Rafa Benitez has been talking in the Chronicle today and he has said he has not asked Lee Charnley for any assurances about funds being available for the January transfer window.
We have to think the discussions with Lee Charnley have been positive since he joined the club last March and the agreement signed in May probably said Rafa would (always) have money available in each of the transfer windows.
Charnley is basically running the club at an executive level for owner Mike Ashley with significant help on all football matters from Rafa Benitez and is as keen to build the squad as Rafa is.
These two men are completely running the club for Mike Ashley
That’s good – very good
Lee’s strengths are in getting things done – especially in signing players and in general administrative work – and his weakness is in his football knowledge – so it’s a very good partnership with Rafa.
It also seems to be working if we go by last summer’s transfer window – one of the very best ever for Newcastle.
That’s one reason Rafa has said many times since he arrived that he likes working with Lee and certainly the two seem to get along very well.
It could be a key partnership at Newcastle as Mike Ashley continues to let the club be completely run by these two key people at the club.
Rafa has talked about his discussions with Lee Charnley that have led up to the January transfer window:
“We were not talking about money.”
“My conversations with Lee have been about players, not money. We have a good squad. You go to the Championship and try to see players that would maybe better than your players.”
“There are not too many.” “Why do we have to go and pay £20M for a player that’s not better than my players? “
“You go to the Premier League and other leagues. They earn more money and say ‘why do I have to go to the Championship?’”
“You have to be realistic and try to find the piece you need to balance your team.”
“It’s easier to sell the club now, obviously.” “We’re in a good position and doing well so you can talk about a project and the future and it’s fine.”
“Still, it depends on the person. I have some conversations with agents and players about moves but the prices are so high because everyone thinks ‘You’ll pay £20M’ and you want this and that.”
“It makes no sense to bring in a player who is not much better than the player you have on double the others’ salaries.”
“It creates resentment.”
More good thinking from Rafa Benitez whose vast experience of 30 years in football comes through loud and clear.
Comments welcome.
49 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:01 AM
Comment #1Ashley Out!
Rafa never being sacked by insanely rich Chinese inestors in !
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:07 AM
Comment #2Munster
Are you happy with implying ‘we’ are stupid for pointing out that to be convicted of misconduct, making a racist remark, you would expect to face evidence that you said it (beyond reasonable doubt) in order to be found guilty?
Do you think it’s beyond the realms of possibility that these players discussed it a few minutes later in the dressing room, and that this may have affected their ‘evidence’?
Shelvey may have said it, but we simply don’t know, and neither did the FA. That is my point.
Jib
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:10 AM
Comment #3Absolutism oot
Entrenched positions oot
Flexible thinking in
That’s Mr Tosser and Jail f@cked then !
😎
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:13 AM
Comment #4In my opinion, what also affected the FA decision was that, in light of the simultaneous emergence of historical child abuse storm, the FA didn’t fancy the inevitable addition of the institutional racism tag that would have come from a variety of sources had they deemed there was insufficient evidence to find Shelvey guilty.
Mister Tuff
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:17 AM
Comment #5Evidence standards in criminal courts are “beyond a reasonable doubt”.
The evidence standards in tribunals, civil cases and FA hearings is “on the balance of probabilities”.
Clearly different evidence standards – but that’s the way it is.
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:26 AM
Comment #6mister tuff
Ah… I suspected that is so.
Shelvey gets branded a racist, or user of racist language. Serious stuff when the ‘proof’ is based on weaker evidence standards.
I wonder if Shelvey / his lawyers would want to take this to a proper court. There will be a lot riding on it in terms of his reputation, endorsements, contracts etc.
Jib
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:41 AM
Comment #7FA rules and regulations
Mister Tuff
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:43 AM
Comment #8Sing – there is no way this will see the light of day in a court.
As you suggest in this day and age being branded a racist or a user of racist language is a heavy burden to carry.
However, I suspect it will not effect Shelvey much – he’s a millionaire and all these guys live in a cocoon from the rest of us.
He plays and trains with a lot of lads from all over the world and they will make their own assessments of what he did say or what he might have said – and then get on with their jobs.
mad-serb
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:43 AM
Comment #9I am just glad I was not one of those on the panel. The first remark are the harsh ones and you can get through them with a straight face,but then you get to the second part where the guy is telling me Shelvey called him a Peasant. That would have been me in unable to control a straight face anymore.
If I could be at the Wolves game, its probably wrong but I would have had a banner for that one. 🙂
On a more serious not Merry Christmas to you all and catch you guys on Monday.
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:48 AM
Comment #10Yes, I’ve said me piece, time to move on.
Merry Christmas one and all!
Can’t wait to take my new seat in the east of the Gallowgate on Boxing Day.
Howay the lads!
Jimmy……Jimmy……Jimmy Smith
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:49 AM
Comment #11Well that’s the thing. Shelvey isn’t pushing on with any attempt to clear his name, which all in all does suggest he did in fact use one or more racist epithets.
Why would you cop such an allegation on the chin, with the stigma attached, and also a 100 000 pound fine, “take one for the team” etc, if you were innocent. I wouldn’t. And why would three professionals collude mischievously and certainly illegally against another, if that’s the suggestion?
Jib
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:52 AM
Comment #12The FA will probably use this case to prohibit Gareth Southgate and any future incumbent from selecting JJS for England.
