John Barnes has been speaking to the Chronicle and a week or so ago he thought Rafa would not leave the club because he couldn’t get a job with any of the top six clubs in England and what better club to manage than a sleeping giant called Newcastle United.
Newcastle are very like Liverpool in almost every way, with the only difference being that we haven’t won over 40 trophies since 1970 as Liverpool have.
Picky picky.
🙂
John Barnes at Newcastle from 1997-1999
John has again been interviewed in the Chronicle and he explains how Rafa Benitez can make Newcastle into a top six club again with the help of the massive fan support that Newcastle are so famous for.
John played for Liverpool for 10 years before joining Newcastle under Kenny Dalglish in 1997 and he stayed until early 1999 when he joined newly promoted Charlton where he played only 12 games of what was an illustrious career.
This is what John has said in the Chronicle:
“They have the potential to be a top six or seven club. There is a potential to push for European places but there is no point talking about that yet.”
“United need to win promotion first, but moving forward, with investment, they have the potential.”
“They’ve been doing fantastically well and Rafa Benitez has shown loyalty by staying and the fans by supporting him.” “I think they will get promoted.”
“He’s got no reason to go anywhere else. Unless he goes to Arsenal or Manchester United – which isn’t going to happen, there is not a better footballing club or city than Newcastle.”
“Being sold out every week is very important for keeping Rafa, he has seen it fills out every week and they can do that in the Premier League.”
“The fans will always show their loyalty and are always going to be there and that helps win matches because home form is very important.”
“Newcastle are top of the league, they don’t need to score more goals from midfield. They way they play they don’t necessarily need more people to score.”
“With Dwight Gayle and the way Newcastle United play – with everything for the center forward to score – it’s not necessary for more goals.”
“Newcastle have always had a No 9 and it’s not necessarily up to the midfield to score the goals – it’s about winning matches, which they are doing and they’re top of the league.”
Rafa with the help of the Newcastle fans really can make Newcastle great again.
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
ScoopSouthAfrica
Feb 19, 2017 at 8:47 AM
Comment #1Re-post…
Reading the Sunday papers on the net this morning, just realised what a great pity that we never had Clattenberg or Olivier referee any of the TOON games. In saying that sorry for John Moss he supports the Makums…….
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 8:51 AM
Comment #2He’s talking shite, KD took the pi$$ by signing him and Ian Rush.
sing in the corner
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:17 AM
Comment #3Thanks for those insightful pearls of wisdom John.
Pundits…so called expert figures in the game…
Honestly, you’d get more info by stopping any gadgie walking up Northumberland St.
Tsunki
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:22 AM
Comment #4Jib you are taking a bit of time maybe you need to reboot your router?
Tsunki
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:24 AM
Comment #5What do the initials ICT stand for, John?
Tsunki
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:27 AM
Comment #6Aye we had a bit of a phase where we didn’t have scouts, we just used Paleontologists. Can anyone remember why Sol Campbell “played” for us?
Tsunki
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:28 AM
Comment #7When Geremi arrived I thought our next signing would come in a box 😐
Tsunki
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:30 AM
Comment #8Nah. Looks like jibs tucking into a frittata too busy to Google his accusations this fine morning in Benidorm.
AncientC
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:43 AM
Comment #9Jib must have forgotten the club was sitting on £100 million in profits, accumulated over the previous 5 years, when the club went out and spent £80 million, and a net spend for the first time since being promoted.
Jib must have also forgotten the articles doing the rounds, explaining that Ashley was going to invest in young players that summer, due to the player prices about to inflate because of the TV money.
Jib
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:50 AM
Comment #10Jail
My plastic friend
Is Barnes talking rubbish because Kenny Dalglish bought him when he was past his best ?
I’m not sure I follow the logic.
Congratulations on getting shit and piss in the same sentence – are you in competition with Average (old Mr foul mouth) ?
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:50 AM
Comment #11Jib also forgot that the ‘club’ publicly stated that we don’t want to win anything and that it was bloody obvious to even the defunct bills son that players were being bought purely to be sold at a profit rather than bring the team an illustrious ninth place finish.
Tsunki
Feb 19, 2017 at 9:58 AM
Comment #12Logic or context, jib
I know they both cause you problems at times. Today’s exercise:-
1/ Jib uses social media as a tool.
2/ As a tool Jib uses social media
Take your time we’re not on the clock.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Comment #13Jibberish,
Despite your plaguarised missive on what makes a fan a fan you completely missed any type of description that makes me the plastic or fair weather variety, actually made even more unbelievable considering you don’t attend games at all. A few games while you were serving in Afghanistan with the Spetznaz or touring Europe lecturing on modern history does not give you life time qualification to berate people who do not devote their entire lives to following Newcastle.
jimmysmith
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:04 AM
Comment #14John Barnes, oh dear. I remember him coming on as a second half sub, only for his man to drop a shoulder and breeze past him. Barnsey responded by turning about as fast as milk, and setting off in a half hearted and forlorn pursuit that ended in a pulled hammy on about the 3rd stride. So yes, I’d say he was past his best, as was Ian Rush, and Stuart Pearce. I think that’s why Kenny was so keen to give us 35 million for Andy Carroll. Guilt.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:08 AM
Comment #15Jimmy,
It was an absolute crime what KD done to us, whether from vanity, jealousy or lunacy it will never be known. What a crying shame that SBR was too happy at Barcelona when he was approached.
