As Rafa prepares to meet his old club Liverpool this afternoon, he has reflected on just how difficult it is to win the Premier League.
And he believes the club with the most money has the best chance of winning it and we suppose that would be Manchester City and Manchester United these days.
It just so happens they are first and second in the league table at the moment.
Rafa made a great start at Liverpool and won the Champions League in his first season in that famous win in 2005 on penalties (3-2) against AC Milan in the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.
What an incredible comeback that was in the second half led by mercurial captain Steven Gerrard.
And at one time Rafa would have liked to have spent the rest of his career at Liverpool.
Rafa Benitez – the richest clubs tend to win the Premier League
But then the Reds got new American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks in February 2007, and they ran the club purely as a business.
That’s much like Mike Ashley has done at Newcastle United.
Rafa has talked today about his time at Liverpool and how he was expected to win the Premier League as reported in the Guardian:
“When I arrived at Liverpool, the budget was £20M gross.”
“When I left it was £17M, but still people said I must win the title. Manchester United had around £5M more every year, but they said I must compete against them.”
“After United you had to compete with Chelsea and Arsenal. Now you have Manchester City and Tottenham, too.”
“But it’s always been similar. There are massive clubs with massive amounts of money and Liverpool were always a little bit behind.”
“But if you create a good team, a good atmosphere and work hard you can get there. You can win trophies.”
“We had 86 points one year and finished second behind United,”
“You can be Leicester and win the title because the three or four top teams were not performing but probably 90% of the time the title winners have the most money.”
“It’s quite difficult for Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino.” “They have to build teams good enough to compensate for the difference.”
“They can win the title but it’s hard.”
“The only way is to be really good one year and hope two or three of the others have bad years at the same time.”
One in three fans believe we can pull off a shock win this afternoon.
That would be fabulous!
Comments welcome.
69 comments so far
Ibizatoon
Oct 1, 2017 at 11:47 AM
Comment #41Thanks Betty. Most useful, even if mind boggling stupid (to me).
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:01 PM
Comment #42Just had a look at the official NUFC site to see if there’s any team news or fresh injuries and there doesn’t seem to be any
There’s going to be a minutes applause for Freddy Shepard, RIP Freddy.
The other item of interest is an interview with Jamaal Lascelles in which he said the following:-
“OUR RUNNING STATS HAVE BEEN A LOT HIGHER THAN OTHER TEAMS. WE WIN SECOND BALLS, WE’RE RUTHLESS, WE’RE PASSIONATE. WE GET ON EACH OTHER WHEN WE LOSE, OR IF SOMEONE’S NOT PULLING THEIR WEIGHT, BUT WE ENCOURAGE WHEN SOMEONE’S DOING WELL. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED, AND IT’S IMPORTANT WE MAINTAIN THAT.”
JAMAAL LASCELLES
Good words from a captain with a great future at the club.
Jib
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:03 PM
Comment #43Let’s see how long before Brighton crumble
Arsenal hit the post after 65 sconds
bettyswallocks
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:09 PM
Comment #44Jail……..Enjoy the day. Atmosphere should be great. I’m still away but would have loved to be going too. I will of course be locating a bar and watching for the full duration without allowing any distractions.
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:09 PM
Comment #45A smallish spider interruption which has had me scrabbling around trying to catch it, dunno why women are so scared of them.
Anyway back to the important stuff, my Bingo team for today:-
Elliott
Yedlin Lascelles Clarke Mbemba
Hayden Merino
Ritchie Perez Atzu
Joselu
Don’t envisage many changes although there is a strong possibility of Shelvey starting for Hayden.
Oh and it’s still running free so more domestic drama on the horizon.
Billy Whitehursts V sign
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Comment #46Apologies if its been talked anout already but was just thinking about the last time we played liverpool after being promoted. Houghton just sacked, Pardew appointed, hell on inside and out of sjp, a 3 -1 win, thorougjly deserved and a beauty from Andy Carroll to seal it. Carroll, Nolan and Barton all scored and were a handful all afternoon. Same again would be nice 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:13 PM
Comment #47Ed
How did the latest hospital visit go?
Hope every thing was OK.
Rotonda heights
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:13 PM
Comment #48Jib
I think investors only having a maximum 49% stake at this stage would still be very warmly welcomed by the fans. Who knows maybe after his countless failings Ash could pass on a bit of nous to foreign investors and tell them which pitfalls to avoid, as surely Ash can’t have failed to take some of his many mistakes on board after all this time. How ironic would it be if Ash actually provided some stability.
