Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[Dave]

It would be fairly fucking incredible if he turned down Arsenal to stay here like.

[Yorkie]

I don't think it would be. It would potentially be a good move for his career, of course, but this club works for him and he wants to take it places. He calls it a project and 'his' team; he's settled here and feeds off the adulation. He doesn't need to uproot unless it's an absolute certainty that Ashley is gonna Ashley everything.

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

I'm pretty certain if we get sold he stays regardless. He's always wanted a project and you get the impression he really see's this as his chance to do that. Ashley is obviously the spanner in the works however.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Just say the offer came in from say Arsenal, I’m pretty positive Rafa would have more than enough belief in his ability and his staff to say aye, we could be a success there. That’s why he chose Inter, Chelsea and then Madrid. Of course other factors played a part. It’s all about Ashley for me, again, if he gets 80m + or more, I think he stays. If he gets another summer 2017 he goes. I imagine the challenge of say Arsenal would make Rafa’s eyes sparkle more than a tad. I’m not worried about them though, I’m worried about Ashley. Rafa will not want to have the same kind of season we’ve had next season or the same kind of transfer windows. What worries me are the likes of West Ham and again even Everton who will covert him and have money to spend.

 

Rafa obviously likes the adulation of the fans, but he’s not some kind of egotistical person who craves it, he enjoys it here and obviously has this huge rapport with fans, but I think it’s all about the players with him over anything, that and winning and the chances of winning.

 

If Ashley says here’s 30m plus whatever you make in sales Rafa will surely think well that’s us pissing against the wind again and think fuck that, I’m better than that (which he is). Fan adulation or no fan adulation.

 

He would be mad to commit himself either way, his stock is high again in England and I can see him getting a few offers abroad that may tempt him.

 

He’s happy here though and all he wants is enough to do the job he feels he can do, he doesn’t need a couple of hundred million or more, he just needs to see some ambition in the transfer market and be able to compete with others rather than not which is what we haven’t done this season spend wise.

 

Fingers crossed anyway.

 

 

[HaydnNUFC]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/04/16/rafa-benitez-ideal-manager-newcastle-also-perfect-club/

 

Rafa Benitez is the ideal manager for Newcastle but it is also the perfect club for him

 

There will be doubts, there will be concerns, there will probably be tension behind the scenes and possibly even the occasional row with the men in suits who have always frustrated him in football, but Rafa Benitez should stay at Newcastle United because he will not get a better club.

 

There are bound to be temptations. There might even be offers to lure him away. He wants to compete for silverware, he does not like going into battle against the other stellar managerial names in the Premier League with a knife when they are armed with guns, but he has something he will not enjoy elsewhere.

 

There is no doubting the magnificent job he has done in his second full season at St James’ Park. The Spaniard has been like superglue, picking up a broken football club, shattered into tiny pieces by the inconsiderate and downright careless nature of owner Mike Ashley and putting it, delicately but perfectly, back together.

 

He has taken a team that bears a striking resemblance to the one that won promotion from the Championship last season and, with a few shrewd additions – as well as a couple of transfer mistakes – turned them into a team that now looks as though it will secure a top ten finish.

 

It always bordered on the ignorant to label Newcastle a Championship team playing in the Premier League – which was the habit of certain pundits whenever they suffered a bad result this season – because it ignored the fact most of the squad had played in the top flight before, as well as the capacity of every player to improve, but it is Benitez who has gelled them into a team and coached them on the training pitch.

 

To really appreciate what Benitez has done, you have to realise that it will be only the third time Newcastle have finished in the top 10 since Ashley bought the club in 2007. They have made under-achievement a habit.

 

It might not match some of his other achievements, but it has given him just as much satisfaction and it is one of the main reasons he will regret it if he quits. He has players who listen and learn. They are in awe of him just as much as supporters. A young team full of hungry players who want to do the work he asks of them, is not a given elsewhere.

 

Newcastle are never more dangerous than when they truly are United. When the city is behind its football team it like a juggernaut with a jet engine attached. The momentum can feel unstoppable and that is the power Benitez has harnessed.

 

It is also why, I believe he will stay on as manager, despite the doubts he has about working for Ashley. Benitez has something unique at St James’ Park, he has the adulation that every manager craves.

 

It has happened to Newcastle before under other popular managers. Kevin Keegan had it, so did Sir Bobby Robson and now Benitez has fired up the engine. He is a superb manager, but he is also more than that.

 

He is a unifying presence. He is the standard bearer for the troops to rally around, the General everyone is willing to follow, not just in the stands, but in the hugely influential local media too. Anyone with even the remotest understanding of football must appreciate the job he has done.

 

Newcastle are a bipolar football club. When things are good, the euphoria and joy is remarkable. Each victory unleashes something special in the city. But when things go badly, when the team is caught in a bad run, the misery quickly turns into anger. The depression is severe.

