The news is that Rafa wanted to bring 23-year-old Javier Manquillo to Newcastle last week and he was the man who pushed through the deal for a reasonable fee of £4.5M from Atletico Madrid.
That was the second time we have recruited a right back from the Madrid club in a year (Jesus Gamez recruited last summer) and the second time we have signed a right-back who was on loan at Sunderland in the previous season – we signed DeAndre Yedlin last summer.
Weird!
But Rafa knew all about Javier’s so-so form while on loan in England – last season at Sunderland he wasn’t the first choice for the Black Cats with Billy Jones preferred and two seasons ago at Liverpool he didn’t play well.
Javier Manquillo – knows he has to improve to be successful on Tyneside
He did manage to play 22 times with one goal for Sunderland last season and while at Liverpool he played 19 times.
In between, he spent a season on loan at Marseille and racked up an impressive 43 appearances for the French club in the 2105-2016 season.
After the game on Saturday after Javier had made his debut in the second half Benitez explained why he had decided to recruit both players in one week:
THis is what Rafa said as reported in the Chronicle:
“With Jacob Murphy we were looking for some wingers with some pace and he can give us that.”
“With Javier Manquillo, he can play both positions and we needed to cover a little at right-full-back.”
“He has to improve obviously from the last season but he is a player with potential.”
“So if he can train with us these days and understand what we are looking for he can be a good addition.”
“He has some experience in the Premier League.”
Rafa obviously believes he can make his young countryman into a much better player on Tyneside – and we wouldn’t bet against the manager.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
102 comments so far
Markaccus
Jul 24, 2017 at 12:24 PM
Comment #81Where on earth has this talk of peter crouch come from? I can’t find any links anywhere.
magspuggy
Jul 24, 2017 at 12:27 PM
Comment #82Where are the andy carroll links
It cant be a window with the links to andypandy
Bobbybee
Jul 24, 2017 at 12:28 PM
Comment #83Oh well, nowt happening. Got a meeting with Q to attend (taps the side of his nose, knowingly) so hopefully a new link will have materialised by the time I get back. Later chaps.
GTUVN TPOKL. (for Toontaff’s eyes only).
RUNAWAY777
Jul 24, 2017 at 12:46 PM
Comment #84Bobbybee think I would rather meet moneypenny to be far haha few on hear to assassinate good bro
RUNAWAY777
Jul 24, 2017 at 12:48 PM
Comment #85I bobbybee haha
martoon
Jul 24, 2017 at 12:56 PM
Comment #86Markaccus @81 – I’ve had a look around Twitter and I can’t find them either – It was john tudor (sic) who first mentioned it!
lochinvar
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:03 PM
Comment #87Liverpool are a joke for moaning about the Ojo situation as I recall the FA fined them for illegal approaches to some player(s) .
Is that right ?
If Ojo is available to buy then agree the price and be done with it. Or perhaps we can insert a clause to recoup the fee if he doesn’t make the grade. Pity that didn’t happen with Rivière and a few before him !
Bambams
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:08 PM
Comment #88Just watched YouTube of Keegans testimonial against Liverpool….
One of the best atmospheres ever at SJP when the helicopter took off.
I was 14 years old and had my season ticket in the ‘old wooden stand ‘ (now milburn)
Magical
Markaccus
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:10 PM
Comment #89martoon
Looks like JT is having a little joke with us. Nightfa11 was convinced, though 😀
Markaccus
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:12 PM
Comment #90Lochinvar
I have to say, within my living memory, Liverpool seem to be the most easily offended club. The club and it’s fans seem to be outraged by everything.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:13 PM
Comment #91Oji
would you want him for £10 million –
Me no he has done bugga all been out on loan Wigan and Wolves didn’t exactly set the heather alight came back to the bin dippers and did’nt make a appearence.
Transfer market gone mad
Clucas played most of last season for £4 million rather have him
TacoFlavoredKisses ForMyBen-arfa
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:22 PM
Comment #92@martoon
I know lac was the captain, but i have to believe if we start a traditional back 4 its going to be clark and lejune int he middle. Overall lac had a good season last year, his play dropped off. I know rafa doesnt rate mbemba too high but i would rank the CBs. Mbmemba can also cover for hayden.
