The Mirror is reporting today that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has planned a meeting in the next 24 hours with Rafa Benitez in order to try to persuade the former Liverpool manager to stay on as the Newcastle manager.
Ashley is said to be very willing to do everything possible to get Benitez to stay, with the 56 year-old world-class manager appearing in his press conference yesterday to be really keen on the job at Newcastle.
He laid out the discussions that are ongoing at Newcastle, but it was clear he’s even fallen in love with Newcastle and especially with the passionate fans – but don’t tell his wife Maria de Montserra that.
🙂
Rafa Benitez – Mike Ashley meeting planned within 24 hours
It is generally believed that Rafa has the following four issues he needs resolved:
- 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
And it is thought after Rafa’s positive press conference yesterday, where he obviously wants to stay at the club – Mike Ashley will now move quickly and get the 56 year-old Spaniard committed to at least three years at Newcastle.
This is what Rafa is quoted in the Mirror today about the Ashley meeting and possibly staying on at Newcastle:
“I like the idea, I am really pleased here, I am flattered with the support that I have from everyone.”
“Mike Ashley is keen to talk and I am really pleased that we can sit down and talk. I don’t have any problem with that. The message he is sending is quite positive.”
“I have been so many years working so hard to win so many trophies that it is a question of now deciding whether you want to enjoy it, or you want to make money, or you want to win trophies.”
“And I would like to enjoy winning trophies.”
“At the moment I am really pleased with the reaction and I want to be sure that if I decide to stay it is because I want to win.”
“If I stay it is because I want to win, not because I want to stay here in the Championship for ten years. That is not my target. My target, if I stay, is one year and five in the Premier League.”
“The fans have done so much. Flattered is the word. They have been fantastic. Even today, the staff were showing me a video of the Newcastle fans singing my name.”
“It was like in Liverpool when we won the Champions League. You cannot expect more from them.”
“It is very similar to Liverpool, it was even the same song, the same way. It was very good. I was at Liverpool six years so the connection and the feelings are there.”
“The two cities are very similar.”
“They are working-class cities with the passion of the fans and the support of the team. There a lot of similarities. It is one of the reasons I decided to come.”
“This is a big club that needed to maybe wake up. It is just we have to make sure we have what we want for the future in terms of a strong team that can compete and be promoted again.”
“Relegation is really bad for anyone , no matter how big is the club, especially when you have been working so hard, fighting so much.”
“It’s really disappointing, but now you have to accept what is going on, and then think about the future.”
Those are simply great words from Rafa Benitez and his enthusiasm is infectious.
Where’s my boots!
🙂
And maybe Mike will go all in and offer more than three years on Tyneside.
It’s also known that Rafa has taken a helicopter back to his home in the Wirral (128 miles from Newcastle as the crow flies) , so maybe a helicopter will be made available to him for his commutes back home?
His vision for Newcastle is exactly what Newcastle fans have always wanted – to have Newcastle United Football Club play at the highest level of European football.
This is very good news – and we hope Mike Ashley gives Rafa everything he asks for – after all – it’s also within Mike’s best interests – he can (will) make the club great again.
We need Rafa signed up as the Newcastle manager for at least the next three years.
If Ashley can achieve that in tomorrow’s meeting, it will be the best thing he has ever done in his nine years at the club.
And if Benitez does sign it will also be news around the world and will show Newcastle United in good light – that a world-class manager like Rafa Benitez is willing to stay at the club – even though we have just been relegated.
It’s the injection of ambition and real hope that Newcastle fans have been yearning for.
Comments welcome.
96 comments so far
firebug666
May 15, 2016 at 11:59 AM
Comment #41hibbitt @38
I agree mate, Rafa has offers on the table, though I doubt he would go to Everton given his Liverpool connection but you never know.
From what I have read this morning, Rafa want to and is quite happy to stay with us, However he has to get what he want’s and to do that he has to deal with the incompetence of the highest order, and the slimy fat man who warmly shakes you by one hand while picking your pockets with the other.
Here’s hoping he can negotiate his way around the traps and pitfalls that await.
one fine day
May 15, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Comment #42Expat
Agree on storm
They have the advantage of being a one team one city team (nrl) anyway so have tapped a good loyal support base unlike Nsw where a lot are fighting over the support .
Makes you wonder again where nufc went so wrong with guaranteed 52k
Maybe the guaranteed was the problem in itself .
Barossa Shiraz.? Nice drop
Doing a very nice d’arenburg mclaren vale myself trying to numb the pain of later tonight ( mclaren vale …? ) let’s not go there
ShirebrookToon
May 15, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Comment #43Arma will also provide more of an outlet for Shelvey, he plays off the last man and likes to get in behind and use his pace. Something we have lacked immensely this season
ShirebrookToon
May 15, 2016 at 12:01 PM
Comment #44FDB is favourite for Everton job along with the Sevilla manager I think
BandB
May 15, 2016 at 12:03 PM
Comment #45I believe over half of us had Aarons down as a key player at the start of the season.
