It’s good the Fans Forum is doing everything they can to ensure that Rafa Benitez stays at Newcastle – if he stays then Newcastle fans will have real hope for the future.
We have none at the moment.
The group got involved during the initial Rafa discussions with Lee Charnley in early March and Lee pulled that one off.
Charnley now needs to ensure he gets Rafa to commit to the club for next season – and gets any help he needs to do that from owner Mike Ashley.
Lee Charnley – get the job done – get Rafa
As Louis Taylor has aptly described in the Guardian today, Rafa staying at Newcastle will help anesthetize the severe pain of relegation the fans have felt since last night.
This is the Statement from the Newcastle United Fans Forum:
We are completely devastated to lose our position in the Premier League.
Our fans have many concerns. Whilst the fans generally expected this fate, it was quite apparent that the club failed us miserably in the time that it took to make a decision to terminate Steve McClaren’s employment and bring in Rafa Benitez.
Now is not the time to discuss these failures. We will do that at our final meeting of the season.
However, the reason for this statement is to make it perfectly clear that we want every possible resource thrown at an attempt to retain the services of our current Manager.
Rafa Benitez has demonstrated his ability to connect with the fans. The fans of this club deserve the respect of the board and current owners of Newcastle United. This group of fans can make a huge difference to the club and have demonstrated this on several occasions.
Ad a Message to Rafa Benitez:
Whilst we fully accept that the short-term prospect of life in The Championship may not be as appealing as other offers that you may be presented with, we can certainly promise you that the potential rewards of the longer term would exceed any position that you consider.
And finally a Message to the owner:
Whilst we accept that to retain the services of Rafa will come ‘at a price’, we urge you to look ahead to the longer term benefit of Newcastle United.
Installing Rafa as manager will have shown you the ‘lift’ that it gave to our club, albeit maybe too late.
It is imperative that you act swiftly. We need actions not words – a PR ‘feel good’ statement is not want the fans want to see.
We need you to demonstrate your business acumen and your intent to ‘not let this one slip away’.
Comments welcome.
82 comments so far
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 10:12 PM
Comment #41Having a big ground is one thing. Keeping it full when the team isn’t doing well is another. They’ll still have the same overheads whether it’s full or half empty. Nice new shiny stadium will attract people, but will they stay? Time will tell, but i suspect not. Novelty soon wears off with some people, as we know all too well.
Munster Mag
May 12, 2016 at 10:13 PM
Comment #42Lochinvar at 21…great post, U saved me writing it, because I was logging on to write pretty much your exact points and I think that’s how rafa will be thinking.
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 10:14 PM
Comment #43Ooh! That didn’t take long to resort to personal attacks. It tends to happen when you can’t answer a question with reasonable argument. Welcome to the borg.
ShirebrookToon
May 12, 2016 at 10:15 PM
Comment #44Hopefully all this will be clarified on Monday.
#RaiseTheRoofForRafa
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #45Sorry hitman, just checked your previous posts. I understand if you can’t manage to string more than two sentences together.
hitman
May 12, 2016 at 10:19 PM
Comment #46omg you are a drama queen.
ok i will tread lightly dont want you gettint upset.
Munster Mag
May 12, 2016 at 10:19 PM
Comment #47Bobby, hope all well you mate. I’m afraid my analysis of Fat Sam and Sunderald was 100% correct. I had a big worry when he arrived and posted same on the day, It was always going to be dangerous for us after he arrived. Mind u, if we had kept steve mc, it wudnt have mattered as we wud have been relegated weeks ago! The support goes on, and I am already planning a trip to either an away leg in the south or a home game, probably v Forest ( I have a best mate who support U Reds ) . Beers with the Geordies – great stuff, just hope I can track down some of my old London based Toon fans. Igff I’m not wrong Ipswich was a great day out years ago….pub near the station awash with Mags ? Other ground suggestions welcome. Completely agree with you – and will be supporting the mags even more fervently from south west Ireland next year ( mind u that will be harder if we get a numpty manager ! )
Munster Mag
May 12, 2016 at 10:21 PM
Comment #48I think rafa will stay – if I was putting a bet down, it would be for staying at NUFC, What a project – what a dynasty he could create.
