Some of the transcript of Rafa Benitez’ press conference today has been made available and it seems the 56 year-old could be keen to stay at Newcastle – but he seems to be waiting for Newcastle coming back with agreements on what he is asking for.
Rafa is interested in having control of various things at the club before he will agree to stay – and that could be up to two weeks maximum before he is able to make a decision.
Rafa Benitez – Newcastle manager
We have to hope that Lee Charnley is not dithering around again – he needs to move quickly before other clubs could come in for the former Liverpool manager – although Lee moves at a snail’s pace- sometimes slower.
But it seems the discussions may be more based on trying to persuade Lee Charnley – and therefore Mike Ashley – to change the way certain things are done at Newcastle.
Here’s a much longer and more detailed version of what Rafa said today in his 12:30 pm press conference for the game against Spurs tomorrow:
“I am professional, and I’ve been in this business for a while. I’m the kind of manager that has achieved what I have achieved working very hard. I was not a famous star as a player, so I needed to work very hard,”
“I have experienced two promotions with different clubs in Spain – Extremadura and Tenerife – and I have experienced relegation with Extremadura too, and I have won a lot of trophies.”
“I can understand that some people will say ‘no, he cannot stay’ and some people will say ‘he will do it’.”
“We have to be calm, we have to be sure that what I want is the same that the fans want. We want a successful team, we want a strong team to get promoted to the Premier League again as soon as possible, and that is the situation now.”
“We have to talk, we have more meetings, and then we will see what will happen. But if I am here, and I am discussing these things, it’s because in my head it’s a chance. It’s a good chance, and then we have to keep talking.”
“It’s difficult to say – it depends on the conversations – but I think that a couple of weeks could be a decent time.”
“But in the meantime we have a responsibility and we have been working and preparing the pre-season, and leaving everything ready for the next year.”
“We are working as professionals and we are talking, and I think that in a couple of weeks maximum, maybe, we will have an idea.”
“We (Charnley and I) have a good relationship – he is professional and I am professional,”
“We were analyzing things that were wrong, and things that could be done in a different way, and that’s it – quite positive.”
“What we said in this meeting is that we will have more meetings. Again, I will say that it was very positive in terms of the things that we were discussing and I can say to the fans that we will continue.”
“When I decided to come here, it’s because I knew it was a massive club with massive support from the fans, and the players have the level to do well.”
“That was my impression when I came, and I’m really flattered by the fans because they have been amazing, and I know that could be even more positive in the future.”
“But at the moment, we have to be sure that we prepare the game tomorrow properly.”
“And after that we will try to do the best for everyone – for me, for the Club, for the fans, for everyone here.”
It’s encouraging Rafa says there’s a good chance he could stay.
We hope that last line means Rafa will end up at Newcastle and be running a rather large portion of the club.
These seems to be the four things Rafa wants:
- Full control of all transfers into and out of the club
- A complete overhaul of the Youth Academy
- A complete overhaul of the Benton Training Facilities
- Control of the medical department
The bottom line is that Rafa wants a lot more control than other managers have had at Newcastle – but you could even read into his comments above there is some resistance coming from Newcastle.
We hope that’s not true.
The difference in knowledge and experience of how to run a football club between Rafa Benitez and Lee Charnley is measured in light years.
Why would Lee Charnley or Mike Ashley for that matter, want to argue with Rafa – when he says this is the best way to run Newcastle United?
Especially if Rafa will only stay at Newcastle if those specific changes are made.
This lot at Newcastle better not screw this one up – after they have managed to get the club relegated through their massive incompetence, ineptitude and arrogance this season.
Stupidity should only be allowed to go so far.
If you think we have absolutely no confidence in the current leaders at Newcastle – that would be a good assumption.
🙂
Comments welcome.
42 comments so far
Shadow_Shearer
May 14, 2016 at 2:59 PM
Comment #1I don’t understand how we can give benitez an overhaul of the training facilities, wouldn’t that cost millions, possibly 100 million. We just lost 100 with relegation & another 100 million this season on useless players. Apart from townsend
Mister Tuff
May 14, 2016 at 3:00 PM
Comment #2Rafas’ news conference – seems to be wisely hedging his bets.
Reading the Mark Douglas article – no great revelations but clear that Penfold was pulling rank on Carr for footballing decisions. Not surprising at all.