Billy Whitehursts V sign
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:13 PM
Comment #49EGB get a cat, they love them big wolf spiders and its fun sport to watch them stalk em. Free’s up time too!
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:14 PM
Comment #50I see Everton might be after AC for around £20m.
We could do with him, he looked OK on Saturday on the MOTD highlights.
bettyswallocks
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:15 PM
Comment #51Ibiza…….. That would suggest that you fit into neither category.
ShirebrookToon
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:15 PM
Comment #52EGB
if you want to prevent further intrusions of the 6 legged type. Place conkers in the corners of your room(s). They deter spiders.
That’s my top tip for the day. Time to get ready for my drive to the cathedral!
Rotonda heights
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:15 PM
Comment #53Billy
carrol nolan and barton don’t play for us any more.
Sorry couldn’t resist. pathetic I know.
Billy Whitehursts V sign
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:18 PM
Comment #54Rotonda, I did wonder if somone would be a*s*d to point out the flaw in my plan 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:20 PM
Comment #55Billy good idea but cats start me sneezing big time.
We had a friend who had 22 of them and visiting her had me gasping for breath and with eyes streaming.
Billy Whitehursts V sign
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:20 PM
Comment #56Still sat here enjoying the warm fuzzy feeling that memory gave me. Hopefully it will keep me safe until we create another warm fuzzy one by full time today!?
Ron Knee
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:22 PM
Comment #57Brighton circling the wagons.
Billy Whitehursts V sign
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:22 PM
Comment #58EGB sorry about the sneezing but I did only suggest one, not a F’ing cat sanctuary, 22 is a bit mental!! 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:22 PM
Comment #59Shirebrook,
Indeed, that is the very reason me and my two little helpers have been conker picking today.
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:22 PM
Comment #60Shirebrook ok I’ll get me conkers out!
Ibizatoon
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:23 PM
Comment #61Betty…Indeed, by your standards I guess that would be the case.
Billy Whitehursts V sign
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:24 PM
Comment #62Enjoy the game all, time for the journey, a few beers, match and back to a pre prepared curry. Could be a canny day
AncientC
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:25 PM
Comment #63I cannot fathom why Ashley would be interested in investors, does Ashley really want outsiders looking into a his free advertising relationship with SD shareholders, and how would an investor(s) benefit from that nefarious practise, anyway.
Ashley has two choices in that regard. Change the advertising set up, or sell a majority stake in the club. I cannot see how Ashley could keep both free advertising and a majority stake—it would an inevitable bone of contention for an investor sooner or later.
cyprus
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:25 PM
Comment #64Lawro is right on a couple points: on last week’s showing, we’ll get beat by Liverpool. Rafa would snap your hand off for a draw.
On latter: he would, but he’s right not to say that. Play for a draw, you get spanked.
On former: again right, but Newcastle is the Jekyll and Hyde of the PL. Always has been. Depends on which will show up. Do you or I know? No. Does Rafa? I think no.
ShirebrookToon
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:27 PM
Comment #65Jail,
It’s a win win. You take the kids out to pick them. They have some for a game of conkers and the missus is happy that there are no spiders in the hoose.
Only downside is that the kids like to take the laces out of your shoes 😆
AncientC
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:31 PM
Comment #66I have taken a punt on a 5-2 scoreline at 500/1. You never know… if they have a shocking afternoon defending set pieces…things could get interesting.
AncientC
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:35 PM
Comment #67https://forums.thisisanfield.com/threads/pre-match-newcastle-vs-liverpool-sunday-1st-october-16-30-bst.25498/ Some LFC reconnaissance ^_^
toonincheek
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:53 PM
Comment #68Shirebrook –
So you pull 2 legs off any spiders that
come into your house ? ! !
Jib
Oct 1, 2017 at 12:57 PM
Comment #69Rotonda heights
In my fantasising moments I sometimes
think how nice if Ashley took on board some
Geordie celebrities who have a few bob
who have been seen at SJP
Knopfler ($95m)
Johnson ($90m)
A and D (£62m each)
Sting ($180m)
even
Shearer ($53m)
I’m sure a consortium of the above along
with a few local entrepreneurs could raise
£237 million