ShirebrookToon
May 12, 2016 at 10:23 PM
Comment #49The IPro stadium Munster. Derby county is not a bad ground to visit mate
jimmysmith
May 12, 2016 at 10:29 PM
Comment #50Place that bet in a parallel universe, where Newcastle is a serious football club, with a serious football club owner. That type of infrastructure would require a massive investment of money, time and expertise. It’s possible of course, but quite fanciful considering what we’ve seen at the club for the best part of a decade now.
Graeme
May 12, 2016 at 10:30 PM
Comment #51Lochinvar @ 21
With Rafa in charge, with the right tools and backing, the possibilities are endless, the sky is the limit.
If ONLY Penfold / Ashley have the ability to see what could be achieved in the circumstances, I wish.
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 10:31 PM
Comment #52Nice one munster. You must promise not to punch a horse though. 😉 You’re right marra, if macca had stayed we wouldn’t have had an exciting – if ultimately disappointing – end of the season. Jesus, that was the best bit of an entirely forgettable season imo. Pumped a bit of life back into me lmao! I’m already looking forward to next season and the possibilites. To us mate, winning isn’t the be all and end all. We’re too damaged for that! 😉 Has anything really changed since the 70’s and 80’s? Not a bit! We’ve been here and done that marra. The difference for me will be possibly different grounds. At home, I’ll be sat in exactly the same seat supporting the same black and white stripes. This time though, we’ll be winning a few more. As long as we bounce back, so what? We can’t change it – live with it. We won’t know anything until the inquest and if Rafa stays, so why speculate? Do ya think hitman is jail? Sound alike.
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 10:32 PM
Comment #53Munster. 😉 😉 couldn’t resist.
Thump
May 12, 2016 at 10:34 PM
Comment #54So nufc-83’s argument is that because Ashley isn’t knowledgable enough about football, he employs people who aren’t knowledgeable enough about football to make footballing decisions.
Yes, and that’s why he is to blame.
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 10:36 PM
Comment #55I’m a drama queen? Ffs, you’re the one calling yourself himan!! I don’t even have to bother do I? You’ll do it all yourself. 😉
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 10:39 PM
Comment #56I know it’s hitman, but i’ve already got you down to a T. 😉
ShirebrookToon
May 12, 2016 at 10:40 PM
Comment #57Pmsl @ Bobby
hitman
May 12, 2016 at 10:41 PM
Comment #58its called an online name ,do you think jib is called jib.
jane
May 12, 2016 at 10:42 PM
Comment #59this is the highest rated comment on a BBC article and therefore seems to be the perception most of the country has. a little too close to home for many fans probably.
13. Posted by Tayex on 11 May 2016 21:08
Perhaps Newcastle have got their just desserts. They hounded out every manager that kept them up. Alan Pardew went to a smaller club, with a smaller budget and yet finished above the Magpies and got to the FA Cup final. Perhaps a bit more of a realistic perspective is needed
Number of positive ratings :196
Number of negative ratings :32
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36266059
Setchell
May 12, 2016 at 10:44 PM
Comment #60Lochinvar
I am going aswell, just some people on here always want to boycott and just shout at ashley rather than support the team.
ShirebrookToon
May 12, 2016 at 10:45 PM
Comment #61Support the team not the regime!!
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 10:48 PM
Comment #62You what? Shirebrook toon, please tell this clown this is your real name. 😉 It’s not…. tell ya what, i refuse to enter into a battle of wits with an unarmed man. It simply isn’t right. Ok, it’s an online name. Sorry lad, i didn’t realise you were so young. Call it quits eh? 😉
Setchell
May 12, 2016 at 10:50 PM
Comment #63Ashley has made mistakes in the past, but surely it’s to be put behind us and look forward? He invested heavily into the club this season, ok it didn’t work out but that was charnley and carrs fault not his. If he sacks them at the end of season and gets Rafa to stay I still think people will twine.