The Kone story sums up their ineptitude Sunderland dithering and we do not step in – and the rest is history.
If he stays I can only think if the fools are not sacked it just will not work out for the better in the long term.
Intersting to see whether the crowd make their feeling known about the board – no doubt there will be plenty of Rafa
Mister Tuff
May 14, 2016 at 3:01 PM
Comment #3of Rafa support.
AndyMac
May 14, 2016 at 3:03 PM
Comment #4I’ve said it many times during Fatman’s reign, the first step is to start running NUFC club as a PROFESSIONAL football club. What Rafa wants is what we, as fans, should have demanded eight looooong years ago.
JamesToon
May 14, 2016 at 3:03 PM
Comment #5First things first, either sack charnley or change the recruitment policy. We need more domestic, championship experienced/young players who have character, leadership and determination.
Imo providing we keep players like Townsend, Shelvey, Lascelles and Mitro and let the “superstars” such as sissoko Perez Wijnaldum Janmaat go, we’ll need a right back, centre back, left back, 1 ball winning midfielder, 1 central mid, 1 left winger and a pacey striker.
mindshaft
May 14, 2016 at 3:03 PM
Comment #6Even if it’s unlikely Rafa doesn’t take a job elsewhere it’s unlikely he’ll be here next season, to be honest I just don’t trust Charnley/ Ashley in the least and fully expect the ‘we tried everything we could ‘ line to be rolled out , Rafa will have a non disclosure clause in his payoff that prevents him
A blind man can see the transfer policy is f3cked and the only ‘successes’ have been Cabaye / Debuchy – we can’t even sell most of our duds and they end up sitting round picking wages up until thier contract expires . The amount of players we let leave for nowt is astounding
JamesToon
May 14, 2016 at 3:04 PM
Comment #7And give Rafa full control of everything no matter how much money it costs it will be worth every penny
lesh
May 14, 2016 at 3:07 PM
Comment #8This should be a no brainer for a decent MD and visionary owner.
Rather than pi$$ing about trying to retain their recruitment policy and board control of transfers, Ashley ought to tell Charmless in no uncertain terms to agree to whatever Rafa’s needs – plus guarantees of a sensible budget and that Charmless and Ashley are negotiating in good faith with no intention of undermining him – ala Keegan!
Either and sure as god made little apples, he’ll get an offer that ticks all his boxes, from another more decisive and ambitious club.
Charnley’s cost the Club about £73m in prize-money because of his ineptitude and incompetence so if we miss out on Rafa, that’ll send out a big, big signal that Newcastle United is a club that any decent manager would want to avoid.
Rafa’s signalled his interest and it’s up to Ashley to put his money where his mealy mouth is, prove that what he’s said he wants for the Club, is what he really wants.
Is that too much for Rafa and the Club’s long-suffering fans to ask? Many would say not.
JamesToon
May 14, 2016 at 3:08 PM
Comment #9SS
We’ll have the money, providing the club do get rid of the deadwood, the players who don’t want to be here, we should make around £50-70mil on outgoings. Players like Riviere, Gouffran, Coloccinj might be considered “good enough for the championship” however they do not have the stomach for the fight, so get rid of all of them.
Money needs to be invested in training, youth facilities, youth coaches to replace Beardsley and Watson and possibly Joyce, a new scouting system, a new analysis team (Rafa will want that) and then finally players.
JamesToon
May 14, 2016 at 3:09 PM
Comment #10Lesh
Charnley needs to go, however I have absolutely no clue who could step in and add some footballing brains, the only person I can think of who is out of work and played a similar role at Southampton is Nicola Cortese, he laid the foundations that got them back into the premier league and was the one who found Pochettino
lesh
May 14, 2016 at 3:10 PM
Comment #11Rafa – ‘I’m professional….’
Charmless – ‘Err, what’s professional Rafa?’
Rafa – ‘I’ll close the door on the way out – oh, and switch the lights off on the way’
JamesToon
May 14, 2016 at 3:10 PM
Comment #12However I think Cortese is a much too strong personality for Ashley, but the fact that Rafa came, who knows, other than that I don’t know who else could help rebuild the structure of this club.