 

Benitez handles that better than anyone since Robson. When everyone loses their heads, when they get over-excited, or when they panic and start to fear impending disaster, he stays calm. He is the perfect manager for such an emotional football club, but they also the ideal football club for him. Not everyone needs that sort of reassuring figure at the helm.

 

When Newcastle suffered an alarming dip in form before Christmas, Benitez kept on telling everyone not to be scared, but more importantly not to turn on the team. The fans listened and responded accordingly.

 

The bond between team and supporters has not been as strong as this for a long time. That is down to Benitez, but also the players themselves. They are the ones who run that extra mile he asks of them.

 

Benitez also has something he will not necessarily have at another club because of the nature of management structures in modern football. He has control.

 

He might not have as much money as he wants, there will always be political battles to fight – something he has tended to do throughout his career -  but nobody interferes in the football side of things. He might not get all the players he desires, but neither does he have to take any he does not and it is he who decides if someone is going to be sold.

 

He cannot believe how slowly the wheels turn in the boardroom, it has caused him stress in the past because targets have been missed.

 

He has also been misled over the size of the transfer budget, confused by the refusal to listen to him on occasions, especially when it came to signing a new goalkeeper last summer, but these issues can be resolved and there is no question Ashley appreciates the job he has done.

 

They do not speak, they have not done so for weeks, but neither do they have to when Ashley does not run the club day-to-day. Ashley must keep him and, for all his pig-headedness, his arrogance and his parsimonious nature, it should take relatively little to convince Benitez to stick around.

 

Newcastle have momentum, Benitez is adored and things can only get better now they have stabilised as a top flight club again.

 

Newcastle are on the march and Benitez has something priceless, he is a manager who can make mistakes, who can lose a game and still hear his name being chanted in the stands.

[Altamullan]

Ashamed to admit I took the second option at the time.  What a fucking arsehole.

Yeah, but when was the poll? We'd had a pretty shit run through Nov/Dec, including a couple of dire home performances.

[Happinesstan]

I dont even like their style these days, they pass the ball about a bit, but no pace, aggression, tempo or real cutting edge going forward. They are a shadow of their former self and again I think this is the worst Arsenal side I’ve seen PL era. I was not bathed at all at the weekend even when one nil down. I didn’t think they had 2 goals in them and if they did, their defence has 2 goals against them or more in them. Such a soft and nothing team at the moment, just drifting along.

 

You're a brave man to admit that in here.

[KaKa]

I dont even like their style these days, they pass the ball about a bit, but no pace, aggression, tempo or real cutting edge going forward. They are a shadow of their former self and again I think this is the worst Arsenal side I’ve seen PL era. I was not bathed at all at the weekend even when one nil down. I didn’t think they had 2 goals in them and if they did, their defence has 2 goals against them or more in them. Such a soft and nothing team at the moment, just drifting along.

 

You're a brave man to admit that in here.

 

Such poor hygiene nowadays man. Disgusting.

[UncleBingo]

Just say the offer came in from say Arsenal, I’m pretty positive Rafa would have more than enough belief in his ability and his staff to say aye, we could be a success there. That’s why he chose Inter, Chelsea and then Madrid. Of course other factors played a part. It’s all about Ashley for me, again, if he gets 80m + or more, I think he stays. If he gets another summer 2017 he goes. I imagine the challenge of say Arsenal would make Rafa’s eyes sparkle more than a tad. I’m not worried about them though, I’m worried about Ashley. Rafa will not want to have the same kind of season we’ve had next season or the same kind of transfer windows. What worries me are the likes of West Ham and again even Everton who will covert him and have money to spend.

 

Rafa obviously likes the adulation of the fans, but he’s not some kind of egotistical person who craves it, he enjoys it here and obviously has this huge rapport with fans, but I think it’s all about the players with him over anything, that and winning and the chances of winning.

 

If Ashley says here’s 30m plus whatever you make in sales Rafa will surely think well that’s us pissing against the wind again and think f*** that, I’m better than that (which he is). Fan adulation or no fan adulation.

 

He would be mad to commit himself either way, his stock is high again in England and I can see him getting a few offers abroad that may tempt him.

 

He’s happy here though and all he wants is enough to do the job he feels he can do, he doesn’t need a couple of hundred million or more, he just needs to see some ambition in the transfer market and be able to compete with others rather than not which is what we haven’t done this season spend wise.

 

Fingers crossed anyway.

 

Good post.

 

I also think he's saying to the likes of Pep, Mourinho, Klopp etc......howay then lads, let's see what you can do when you're not at one of the top cloobs and you've got fuck all money to spend. I've got the cojones,  have you?

 

What a truly magnificent man he is.

[STM]

Judging by his quotes in Spain, contracts talks with him and his staff have probably begun. Hopefully they can extend his deal by a couple of years, say 50.