Clark
Lejune
Mbemba
Lac
Hanely(gotta go)
i know manquillo can play both, but is he a starting LB? we need a replacement for dumment. he deserves a ton of credit for having a great year last year, but lets not forget he was woeful two years ago. hes just not good enough to start at LB at the tip flight. Hes a nice guy to have on the team but in no way a starter.
martoon
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:35 PM
Comment #93TacoFlavoredKisses – I’m still not sure Lejeune is above Lascelles especially now we know the reason for Lascelles drop in form (his double hernia). I thought Dummett had a pretty steady season considering we were relegated!
jayphoto
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:41 PM
Comment #94We’re linked to Gulacsi today.. decent keeper at RBL came through Liverpools set up…if you look at the keepers we’re being linked with… Caballero, Reina etc they’re all keepers that are decent with the ball at their feet, something our 3 keepers (whilst having strengths) aren’t! In all likelihood I think Reinas outta Napoli, theyre in talks with massive priced move for Geronimo Rulli (great name). Gonna throw a rumour out there (not that I’ve heard anywhere) but Reina to sign for Man City (think theyre favs for his signature) and Newcastle to sign Claudio Bravo on loan… Not saying I want or rate Bravo just got a feeling…
TacoFlavoredKisses ForMyBen-arfa
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:42 PM
Comment #95martoon
when you look back at the goals conceded last year, a bunch of them at the tail end of the season were on him. As a previous posted commented, we are a bargain basement hunting team. we dont spend 8M for a back up. CB was a priority for rafa. YOu have to think its lejune and clarks job to lose. I could see rafa easing him in not to piss of lac, but i have to think lejune is ahead of him. Unless of course hes thinking 3 at the back.
speaking of clark, is it not kind of crazy how high everyone is on clark? he was amazing last year. that could go down as a massive coup for the club.
jayphoto
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:45 PM
Comment #96@Martoon – Wouldn’t surprise me if Lascelles and LeJeune both started.. Lejeune plays left side CB, Rafa already stated he likes a left footed CB on the left side last season. My guess is it’ll be Clark he competes with. LeJeune looks quicker than I’d thought too, good on the ball etc.. Lascelles is captain, and technically was our highest rated performing CB last season, young too, reckon he’ll play more than not..
Looked like they were trialling a back 3 in parts of both games so far too, so maybe all 3 could play?
Lot of reports that Mbemba is being offered to clubs too so can’t see him getting a head of JL
giimps
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:53 PM
Comment #97Has Rafa tried Mbemba in the dm position this preseason?
Having him as a single holder could push Shelvey up with Dejong to feed Gayle, Murphy and Ritchie.
Pitmatic
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:54 PM
Comment #98I don’t really see how Aarons is in the first team mix. He hasn’t played any meaningful football for over two seasons, and on the rare occasions that he has, has done very little to shout about. Sure, he looked very exciting when he first came through, but hasn’t come anywhere near that form since. Given his lack of experience, I’d far rather see him on loan in the Championship to get some proper games under his belt.
I wouldn’t bother with Ojo. Snodgrass could still be a decent signing if Arnoutovic’s arrival at West Ham pushes him out. He’s ahead of Ritchie in the Scottish set-up, and can play on either flank. Or Grosicki, who was very impressive at Hull.
jayphoto
Jul 24, 2017 at 1:55 PM
Comment #99Guessing we’ll see 4 more players in but need 6 in my opinion.
Can see a striker, a left winger, a centre mid and a keeper coming in… ontop of that I reckon we probably need a LB and a #10
Can see us taking Andre Gray (heard from his mouth he thought it was going to be a done deal back in april, contract with less than a year to run etc) Think the striker we sign will be in Gayles mould as DG missed too much with injury last year. Reckon Mitro will stay too.
Similarly I can see us taking James McCarthy… too much press spec for there to be nothing in it, think we’ll take him late august when the price drops.
Sheyi Ojo seems likely whilst he’s still at Liverpool as he needs to get games next year and Liverpool seem to want him out.
Keeper wise, can see it being Reina to be honest.
Not sure what I’d think of a window of Atsu, Lejeune, Murphy, Reina, McCarthy, Ojo and gray… probably guarantee we stay up.
Can see Riviere, Saivet, Hanley, Krul, Colback, Azaar, woodman all going whether on loan/permanent etc
jayphoto
Jul 24, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Comment #100don’t think we’ll break the 17m we spent on Owen this season either
TacoFlavoredKisses ForMyBen-arfa
Jul 24, 2017 at 2:11 PM
Comment #101jayphoto aside from cheslea (as hard as that is to believe) spending 50M on torres in 2011, we are the only team not to break our record of 17m since 2005. Thats 12 years ago!!!!
Ketsbaia9
Jul 24, 2017 at 5:03 PM
Comment #102We could sign Jack Wilshere as a squad player. I wouldn’t mind us resigning Ben Arfa, Santon and Abeid. All decent players and better than what we’ve got. Santon can play in 4 positions. We should break the bank for players like Shaqiri, Willy Carvalho, Batshuayi etc. We need quality now. Personally, I don’t think we need a keeper. Tim Krul is quality. Somehow, Rafa doesn’t rate him.