Nightmare would be Kinnear/Llambias returning
Bobbybee
May 14, 2016 at 3:21 PM
Comment #13Surely the most used word coming from Rafa is ‘positive’? Judging by what he’s saying I think we should all just wait and see before making sweeping statements. Although i’ve never been involved in a high profile discussion like this, i can see why it might take time. Every time he goes back to a meeting it’s because the previous meeting went well, surely? He’s flat turned down the Southampton job and i can’t see a better offer than that on the table. I do understand why people expect the worse, with our track record, but this is Rafa. He won’t lead us down the garden path, even if Charnley might. I see this as a good sign myself and will be doing my bit on Sunday to try and persuade him to stay.
WWSBRD
May 14, 2016 at 3:21 PM
Comment #14James
I’d have Dekka over Charnley at least he was learning
lesh
May 14, 2016 at 3:23 PM
Comment #15James
I agree that Charmless ought to be relieved of his MD post and whilst a football savvy replacement needed, that’s not essential.
We need a MD who has vision and can devise and implement strategy with experts reporting to him (eg Rafa) who can provide sensible costed proposals to enable the MD to make informed decisions in line with the pre-agreed aims, objectives and strategy
Have we ever had that under the dynamic trio of Ashley, Charnley/ Llambias and Carr? I fear not for Charnley’s got the imagination and dynamism of a cow patt.
Shadow_Shearer
May 14, 2016 at 3:24 PM
Comment #16James toon
We will get nothing for coloccini, Riviere & goufran, even SDJ. I agree they all have to go.
The only players with value is wijnaldum & townsend. The likes of sissoko, shelvey & janmaat have sum kind of value. Players like cisse & tioti are old.
All on big wages, but I think we will be lucky to get 50 million for all of that.
WWSBRD
May 14, 2016 at 3:24 PM
Comment #17Bobby
Two huge problems with that positive spin
1 why isn’t Ashley doing the negotiating with Rafa if the club are serious about keeping him?
2 the history of what the club did to Shearer last time we went down
I don’t see anything in that presser to make me feel he will stay
lesh
May 14, 2016 at 3:29 PM
Comment #18Shadow_Shearer
Defoe’s getting on a bit at what, 34, far too old for Newcastle United.
But, his 19 (?) goals saved Sunderland.
On which topic, Spurs have conceded less goals than we’ve scored this season….. I may have misread the table of course.
Bobbybee
May 14, 2016 at 3:31 PM
Comment #19WWSBRD, there ya go, how different people view different things. I see nothing in it that suggests he won’t stay – not one thing. 😉 Regarding the talks, he keeps repeating the word positive – even when talking about the plant pot Charnley. Going back for more talks, after positive earlier talks, obviously says different things to different people. Too early to write anything off imo, but hey, this is Newcastle, so anything is possible.
Bobbybee
May 14, 2016 at 3:38 PM
Comment #20WWSBRD, sorry marra, i only answered half of it there! 😉 I can only assume that Ashley stepping back is the reason he isn’t involved in the discussions. He left the plant pot in charge and therefore left him to sort it out. Don’t agree of course, imo he should be there, but he did say he would have nothing to do with the football side of it. That’s the only reason I can think off mate, but who knows how his brain works! 😉
Moonraker15
May 14, 2016 at 3:43 PM
Comment #21If Ashley were to get rid of Charnley, then Rafa would leave as he obviously sees Charnley as his main ally in getting his way. I would be happy for Charnley to stay if Rafa is here as Rafa would be effectively running the playing side of the club!
Sir Braveheart
May 14, 2016 at 3:43 PM
Comment #22Those four points are plucked out of thin air. Show me where Rafa or the club have said those are the terms? Utter nonsense – at a delicate time like this how about sticking to the fact Ed not making stuff up. Or at least show your sources so it doesn’t sound like it’s made up.
poncho86
May 14, 2016 at 3:45 PM
Comment #23I am flying into Newcastle tomorrow and want to get tickets for the game, I tried through the site but you have to been a member, any one have advice for me?
Bobbybee
May 14, 2016 at 3:50 PM
Comment #24Sir braveheart, couldn’t agree more matey. What is being said in those meetings nobody really knows, except those involved. Maybe those points are the groundings for discussions, but like you say, where have they come from? If Rafa said it, then I too would like to see where and when he said them. This is typical though, a rumour starts and then gets carried along until it appears to become reality, even when it isn’t. Those points do make sense, but whether Rafa has stated them, I remain to be convinced. Either way though, if Ashley wants what’s best for the club, then clearly Rafa is best. These are massive changes, if they are right, and as such, i expect it will take time to iron it all out.