[Wilson]

He'd be fuckin mental to commit to anything until after the summer window

[mrmojorisin75]

ashley dream scenario; arsenal come in in the summer take rafa with £6m compo or whatever, rafa bids £75m for lascelles

 

enter pardew

[wormy]

ashley dream scenario; arsenal come in in the summer take rafa with £6m compo or whatever, rafa bids £75m for lascelles

 

enter pardew

 

And he then inexplicably gives Pardew a £100m transfer budget plus any player sales..

[SuperFlat]

This is fun.

[Wilson]

[Cronky]

I think Arsenal would be after an up and coming, younger manager. They'd be looking to the long-term.

 

If he is offered the job, he'd probably take it. I can't see Ashley or any likely new owner being able to give him the kind of opportunities that Arsenal would present.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Arsenal supporter I work with reckons Dyche should be their next manager.

 

My brother in low prefers Eddie Howe. They should go Italian as they are more often than not a huge success in the PL.

[summerof69]

Sarri is go for

[Stal]

It seems that everyone (bar the folks who he comes to and ruins) thinks he's a great manager so I want Arsenal to hire pardew. Then they can all see how great he actually is. And it can be a super double present for Ian Wright, having watched him take Palace to greatness and no doubt having his greatness rub off on his precious Arsenal. I have no beef with the North Londoners, but I think this needs to happen for the pundits to finally admit loudly and publically how dismally shi-te he actually is.

 

*Apologies for marring the Rafa thread with this luke warm vomit sucker's name.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Pardew will surely be on Chelsea’s list though?

[Paully]

Full translation of the radio interview;

 

 

http://www.true-faith.co.uk/rafa-benitez-interview-radio-marca/

[Unbelievable]

Rafa really has done a remarkable job of steadying the ship and getting the best possible results from what little he's been given. The club has been entirely reinvigorated and we're all pulling in the same direction again and much of the discontentment towards Ashley and the club has dissipated. Still, I firmly believe Rafa, like most of us, is desperate to see Ashley sell up and get a new owner in who will be willing and able to put forward the type of investment required to really push the club forward, both in terms of the playing staff as in its foundations (academy, training ground, stadium upkeep, etc.) We have a unique opportunity to grow into a genuine contender once more, but under Ashley it will never happen and in fact disaster is never far away. Another transfer window of broken promises will surely see Rafa walk and all his good work come undone. This Newcastle United "project" that Rafa took on will always be hamstrung by Ashley's looming presence.

 

For that reason I hope Rafa's next move is a power play against Ashley. He's clearly been directly involved with the Amanda Staveley takeover bid, and he's in a perfect position now to demand to either be backed with the funds required to push on, or the club to be sold to someone who can and will, or to walk and find himself a new project while his stock his high and he's revered by the fans. Rafa has Ashley over a barrel and he needs to make it clear that he will not be pushed around again. I would be devastated to see Rafa walk out on us on behalf of Ashley acting the cunt (not investing whilst upping the asking price), but the time is now right to make a play and set the club up for the future and I wouldn't begrudge him leaving if he thinks he's achieved all he can under the current ownership and there is no chance of a change. After the last two seasons Rafa holds all the aces and Ashley must know he could be back to square one if he loses him.

 

Howay Rafa, time for the next stage of this project: tell Ashley to either stump up, sell up or risk losing you

[joeyt]

Arsenal supporter I work with reckons Dyche should be their next manager.

That would be incredible to see.

[Wilson]

Full translation of the radio interview;

 

 

http://www.true-faith.co.uk/rafa-benitez-interview-radio-marca/

 

This made me laugh straight away...the bloke never switches off

 

RM Rafa Benítez, ‘Mister’ – congratulations!

 

RB Thank you. How are you all?

 

RM How’s it going? How’s life?

 

RB  It’s good but we have to keep going forward.

[Dontooner]

Rafa has a very strong conviction for his tactics, coaching and training methods. (Probably think he is one of the best in the world if not the best which is not far from the truth).

 

Rafa's methods takes time to transform a team, personally imo i think he wants to build a title winning team. I would even go as far as to say he wants to win the league title with his methods and show the world he is one of the best. That is probably how confident he is with his own methods.

 

Given his experiences with different clubs, all explained in detail in his own interviews. He wants a long term project. This is probably to show the world his training methods and tactics are top notch. The type of manager that believes tactics, organization, team spirit and character will win you something rather than flashy mercenary players. 

 

Indeed Rafa sees the potential in Newcastle to showcase his conviction, that is if Ashley/new owner hand the reins over to him and support him with enough investment.

 

He also has mentioned many times about a 5-10 year type of project. He knows it very well not many teams could fit that profile(Club with a large support base , although we are not the only club that fits this criteria).

 

I certainly hope he stays. He is a man of honor and has earn my respect as one best managers that has ever managed us. ( Probably the best as of having us playing as a team )