Nufc-83
May 15, 2016 at 12:04 PM
Comment #46Fingers crossed.
Our Toon
May 15, 2016 at 12:04 PM
Comment #47Shirebrook
I hope not, shelvey is utter shite and on 80k wages….hopefully one of the first we offload
Nufc-83
May 15, 2016 at 12:05 PM
Comment #48Agree on Arma providing an outlet for Shelvey it’s exactly what he needs or it’s not worth having him as he doesn’t offer a great deal of work rate etc
Bobbybee
May 15, 2016 at 12:05 PM
Comment #49NUFC83, i think we’re his first choice because he signed a three year deal. Had we stayed up, this wouldn’t even be an issue.
Our toon, like yourself, i too have seen young talent burn out for whatever reason. Never understood the hype over the other Adam myself, but because others have failed, does that mean Arma has to fail? Had you taken any notice of Arma at Coventry, you’d know the second half wasn’t a disaster for the kid. He kept making the runs and even Mowbray was double quick to point out the drying up of goals had more to do with service than Arma. And he would know. What we express on here has no affect on the kid – he probably doesn’t even read it.
Our Toon
May 15, 2016 at 12:06 PM
Comment #50BandB
Very true about Aaron’s, shocking season for the lad in what ye contributed absolutely nothing of a positive note. Shows why kids often fail to make the jump
Essex Geordie Bill
May 15, 2016 at 12:07 PM
Comment #51If Arma does play today and scores a hat trick there’s going to be some pretty upset people on Tyneside.
Nufc-83
May 15, 2016 at 12:08 PM
Comment #52Bobby first choice when he signed is a totally different situation to saying we are first choice now.
ShirebrookToon
May 15, 2016 at 12:09 PM
Comment #53Shelvey will be better suited for championship as its played at a slower pace and will have more time on the ball.
expatmag
May 15, 2016 at 12:11 PM
Comment #54OFD
Nixe one mate. Enjoy the fame or mire so, the atmisphete as I feel the result us insignificant as ipposed to the armosphere created by yhe fans.
Our Toon
May 15, 2016 at 12:11 PM
Comment #55Bobby
Here’s to hoping mate, it’ll be good for the lad to get a run out today along with some of the other youngsters. Leave out the likes of gini, sissoko etc
expatmag
May 15, 2016 at 12:12 PM
Comment #56Jeez…problems with my phone
Apologies for tbe spelling
Bobbybee
May 15, 2016 at 12:13 PM
Comment #57BandB, Aarons can still make it, but his game goes in and out too much just now. Injuries haven’t helped the lad either. Arma is different, not least because they play in different positions, but because he’s scored over a goal every two games since he was a bairn. It’s all natural progression and he’s coming along very nicely. 😉 I think everyone is in for a lovely surprise.
Our Toon
May 15, 2016 at 12:14 PM
Comment #58Shirebrook
The championship will require a lot of graft, hardworking players, shelvey may have ability on the ball but when his Hollywood pass goes wrong he’ll stand around and start gesticulating to his team mates. A passenger who Swansea were right to get rid of and we were stupid enough to sign
BandB
May 15, 2016 at 12:14 PM
Comment #59The Armasphere was happy happenstance though, expat.
one fine day
May 15, 2016 at 12:17 PM
Comment #60So the mackums are planning another aeroplane banner over st james today?
Utter bell ends
Simple question where would you rather be ?
Us ( with Rafa in place obviously) preparing to completely rebuild the club for the future and see real ambition to come up and build a top class football club for the first team in a generation .
Sunderland ,
Looking forward to another season of humiliating defeats and dross foot ball under hippo heed whilst the only ambition /mission statement is to finish above the mags .? Whilst not relying on the 6 points per season gifted to them by Pardue/ mac. Had it not been for a goal from a convicted pedo them they’d be down by now .
Think I know I know who I’d choose.
BandB
May 15, 2016 at 12:17 PM
Comment #61bobby
I’m not in any way rubbishing your opinion, and I hope yours proves right.
But my reservations will wait (in hope) until I see him doing it again at the next level.
Essex Geordie Bill
May 15, 2016 at 12:18 PM
Comment #62The Chronicle petition has 21736 signatures so far,
3246 needed to reach 25000.
Bobbybee
May 15, 2016 at 12:21 PM
Comment #63Our toon, with ye on that one! I’d play the kids myself and stuff the ‘stars’ who’ve let us down all season. The sooner they’re out the door the better. Bitterly disappointed in Gini, I thought he would excel but he’s looked disinterested most of the season.