Their loss
or better still
They offer Shelvey a cap in a gesture of reconciliation and he tells them where to stick it.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:53 AM
Comment #13Munster,
You have crtiticised the manager from the very first game. A Sissoko who had in 90% of games been ineffective no matter where he was played was played on the left and we most definitely deserved a draw that ni?ht against the runaway league leaders. We had been humped by Bournemouth just a week previously. We then faced the mackems who had beaten us six times in a row and we got a draw. The crticisim has been relentless, apart from the odd token gesture saying your glad he’s here you’ve never shown the slightest appreciation that we have one of the worlds leading managers working under an owner who would have had a Mcardew here for the next twenty years. In his first season managing in the Championship we have scored more goals than anyone else in all four divisions with one of the best defences and you’re saying he’s not doing as well as Hughton who has a number of years in the Championship with a Brighton team who done exactly the same thing last year. It’s like you’re criticising him just for the sake of it to show you are not deifying him.
reilly
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:54 AM
Comment #14Happy holidays everyone.Dont get to pished.
AncientC
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:58 AM
Comment #15Jimmy, the accusers do not seem to be making much of a ruckus, considering Shelvey’s denials, which you would think would grate on the ‘victim(s)’.
AncientC
Dec 24, 2016 at 9:59 AM
Comment #16Happy Holidays to all. (Except the Welsh idiot)
mindshaft
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:42 AM
Comment #17Very few FA penalties would actually stand up in a court of law. Shelvey has probably had good advice to just take the penalty on the basis that the FA very rarely rescind a decision and often increase the penalty for anyone who appeals.
Anyway Merry Xmas all
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:43 AM
Comment #18Just read the Shelvey misconduct charge in the Journal.
Cannot get my head around the whole thing
Why did Wolves/player wait two months for starters.
And half there staff heard on the touchline heard what he said when the incident was on the half way line at least twenty yards from the touchline.
And surely Sass or whatver his name should be done for calling Shelvey a baldy c*** thought you were not aloud/meant to use derogatory terms/names to a person with a disability or medical condition i.e. his alapricia.
Just have to stick it up them when we play them again
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:43 AM
Comment #19Some great Brad Bobley football related comedy stereotyping on Soccer Am at the moment. Complete with imitation bald, not that that’s a bad thing. Or a good one for that matter..
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:45 AM
Comment #20*bald head, I meant. Not in any way wishing to cause offence, of course.
toontaff2
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:46 AM
Comment #21Thanks, AncientC, hahaha!
toontaff2
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:48 AM
Comment #22WelshGeordie will be watching Brad Bobley on SoccerAM!
Must be watching Cardiff stay, so he has a Derby game to look forward to!
AncientC
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #23toontaff2, not you, or the Welsh in general – just one in particular. Good job I am not a professional footballer, I would have received a 5 game ban for that one.
toontaff2
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #24hoping Cardiff stay up even!
andrew84
Dec 24, 2016 at 10:52 AM
Comment #25Veltman
I can assure you I have had this username for 3 years, I rarely post but I read the blog every day. Ample time to get acquainted with which posters are just here to put their opinions across, and which ones like to just have a pop for the sake of it. I’ve never had any other username. Cant speak for others but I like to think I’m above that sort of thing.
I’m sure Ed can verify this if you wish. Either way I’m flattered with the attention :p
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:03 AM
Comment #26Will Tiote be trusted to give his all in CM?
He should see it as a perfect opportunity to remind any silly Chinese clubs that might pay him 6 figures a week that he’s still got it.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Comment #27AncientC.
You’d have been ok, the FA have made an exception to the rule for welshgeordie9 who’s twelve year old brain in a 35 year olds body is incapable of understanding any abuse and therefore is immune to it.
AncientC
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:31 AM
Comment #28Jail, too true. Trolls are not included in the Geneva convention.
toontaff2
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:36 AM
Comment #29Yes, AncientC , an idiot is 1 thing, but a Welsh Idiot – game RAFA bingo ban, 100000 Hail Wor Ashley’s and attend a diversity course in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch
Veltman
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:37 AM
Comment #30andrew84 – Ahh,nee bother man.Great to have a decent response unlike some.
I was just fishing to get a reaction:)
Same time trying to have fun or entertain with fellows.Not tried to label you like one of those but initially thought you are someone else.Sometimes like the biting myself in here;)
You are very much on the attention zone from now on.Happy reading..
toontaff2
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:38 AM
Comment #315 game RAFA bingo ban – the punishment has to fit the crime!
toontaff2
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:38 AM
Comment #325 game RAFA bingo ban – the punishment has to fit the crime!
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:46 AM
Comment #33Wow, is Veltman the new blog Gestapo?
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:48 AM
Comment #34toontaff,
Only Belfast has 99 lifetime Bingo bans to run consecutively for multiple attempts at cheating.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:50 AM
Comment #35And for allowing regular hoop cleaning from Ian, carl etc
toontaff2
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:50 AM
Comment #36https://goo.gl/images/WFlLIJ
toontaff2
Dec 24, 2016 at 11:55 AM
Comment #37That seems fair. Bloody cheating Ir…(oops) barsteward!
andrew84
Dec 24, 2016 at 12:06 PM
Comment #38Haha cheers Veltman 🙂 merry Christmas to you and yours. I read over my response to you earlier and it sounded like a bite, so fair play for taking it in the spirit it was intended.
Jib
Dec 24, 2016 at 12:14 PM
Comment #39Could Rafa be thinking of saving him from his nightmare
Veltman
Dec 24, 2016 at 12:31 PM
Comment #40Merry Christmas to you too Andrew..