Jib
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:10 AM
Comment #16Jimmy
Stuart Pearce said privately that Barnes and Rush were just taking the Mickey.
Psycho and those two had several training ground bust ups.
However why it follows from that, that Barnes doesn’t know what he’s talking about only plastic Jail knows.
By the way Jail I’m delighted and surprised my piece was so well written you think it’s plagiarised.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:11 AM
Comment #17Jibberish,
Very telling that the only person you could think of to give weight to my being a plastic fan was the Emmerdale fan welshgeordie9.
AncientC
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:14 AM
Comment #18I can think of a reason why Dalglish ripped apart probably the best team in England, and brought in oldies, European lightweights, crocks, and even a family member… sabotage.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:15 AM
Comment #19Jibberish,
You plaguarised the fact that Riverie never kicked a ball in anger for his loan club, it didn’t mean it was a good read.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:16 AM
Comment #20AncientC,
Possibly, comes under the lunacy umbrella.
Tsunki
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:18 AM
Comment #21Jib is of course a footballing font, for example his appraisal of said Riviere…
43Jib // Jun 15, 2015 at 7:20 PM
People who know their footy (and there aren’t too many on this blog ) acknowledge that Emannuel Riviere for long spells looks the part , he takes up good positions and has a feel for the game .
Because of this I’m confident that a top coach like SM will provide the input and guidance to enable a renaissence for the lad starting with the tour of the States and into our pre season
Tsunki
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:18 AM
Comment #22Tbf I occasionally thought Riviere had a bit of a presence. Ho hum.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:22 AM
Comment #23And that M’lord concludes the case!!!
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:25 AM
Comment #24Jeezus. H.Christos if the prosecutors had of pulled that gem out Kardashian wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on and OJ would have been doing thirty to life long before his bungled robbery.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:30 AM
Comment #25The epitome of not just a dope, how do you describe that?
Jib
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:40 AM
Comment #26Strangely
Riviere got his first 90 minutes since his first game for Osasuna against Real Madrid a fortnight ago – he also got his best rating of the season.
Still no goals or assists though
😀
https://www.whoscored.com/Players/70104/
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:44 AM
Comment #27Jibberish,
From time to time Wikipedia ask me for a donation to help fund their site. I donate a fiver through paypal as I find it a valuable source of information, if you have ever donated have you asked for your money back due to the amount of times it has made you look a twat.
sing in the corner
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:49 AM
Comment #28Ouch! 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:58 AM
Comment #29sutc,
Unfortunately my limited “footy” knowledge makes my description of Riverie as a bricklayer or plasterer invalid.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 10:58 AM
Comment #30*sitc
Average_Contents
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Comment #31Thanks for er, that, john.
Very insightful.
Jfa/tsunki
As easy as it is to allow jizz to fall into the self built trap, that was funny.
I believe the term is “owned”
Epic fail jizzum. Again lol.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:13 AM
Comment #32Trouble with players like Riviere, Luque, Boumsong and the many like him that we’ve signed is that they seemed like potentially good signings at the time.
Most of them were coming into struggling teams so giving them a chance to settle was never on the cards. Not saying they’d have been any better if we had of been doing well but it’s past history now and a futile exercise in what if’s.
On Ed’s keep and sell list, previous thread, I’d like to see if Saivet can step up. Don’t think he’s had a chance as yet.
Jib
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:19 AM
Comment #33lol
oh dear
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:20 AM
Comment #34I can remember that ad where KD was supposedly telephoning every Toon supporter and thanking them for their support at the game.
Now he was the epitome of a Placcy manager.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:24 AM
Comment #35No lol about it Jibberish, you’ve been well and truly found out. Again!
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:37 AM
Comment #36EGB,
Sorry mate but he wasn’t, he was way down on the list behind Gomis and that bloke West Ham signed, he was the very bottom of a list that a rigid failed policy brought in as a last resort.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:39 AM
Comment #37Luque and Boumsong were bought by a corrupt manager who thought he was entitled to some of the riches of the PL.
Jib
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:49 AM
Comment #38A plastic jail for Ashley would be very easy to break out of.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:52 AM
Comment #39You can just imagine Souness and the Rangers chairman opening a 50 year old single malt while discussing how they’d extract 7M from Fat Freddy, KD and GS were nothing short of criminal.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 19, 2017 at 11:52 AM
Comment #40Jib,
You’ve expired, leave it!