Shadow_Shearer
May 14, 2016 at 3:56 PM
Comment #25Fair point lesh. But I was referring to how much money we will get out of those players. Cisse & tioti will be on a big wage, which most likely can’t be afforded in the championship.
giimps
May 14, 2016 at 4:12 PM
Comment #26I wonder if Chumpley has had this plan all along?
Ensure the way Ashley runs the club fails thereby ensuring /hoping someone with a clue gets the job of football stuff……..that way he can go and arrange his pencils again and ensure theres a spare lightbulb in the safe for the toilet (someone might pinch it if its not in the safe)…job done…..all hail Chumpley
Bobbybee
May 14, 2016 at 4:14 PM
Comment #27Giimps, wicked insight! 😉
toonluvva
May 14, 2016 at 4:22 PM
Comment #28How about replacing Mr Charnley with Chris Mort. I think he did a good job when Mug first bought the club.
Bobbybee
May 14, 2016 at 4:28 PM
Comment #29Toonluvva, is there any merit in going backwards though? Prefer to just let Rafa do it his way myself. I still can’t believe chumlee will retain his job come the inquest, but you just never know with Newcastle. 😉
giimps
May 14, 2016 at 4:30 PM
Comment #30I think Mr Mort is either a Solicitor or barrister and was only on secondment to Ashley while the club was going through the being bought and sold transition phase.
unlikely to come back i think……whats David Dein doing with himself, he was very knowledgeable and may be available if hes not another one Ashley has p!ssed off
ilovetoon8788
May 14, 2016 at 4:35 PM
Comment #31Rafa is truly a world class manager. Not a coach but a manager. A damn good one at that.
If Ashley and Charnley can’t give everything rafa wants, they should f off. He’s the only hope we have who can make this club great again.
His management skills are heads and shoulders above every other manager is the championship.
Bobbybee
May 14, 2016 at 4:43 PM
Comment #328788, amen to that. Seems like a no brainer to us and difficult to see why anybody wouldn’t take the man’s offer. They might yet and Rafa is definitely positive about things so far. If it takes two weeks to reach the right decision, then i’ll take it. Just keep him, that’s all that matters.
lesh
May 14, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Comment #33Toonluvva
You overlook the facts that ChrIs Mort’s a solicitor who’s doing very well at Freshfields and more to the point, he was involved in the telling of lies to Keegan.
Probably very bright etc, but I can’t see him leaving his current employer to work for Ashley at NUFC
hibbitt
May 14, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Comment #34giimps
David Dein is Mike Ashley next door neighbour
Jail for Ashley
May 14, 2016 at 5:01 PM
Comment #35Well I read in to that is that he is more than willing to say he just wants a whole new structure
“It’s not a question of money, it’s a question of if we have a structure that can allow the club in the next year and in the future years to be strong and competing in the Premier League hopefully”
He basically doesn’t want Armstrong sold for silly money before a replacement is found, he doesn’t want LC saying that player isn’t worth the money but that player is. He wants to control things. Whether the club are willing to do this is a different matter, surely they realise by trying to find another McCardew they are going to fail miserably.
Bobbybee
May 14, 2016 at 5:03 PM
Comment #36Hibbett, by next door, i presume you mean on the other side of the barbed wire fence and machine gun turrets? 😉
AMEOBI
May 14, 2016 at 5:04 PM
Comment #37Poncho86,
If you’re due in Newcastle for around 11/12 get yourself to box office and they’ll sort you out. They’ll have plenty tickets at that time.
Keith in France
May 14, 2016 at 5:06 PM
Comment #38If Rafa stays it means that he is staying on his terms so i couldn’t care less if the MD stays or not . Carr will go for sure .
Jib
May 14, 2016 at 5:11 PM
Comment #39Watching Granada v Barcelona
Andres Iniesta had his birthday last Wednesday.
He’s some player for 32 !
poncho86
May 14, 2016 at 5:11 PM
Comment #40Ameobi, thanks I’ll head straight there should land in at 9 want to go check out the stadium …good boozer for before the game?