Darlow
Mbabu, Lascelles, Mbemba Dummett
Colback Tiote
Townsend De Jong. Aarons
Arma
Or something similar. Not set in stone, but without the players we’ve carried all season. Shame on them.
hibbitt
May 15, 2016 at 12:22 PM
Comment #64bobby
like yourself i have seen a lot of Arma over the last few years but now it’s up to him if he gets a chance and i think he should he has to take it
BandB
May 15, 2016 at 12:22 PM
Comment #65I hope one or two of them get an early substitution today so the crowd can thank them in an appropriate way for their efforts this season.
ShirebrookToon
May 15, 2016 at 12:23 PM
Comment #66Our toon
Were not going to be fighting off the clubs queuing for his signature so we’re stuck with him mate I think
Essex Geordie Bill
May 15, 2016 at 12:24 PM
Comment #67Why the criticism of Aarons, he came back from a bad injury into a poorly set up team and to cap it all was stuck at LB.
Just what do some of the idiots on here expect from him.
hibbitt
May 15, 2016 at 12:26 PM
Comment #68thats me off to the game
enjoy the game wherever you are
BandB
May 15, 2016 at 12:27 PM
Comment #69EGB
I was merely pointing out that his season did not meet with the widespread assumption he was going to be a star.
His injury situation was well-known to everyone who expected his to be a regular starter and admitted by himself long ago.
I don’t see anything idiotic in that.
Bobbybee
May 15, 2016 at 12:31 PM
Comment #70BandB, so am I! I think he’ll make it and his gradual progression points to it, but time will tell. He just excites me as a player and that’s half of it. Gets you off your seat. Never been this excited by a prospect since Gazza burst on the scene. Had a bet on him that he would be England captain by 26 when he was 16. Fell short on that one, but had he not clowned around so much, I reckon i’d’ve collected on that too. 😉 You know when you ‘just know’ something? You feel it in your bones? (Might be just my bones i suppose. 😉 ) It’s like that with Arma and me. I just feel he’s got what it takes to be a huge star. We all need to hope I’m right, because if I am, we’re all in for a massive treat. 😉
Bobbybee
May 15, 2016 at 12:35 PM
Comment #71And so, once more, it’s that time. SJP is calling and it’s my duty to respond. 😉 Enjoy the game wherever you’re watching from, although the result for once isn’t top of the list today. Got my little list for those not able to make it and will come back suitably hoarse. Come on Newcastle!!!
BandB
May 15, 2016 at 12:36 PM
Comment #72bobby
I think progression is the right word.
I was pretty hopeful about Aarons myself, and it is good to have young players coming through to anticipate.
Where I worry is when, as in the case of Aarons, people are saying “we don’t need to buy a left winger…we have Aarons!”
A young player should establish himself by taking their chance when it comes to force a first team regular of decent quality out of the team, and become automatic first choice their place.
Not because there is no competition for the place.
Rotonda heights
May 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM
Comment #73benitez or warnock .
Just pray just for once ash does the right thing.
There are these promotion specialists like warnock who are immediatey exposed in higher company as they simply have no plan B.
All the things Rafa wants to be in charge of can not be allowed to fester under another Z lister, of which prior to Rafa, we’ve endured so many.
1) All transfers. Carr has been an absolute catastrophe, after being exposed for years just piggybacking on Mondial.
2) Youth set up . Beardo and Watson not fit for purpose.
3) Medical set – up has been a joke for years and just seeing that shaven headed goon steve whatshisface makes me wince
Shame rafa can’t get us a new MD and sponsor too.
Our Toon
May 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM
Comment #74Essex
Aaron’s contributed as much as you or I did this season, he’s a sick note. For someone so young to be out with injury after injury doesn’t bode well….he would have made the same contribution had he not been at the club
SA Toon
May 15, 2016 at 12:47 PM
Comment #75Thanks Bobby. Enjoy the game.
Rotonda heights
May 15, 2016 at 12:47 PM
Comment #76would be very surprised if de jong, tiote and cisse were still here.
bettyswallocks
May 15, 2016 at 12:49 PM
Comment #77Jail…… Forgive me if you have stated it on a previous thread but I haven’t seen any confirmation as to whether or not you will be attending the match today. Could you also tell us where you will be seated in the ground (assuming you will be attending of course) and the ticketing arrangements you have made, ie. Cost , type of ticket etc. Thanks.
manxpie
May 15, 2016 at 12:51 PM
Comment #78I hope townsend gets the same love from the crowds today as well as we could really do with him next season
plus i wouldn’t put it past Ashley to sign rafa up and then make a load of compo on him at the 1st opportunity
Rotonda heights
May 15, 2016 at 12:53 PM
Comment #79our toon
our medical record speaks for itself
BandB
May 15, 2016 at 12:54 PM
Comment #80manxpie
I wouldn’t have dared post that 🙂