Things did not look good on Thursday night with the last bit of news that evening being that Newcastle had told local reporters the recent announcement by Sky Sports that Steve McClaren had been fired was not true.
So we had the amazing situation that McClaren had taken the training the last three days and was still in the head coach job, even though he had lost five of the last six games and the team last Saturday against Bournemouth were nothing less than a complete disgrace to the club.
The mess Charnley got us into last week is also why other (better run) clubs fire their managers first and then go after a new manager – there´s no need to wait until another manager is lined up – no need at all.
Lee Charnley was moving at his usual pace – slightly less than a snail moves on a good day – and he had seemed to have still made no decisions on anything.
Lee Charnley and Rafa Benitez yesterday
What was happening behind the scenes however was that Rafa Benitez had asked for and received several assurances and at some time on Thursday night Rafa got the go ahead to come to Newcastle, and he started his three and a half hour drive from Wirral (close to Liverpool) before sunup on Friday.
His three coaches were also told to travel to Newcastle yesterday morning.
The Times is reporting today Rafa is on £6M a year with a £3M bonus if he can keep us up this season – so Mike Ashley has been spending money like it´s going out of style this season.
Newcastle announced that Steve McClaren had been fired at about 11;45 pm and ¨A further announcement on a successor to Steve will be made in due course.”
After that I was in a Starbucks and read the Chronicle on my cell phone and it said Rafa was already at St. James’ Park, so I gulped down the coffee (dark roast – Italian – very strong) and headed back home.
And I had only been back a few minutes when the second announcement came – it was simply unbelievable.
And we have to give Lee Charnley some credit for pushing the deal though – and his skill is in negotiating the transfer business done at Newcastle – so he seems a very good negotiator – but he´s not a good leader or senior manager.
Rafa was introduced as the manager and it seems he has received pledges from Mike Ashley that he would be in charge of transfers in and out of the club and that a sizable transfer kitty would be made available in the summer – maybe £100M?
So in four days Rafa had convinced Newcastle to change from the failed continental system to a system more like the old England manager arrangement.
Rafa is nobody´s fool and he knew the previous system was set up for failure for any head coach walking in.
Rafa wouldn´t accept that because he wants to be successful – and he also had the standing and status to demand those pledges from Newcastle and to their credit Newcastle quickly caved in.
Newcastle made all the right calls with Benitez – even if it did take too long.
Yesterday was a huge day in the history of Newcastle United and in his first nufcTV interview it´s clear that Rafa wants to build Newcastle into a top club again with a top team.
It looks like he will be allowed to do that too.
But he must keep Newcastle in the Premier League this season to be able to do that.
Rafa will give his press conference for the Leicester game at 2:00 pm today.
We just have to hope that Rafa – and the players – with the full support of the Geordie fans – can produce the magic and results that will keep us in the Premier League this season.
If he cannot do that we will lose almost everything – our Premier League status and one of the best managers in Europe.
So there´s a lot riding on us staying up.
We must stay up.
71 comments so far
JackButler
Mar 12, 2016 at 10:45 AM
Comment #41It’s a damning indictment of Charnely and Carr that Ashley has now been forced to step in THREE times to bail us out of the mess they have created.
Both men need to be shown the door come the end of the season irrespective of what league we are in
ITUNDERASHELL
Mar 12, 2016 at 10:48 AM
Comment #42Sissoko and Coloccini can both go for me especially Sissoko. He has winged on for the last couple of seasons about how marvellous a player he is and needs to be at ARSEnal well I think he be given his wish.
ITUNDERASHELL
Mar 12, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #43The amount of times I have watched Sissoko fail to trap a ball or protect his fullback is beyond acceptable.
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 12, 2016 at 10:53 AM
Comment #44You’d have to think Cathro will have some input into the team selection for Leicester. Rafa said in the interview he would be helped by his (Cathro’s) knowledge of the squad. Interesting to see how differently it will be set up from a McClaren team, and also the level of commitment from the players under a manager who could potentially have a huge impact on their careers.
Toon-Prodigy
Mar 12, 2016 at 10:58 AM
Comment #45Over the moon with this appointment, not because of who he is, but because it could be a shift from club policies. The dreaded transfer structure which has given little hope of success.
Hopefully now we will operate as a proper football club and have a bit of ambition, and people will stop crying on at managers for the clubs current predicament.
Howay the lads.
Jib
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Comment #46I’ve spent ages looking on Youtube for an old BBC Football focus interview which I remember with Rafa from his Liverpool time.
It takes place in his office at Melwood and the room was floor to ceiling vids of old games which according to the interviewer he spends hours poring over.Some good insights into his football philosophy in the interview.
I would imagine there is not a lot about our players that Rafa doesn’t know already .
I’m really heartened to see he has the majority of his backroom staff with him from the get go.
banjax
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:07 AM
Comment #47I shed no tears for Steve McLaren who at the moment is comforting himself with the knowledge of £2m + will be landing in his bank account very soon. But rarely do I give anyone credit (not management anyway) at Newcastle, but this time I have to give it to Mike Ashley because without his intervention with money and his authority, I don’t think we would be where we are 24 hours later with Rafa in situ. We also have Mike Ashley to thank for agreeing to scrap the failed transfer system and reverting back to a managerial Heirachy at the the club which should see the eventual demise of a dilatory chairman and committee. Overall a good Saturday filled renewed hope of a berth in the Premiership at the end of the season.
