Last season Newcastle did almost everything wrong in pulling off something that was very difficult for a club that spent £80M on new players – and that was to be relegated.
Not only that, but the side at times were atrocious and put in some of the worst displays seen for some time – think Manchester City away (6-1), Crystal Palace away (5-1) and Chelsea away (5-1).
🙁
The general consensus was that we were so bad – especially that porous defense of ours – that we probably deserved to take the drop.
Lee Charnley and Rafa Benitez – a good partnership
However, enough of all that bad news stuff.
Since Steve McClaren was finally fired in March – far too late to save us – Newcastle have done almost everything right.
Yes, we know that comes as a significant shock early on a Monday morning – but it also seems to be true.
🙂
One thing that was immediately apparent when Rafa surprisingly arrived on the scene in March, was that he had a good relationship with Managing Director Lee Charnley who did all the negotiating to get him to Newcastle.
Even when we were still relegated in May, Lee then negotiated for around two weeks (in communication with owner Mike Ashley) to offer Rafa Benitez all the assurances he needed to stay on at Newcastle in the second division of England on a three year deal.
Somehow, we persuaded Rafa to stay on and that literally shocked the football world – it certainly shocked most Newcastle fans.
We are already reaping the significant benefits of that – with record season ticket sales and a real sense of belief among Geordie fans everywhere.
The good news is that things seem to be working very well behind the scenes this summer as Rafa today has given us a peak into what goes on day-to-day with him, Lee Charnley and his terrific coaching staff.
“I like to have a very good relationship with the Secretary and the Managing Director.”
“I talk almost every day with Lee Charnley, and we discuss about what we want to do. I talk with the scouting department and I am in contact with them.”
“I talk with my staff and I am in contact with them. I like to share my opinions and receive the opinions of the others.”
“Then in the end we will have everything clear between me and Lee and the communication is good.”
“It’s not about being the boss,” “It’s just to make sure that we do what we want to do and we try the best for the club.”
“It is not about me saying: ‘No, I want to do this.’ And it’s not about Lee saying: ‘No, I want to do this.’
“Lee is sensible, I am sensible and we will do what we have to do to improve the squad.”
OK – well that even seems like a very well run organization and it really does seem that Rafa is enjoying things on Tyneside – after all it’s a massive opportunity for him too.
There’s just one thing we have to say about all this – keep it up!!
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
23 comments so far
Mackems are from MORDOR!
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:28 AM
Comment #1Is it just me or does everyone else read every statement from Rafa in a spanish accent???
Jail for Ashley
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:28 AM
Comment #2Te quieromos Rafa!
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:28 AM
Comment #3And he never even mentions biscuits once!
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:29 AM
Comment #4M.a.f.M.
No, its not just you 😀
Jail for Ashley
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:29 AM
Comment #5Yo tambien MafM
Jail for Ashley
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:33 AM
Comment #6Who’d have thought even Churners is looking a little less repugnant in the Rafalucion!
WWSBRD
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:34 AM
Comment #7JfA
I disagree, respectfully of course but still
WWSBRD
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:35 AM
Comment #8Diame as a replacement for Sissoko though? I don’t see the comparison. Also didn’t he hugely go off the boil at West Ham, hence his move to Hull?
Jail for Ashley
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:38 AM
Comment #9WW…,
I had a closer look, you’re right he’d make a decent looking gargoyle!
WWSBRD
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Comment #10JfA
That’s better I was worried about u for a moment mate haha
southeast magpie
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:42 AM
Comment #11Bit late to the party.
Final League Position – 1st
Final no. of points – 98
League Cup round – SF
FA Cup round – 5th Round
Player of the Season (Blog) – Lacelles
Top goal scorer (TGS) – Gayle
No. of goals for TGS~19
Thanks to Martoon!
The overrated Frenchman
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:45 AM
Comment #12I can’t forgive, I can’t forget. Charnley is still Ashley’s obsequious little thrall, and the architect of our relegation. Charnley out.
WWSBRD
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:45 AM
Comment #13martoon
Well go on then it’d be rude not too
Final League Position – Champions
Final no. of points – 102
League Cup round – QF
FA Cup round – 4th Round
Player of the Season (Blog) – Ritchie
Top goal scorer (TGS) – Perez
No. of goals for TGS – 23
hibbitt
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:45 AM
Comment #14Jail for Ashley
don’t you be going soft on us
we need someone to keep there feet on the ground
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:45 AM
Comment #15Need a bucket load of signings….
However no signs of anybody signing…which I must admit is a bit worrying…Need that Creative player we don’t have..
Judging by the Vitesse game we are still piss poor at the back after all of that. Need an experience CB which we don’t have not kids.
WWSBRD
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:49 AM
Comment #16gorgon
Barring the bids for Diame (en route to Town now) and the Brighton lad?
Nufc-83
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:50 AM
Comment #17Wwsbrd it depends what do you see Moussa as a RM? If so then yes diame is not a replacement but for me Moussais a central box to box type in which Diame would be a direct replacement. I only remember Diame being outstanding for WH and so if he did go off the boil then that would explain his move to hull.
Ron Knee
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:50 AM
Comment #18Wouldn’t Diamé be involved in AFCON?
lesh
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:51 AM
Comment #19Mackems
You shouldn’t be surprised that you’re reading Rafa’s comments with a Spanish accent – Ed writes them with a Spanish lilt!
WWSBRD
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:54 AM
Comment #20Nufc
When was the last time Sissoko played box to box for us? CAM and RW consistently so that’s the hole he would leave imo and the inbound Diame isn’t going to get there
The overrated Frenchman
Aug 1, 2016 at 9:57 AM
Comment #21Diame will be an awful signing: Geremi and Amdy Faye rolled into one. Just awful. Starting to worry about the type of player we are bringing in. Championship club, horses for courses – I get that, but it’s a pretty uninspiring bunch overall.
welshgeordie9
Aug 1, 2016 at 10:05 AM
Comment #22George Caulkin
George Caulkin – Verified account ?@CaulkinTheTimes
Diame release clause has been met and he’s en route from Hull to #Nufc today. Another may follow later …
1:47 am – 1 Aug 2016
Ian Toon
Aug 1, 2016 at 10:36 AM
Comment #23Welsh- Well done Buster. It’s from a reputable source.