morning headlines are doing likewise - though, once again, they do reflect Benitez’s current mood. There is no doubt Benitez is extremely frustrated by Newcastle’s lack of progress so far this summer - he has made that clear to managing director Lee Charnley during meetings over the past fortnight, with more scheduled in the coming days too - but is he really on the verge of walking? At this stage, resignation claims appear premature. But tensions are beginning to rise behind closed doors, with Benitez demanding an imminent breakthrough in the market. Christian Atsu is United’s only summer signing so far, despite Benitez hoping for five additions by the time pre-season training begins on July 3. Newcastle are set to miss out on free-agent goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who is close to joining Chelsea, while forward Tammy Abraham is understood to have chosen Swansea City over United. A deal for Florian Lejeune has been agonisingly close to completion for a fortnight now, yet the defender remains an Eibar player - and such delays are angering Benitez, who wants to wrap these deals up and then move on to other targets. Unfortunately, it seems as if Ashley’s frugal approach to transfer negotiations are hampering United’s progress. Last summer, Ashley’s penny pinching was put to one side in order to secure the signings of Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle. This summer, Charnley is believed to have been instructed to haggle over minute payments in multi-million deals in a bid to keep costs as low as possible. Given Newcastle’s restricted transfer budget - which will be somewhere between £80million-£120m, depending on money recouped from player sales - this makes sense to an extent. But Newcastle now risk missing out on players due to their unwillingness to pay what they perceive to be inflated prices, despite the fact the market they are attempting to operate in has reached ludicrous levels. Talk of potential Chinese investment has not aided the situation either. Newcastle’s transfer progress has slowed significantly since news of Ashley’s willingness to sell part or all of the club emerged a fortnight ago. Though Benitez was informed of potential interest in the club during face-to-face meetings with Ashley last month, he has not been kept up to date with the ownership situation - and that has also increased tensions. Graham Carr’s departure as chief scout this week marked a minor breakthrough for Benitez, who had decided his marriage of inconvenience with the talent spotter could not continue further, but the Spaniard remains concerned that promises are not being kept. Remember though that it was not until June 29 last summer before Newcastle made a transfer breakthrough. Benitez knows this, but he expects to see signings arriving within the next week, otherwise his exasperation is likely to boil over. Ashley’s decade-long ownership of Newcastle unfortunately highlights that, as long as the Sports Direct magnate remains involved with the Magpies, potential conflicts will regularly arise with a manager as strong willed as Benitez. The billionaire is prone to making arbitrary, off-the-cuff decisions which are in direct opposition to anything he may have previously stated or agreed to. Previous managers may have been willing to swallow that unpredictability in order to remain in situ at St James’ Park. But not Benitez. He has extremely ambitious, long-term plans for Newcastle and he expects to be backed. Ashley needs to heed this latest warning and instruct Charnley to get signings through the door imminently. Otherwise a potential collision course between manager and owner awaits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Chibas Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 I can well imagine that Rafa is getting concerned with the lack of activity. It might just be that after January he's giving the hierarchy a gentle kick up the arse by leaking his worries through the press. It doesn't mean that deals aren't in place, just that he's not going to believe it until the ink's on the paper. Can't say I blame him tbh, it's quite possible he's given a list of targets and we've tried to go for more asset friendly alternatives. Also it's quite possible the club's bidding strategy (for a manager's top targets) as revealed by Keegan, re: the conference calls, will rear it's ugly head again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xLiaaamx Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 None of that is good. Chinese interest is the only hope I think. Ashley's clearly gone back to the old ways. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovejoy Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 None of that is good. Chinese interest is the only hope I think. Ashley's clearly gone back to the old ways. 'Clearly gone back to the old ways'? He's just binned his most trusted man in terms of recruitment. Let's not go over the top here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Charnley's been instructed to play hardball according to the chronicle. Not much is going to get done this summer. All clubs play hardball, they'd be mugs if they didn't. The friction's going to come if the haggling turns into dealbreakers which is definitely going to piss Rafa off. Have any of the signings we've failed to get done failed due to the haggling though? No one seems to have any specific information on that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpolic Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Would be great if we put the success of the club first instead of saving a few quid here and there. Absolutely sick of this fat clueless arsehole hanging around the club like a bad smell now, just have to hope we get flogged or else this monkey will always be on our back. Imagine what kind of charlatan we'd get in if Rafa went man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
astraguy Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Makes you wonder if its the age factor again,Ryan Shawcross was heavily linked yet i've not seen the name pop up since the season ended Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Would be great if we put the success of the club first instead of saving a few quid here and there. Absolutely sick of this fat clueless arsehole hanging around the club like a bad smell now, just have to hope we get flogged or else this monkey will always be on our back. Imagine what kind of charlatan we'd get in if Rafa went man. Spot on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Sell the club and fuck off you jumped up barrowboy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huss9 Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 It can't be easy getting players in the current climate. Clubs are asking £50 mil for rank average players, Stones at Man City is a classic example. We need at least 4 or 5 players and even with a £100 mil it gets you not a lot better than what we already have. Rafa will not blow money for the sake of it, he will find what he wants at a price he's happy with or he won't buy and that is the right thing to do I doubt Rafa caree much about how much players cost, just that he can strengthen the squad within the budget he's been given (and was reportedly happy with). It does seem though that he's having to fight others in positions of power over player valuations and ability. we don't know though do we? Rafa was proved wrong over Townsend, the board said no and got it right, plenty of time in truth and the price tag doesn't always mean success , no panic as yet from me , either way i'm looking forward being back in the big time eh?proved wrong over townsend?? could have had a decent premier league winger for £13m plus loan fee, now he wont be allowed to leave for anything under £20m. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONTEMPI Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 This Chinese interest bollocks sounds like another smoke screen so he can undermine the manager again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Sell the club and fuck off you jumped up barrowboy. Is the correct answer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Bailey Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Sell the club and f*** off you jumped up barrowboy. Succinct and spot on. Or what neesy said Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 #wait Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowlingcrofty Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Rafa is absolutely gagging for his first transfer bath of the summer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpolic Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Will have been a transfer shower for Atsu, with it being loan to permanent. Insufficient really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Makes you wonder if its the age factor again,Ryan Shawcross was heavily linked yet i've not seen the name pop up since the season ended The idea that we would bid £17m for a 28 yr old Greek midfielder sounded like BS from the start. I don't care if the official line is that Rafa is getting more leeway, I just can't see us spending big money on people who will be over 30 by the time their contract runs down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foluwashola Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 For a bit of context, last time we were promoted at this stage we had signed........nobody. This time last year.....nobody. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STM Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 80-120m is a restricted transfer budget? And that's why we can't sign 8.7m Florian Lejeune? Fuck off man. Swear these journalists just talk absolute shite like. They know fuck all IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Would be great if we put the success of the club first instead of saving a few quid here and there. Absolutely sick of this fat clueless arsehole hanging around the club like a bad smell now, just have to hope we get flogged or else this monkey will always be on our back. Imagine what kind of charlatan we'd get in if Rafa went man. I'd rather not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raconteur Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 80-120m is a restricted transfer budget? And that's why we can't sign 8.7m Florian Lejeune? Fuck off man. Swear these journalists just talk absolute shite like. They know fuck all IMO. There's not a single quote in that article beyond one-word bites from January. Whilst I am sure there is tension, that article on the previous page is bullshit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Genius. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Genius. I thought this was going to be Rafa's official twitter telling everyone the reports are bullshit. Instead I get a sheep. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoot Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Genius. I thought this was going to be Rafa's official twitter telling everyone the reports are bullshit. Instead I get a sheep. So did i. Biggest let down ever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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