ShirebrookToon
May 12, 2016 at 10:50 PM
Comment #64Bobby are you an ex squaddie by any chance mate?
hitman
May 12, 2016 at 10:52 PM
Comment #65bobby are you still sneaking in your sarnies to the match.
you carnt miss this bloke he wears a black hat and thinks the world owes him a favour.
jane
May 12, 2016 at 10:53 PM
Comment #66Allardyce and Pardew would have been able to keep us up. McClaren is the main reason for relegation. other are to blame for employing him but it was McClaren who failed.
Setchell
May 12, 2016 at 10:54 PM
Comment #67Well said Jane
welshgeordie9
May 12, 2016 at 11:00 PM
Comment #68Jane
Don’t mention Mr P down at selhurst park, you might wake some of the bloggers up.
Munster Mag
May 12, 2016 at 11:02 PM
Comment #69Bobby you old codger 🙂 I aint as old as you – well maybe I am – late 40s so no bovver boots for me, although plenty of scrapes. Nasty one was getting onto a tube carriage in London with the top of my toon jersey showing cos of missing buttons, and the carriage was full of makems in London for a game. we must have been playing in Peterboro or somewhere. needed a drink after that! other charming moments included being in a London pub for a Chelsea game, with a few mags, some older fellas with colours on, and in walks a Chelsea crew. naturally the irish guy was sent to the bar to hide the Geordie accents, but the Chelsea knobs didn’t like the Irish much then as they thought we were all terrorists! never fear, I got my round in , but we left after it! 🙂 Great old memories!
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 11:03 PM
Comment #70Hitman, careful now. Not me marra, wrong guy. I know more than most the world owes ya nothing and i’m happy with my lot. I am very easily pleased. 😉 Sandwiches? Does anybody still do that? Of is it just your dad. See, i can be childish too. It’s not exactly clever, is it? Run along and leave the grown ups to chat nicely. 😉
hitman
May 12, 2016 at 11:07 PM
Comment #71bobby i know who you are.
ive seen you at sjp.
welshgeordie9
May 12, 2016 at 11:08 PM
Comment #72Good Evening Bobby, one question mate, do you think Benitez will be here next season in the championship.
hitman
May 12, 2016 at 11:08 PM
Comment #73im not ya marra.thats a makem/yorkshire thing.
welshgeordie9
May 12, 2016 at 11:10 PM
Comment #74Wow, that’s going to be a little bit strange for a while, saying championship.
welshgeordie9
May 12, 2016 at 11:11 PM
Comment #75That sounds a little bit creepy hitman.
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 11:13 PM
Comment #76Munster. Pesky kids. I’ve been trapped on that tube many a time. Looking back i wonder why we enjoyed such a dangerous pastime as much as we did. Went to forest with a van full of lads i’d never met before. Stopped off at grimsby for the night. I know! Bloody grimsby. Word got around and within half an hour every twat in grimsby was trying to get up a slim passage at us. All 12 of us ffs. How we got out of that alive i will never know. Didn’t bother with that lot again 😉 What makes it really crazy, is that it was the norm. We knew what to expect, yet carried on going. Hard to make logic of it. 😉
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 11:18 PM
Comment #77Oh no! The hitman knows who i am! I’m doomed. Have you been stalking me? Now ya sounding just downright creepy. Seriously, it is creepy. You need to see somebody about that, it could get you into serious trouble. No little girls on your list we need to know about is there? Ed! We’ve got a creepy pervert on the blog. 😉
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 11:22 PM
Comment #78So marra ain’t geordie then? Wonder why my grandad used it all the time then? Not many mackems there. 😉
hitman
May 12, 2016 at 11:22 PM
Comment #79stalking you ha.your just a fraud who plays the game when theres fk all wrong with you.
but hey well played the tax payer pays for your st.
Bobbybee
May 12, 2016 at 11:29 PM
Comment #80Welshie, creepy git or what 😉 To be honest, I ‘ve no idea marra. I really hope so, but only he knows that. He probably knows already, if truth be told, i just hope he announces it after the game. The place will erupt if he does. Most of us want him to stay and he knows it.