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:07 AM
Comment #48Charlie in the Gallowgate
Don’t mention the ‘r’ word, we are in a Rafa-olution!
10 game season and something to enjoy.
Jib
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Comment #49It’s quite interesting that such a PR coup as the signing of Benitez hasn’t been utilised to the full by Bishop for Sports Direct.
How’s this for a theory .
There is a buyer lurking in the wings just waiting for us to survive relegation.
The reason for no SD propaganda is with one eye to the future when these pics will be archive materiél.
Ron Knee
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Comment #50So. Farewell then,
Keith Emerson.
I hated your music.
John Akomfrah
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:10 AM
Comment #51Chumley gets no credit from me …… kin divvy
ITUNDERASHELL
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:12 AM
Comment #52Rafa Benitez- MY STORY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USZI2p285FI
Jib
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:18 AM
Comment #53Ron Knee
Keith Emerson dead?
I don’t know if you are from Tyneside but I saw The Nice at the Plaza in Tynemouth (now burnt down )
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:26 AM
Comment #54Rafa evolution:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/mar/12/rafael-benitez-newcastle-united-manager-steve-mcclaren
# Camouflage the lack of a specialist left-back
# Try to stem the tide of injuries
# Is Thursday a sensible day off?
# What to do about the weakness at centre-half
# And what about the captaincy?
# Who is going to score the goals to keep Newcastle out of the Championship?
# How do you bring the best out of Gini Wijnaldum, Moussa Sissoko and Ayoze Pérez?
# If the new manager sticks with 4-2-3-1 who should play in the two alongside Jonjo Shelvey?
WWSBRD
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Comment #55People slating Sossoko must remember he’s now going to be playing for Rafa a top draw manager not someone lucky to be in the job
Rafa won’t bow down to him, he has to know he’s no longer undroppable he has to perform and I think he will, crowd won’t be on his back because we’ve got Rafa to look to who will be
hibbitt
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:32 AM
Comment #56has he got them in training today ??
WWSBRD
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:33 AM
Comment #57Also if we stay up I don’t see players wanting out anymore, the likes of Aarons won’t think he can do better than Newcastle now
ITUNDERASHELL
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:34 AM
Comment #58WWSBRD
Agreed mate, he has the chance to become a great player if his mindset is right ? will he, I don’t know.
WWSBRD
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:38 AM
Comment #59ITSUNDER
Biggest thing about pushing Sissoko is using his ambition he wants to be the best he admits it he openly wants CL football well for the first time at NUFC he doesn’t walk into the training ground of a club on its a**e he walks into Rafas set u…I think that’ll be huge for him
hibbitt
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:39 AM
Comment #60the key is staying up if we go down players will want to leave ….if we stay up the players that leave will be the players Rafa wants rid of
WWSBRD
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:40 AM
Comment #61People forget Sissoko hasn’t been with us when we’ve been good
Ron Knee
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:40 AM
Comment #62I was a regular at the Club A’Gogo in Percy Street, jeff.
ITUNDERASHELL
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:41 AM
Comment #63Lets hope we stay up because if we do, as you say above, good young players will want to stay and learn fron a manager who has won the lot.
WWSBRD
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:43 AM
Comment #64hibbitt
If we stay up it won’t be a case of ‘am too good for Newcastle’ it’ll be Rafa saying ‘ur not good enough for my Newcastle so am getting rid of u’
For the first time I think the club could of completely changed but we have to make sure we hit the last 10 games like a steam train because we need momentum
toonheroes
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:44 AM
Comment #65I haven’t been this excited about the future of our club for years. We got a great manager now. A racehorse. Credit where credit’s due. I never thought this would happen. If we get through this season intact, the summer transfer window is going to be really interesting. We’ll be able to attract very good players now. I know this has all been said but I’m just so happy. HWTL
Jib
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:49 AM
Comment #66Ah the club aGoGo
What did they call that fearsome looking bald doorman ?
I saw Cream there.
I talked to Jack Bruce and Clapton at the bar when Ginger Baker was doing a 25 minute drum solo.
I was still at school then !!!
Goofy
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Comment #67Chuffed as fcuk wit Benitez. His man management with Gerrard and Torres speaks volumes alone never mind his achievements.
I think he’ll pull the best out of our underachievers like De Jong, Sissoko and enhance players like Winjaldum and Perez.
He kept Cathro and he has given his views on all the players. I hope it was his own view and not McClarens idea of what should’ve been. He’ll know himself soon enough.
If we stay up, exciting times are ahead and possibly our first trophy in near 50 years.
Munster Mag
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Comment #68If 4231 was the preferred option of steve aswell, it will be interesting to see how the approach will change. Same shape, but far more motivation i hope. wud like to see colo as sweeper v leicester but not fit? So pleased about this appointment. It may have been forced on him, but ashley could easily have got pearson and kept his crazy french model. He chose not to and has deserved more than steve gave him. 80 mill = 8 ten million pound players. That should not spell relegation. The decision to go for Rafa and keep cathro and lower carrs influence will have positive ramifications for years to come.
Jib
Mar 12, 2016 at 11:58 AM
Comment #69Benitez doesn’t mind playing people out of position
He played both Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt on the right wing for periods
Ron Knee
Mar 12, 2016 at 12:02 PM
Comment #70I saw them the first time they played there. Couldn’t get in the second time!
Jib
Mar 12, 2016 at 12:06 PM
Comment #71Ron
There was’nt that many there so it must have been the 1st time.