Rafa Benitez is trying to keep his players concentrating on the game at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
After getting a good point on Sunday at Southampton, we would do well to pick up all 3 points at home to Palace in front of a sellout crowd of over 52,000 at St. James’ Park
And it will be interesting see if Amanda Staveley will be at the game with news today she is willing to pay £300M for the club with £150M available over the next two years for player investment.
But Benitez must keep the players focused and keep picking up the points.
And then if we do have a new owner by the end of the year – who knows – we could do very well indeed in the Premier League this season.
Rafa Benitez – concentrating on next game
This is what Rafa has said in the Chronicle today when asked about all the rumors surrounding a possible Newcastle sale:
“I try to concentrate on football.” “And I think that is the best way.” “People can talk about all of these things that are happening, but for us every training session is similar.”
“We don’t have any influence from the outside.” “When we approach each game we are thinking about football.”
“That is the main thing.” “The problem is you can’t control what is going on outside.”
“Especially now with social media – it is almost impossible.” “It is almost impossible to stop players from tweeting or people talking about anything.”
“Even when people create their own stories, you can’t stop that (Rafa – honestly – I’m innocent!) .”
“So we have to be sure that your team and that the people who are working with you understand the only way to be successful is to concentrate on your football.”
“That’s what we are trying to do.”
That’s a great message from the gaffer.
Rafa’s as good as any manager in keeping his players’ feet firmly on the ground and just concentrating on the next game.
We’ll be disappointed if we cannot pick up all 3 points against bottom of the table Crystal Palace on Saturday.
These are the games we must win.
Comments welcome.
200 comments so far
beermonkey
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:22 PM
Comment #161G2
To be fair a top striker a keeper and a no 10
Is where I would start
I don’t think Rafa will bring in lots of players but some proven quality
That is if he get lot to spend
GeordieTwo
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:23 PM
Comment #162All right then Shirebrook. I could lend Amanda my silk pajama top and then put her on a field of cotton balls. Then a little mood music, some champers…..errm wait am I still on the blog?
GeordieTwo
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:25 PM
Comment #163That sounds brilliant beermonkey. We would need somewhere around 80M for that but it would be worth it. We could try for Champions League by next season.
GeordieTwo
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:26 PM
Comment #164I could see us part with both of them in January jesper mate. Not sure what we would get for Diame now. Possibly 6-8M? And 15M for Gayle? That would be a nice addition to the kitty. What do you think beermonkey?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:28 PM
Comment #165*should read I think…
bettyswallocks
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:31 PM
Comment #166Jesper……. Take no notice of jail mate, he’s just a big tease.
GeordieTwo
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:43 PM
Comment #167Well said bettys mate. Well I have to cook some grub now lads. Hope to see you all on here tomorrow.
tommotoon
Oct 18, 2017 at 10:26 PM
Comment #168geordietwo
think you in love mate you better wear your boxing gloves when you go to bed 0r you will be talking about cardboard sheets not silk ones
lesh
Oct 18, 2017 at 10:43 PM
Comment #169Jail for Ashley @91
I’m not even sure that it was Ashley that blocked the signings of Abrahams and Caballero. Instinct suggests that it was probably Barnes that stopped ’em. Why? He was put in by Ashley, over Charnley, to keep the finances in shape and prepare the club for it’s sale.
He’s not a football man and his enthusiasm to follow Ashley’s wishes led him to block those early todays into the market. I may if course be wrong.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 18, 2017 at 10:52 PM
Comment #170lesh…I don’t get who blocked these early transfers and why…they were basically free!
…and then we went on signing Lejeune for £8M and Murphy for £12M
Something really went wrong on the beginning of that window
Tsunki
Oct 18, 2017 at 10:55 PM
Comment #171Kieron Dyer disagreeing with Newcastle fans who say its a myth we have a divine right to win cups and be in champs league etc. Seems he is in the jib camp that we’ve been “spoiled” by kk and SBR. He’s just as big a chump as jib by the looks shame I almost liked him
lesh
Oct 18, 2017 at 10:59 PM
Comment #172Geordie two
The way you’re talking about Ms Stavely might make her think that all fans are fantasising, foul-mouthed adolescents.
Give it a break bonny lad and let the adult part of you preview your posts before submission.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:01 PM
Comment #173Probably on the wind up Tsunki to get people calling in.
lesh
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:04 PM
Comment #174Jesper
Barnes would have been keen to control the wage bill and not add to it. Wages are, as you know, overheads, outgoings and therefore to be kept to a minimum – hence no incomers without outgoings.
Our Toon
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:09 PM
Comment #175Tsunki
Aye watched that and couldn’t believe the tripe coming out of Dyer’s mouth, Bellemy was much better though. It wasn’t to get more people to phone in as it was on the debate on sky, no callers!! Considering the amount of money and love Dyer got from fans / the club whilst being a sick note more often than not.
Tsunki
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:17 PM
Comment #176Maybe Lee had a point when he tried to deck him. 🙂
TyneMouth
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:36 PM
Comment #177If there is any truth in the sale of NUFC, it is worth testing the ‘evidence’.
Ashley has declared his intentions, ‘sell before Xmas’ and the offer of ‘deferred payments’. This is mickey mouse financial shenanigans! No professional negotiator would publicly state such a amateur marketing strategy.
‘Deferred payments’ can only refer to aspects of of a future transaction. Initially the financial punishment resulting from a successful HMCR criminality prosecution, (fine or relegation). Could be catastrophic!
Next, a third relegation, this season!
Finally, our final position in the league, there is a big financial difference between first and seventeenth!
If none of the worse cases happens, Ashley may be building in a little ‘wobble room’ to gain a future profit, just a thought…
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:40 PM
Comment #178lesh…I get the point you’re making it’s just that both Abraham and Cabellero would have been loan signings so they would be off our books again by the end of the season…
There would have been a budget for that seeing we signed 6 players this season…
Something definitely went wrong…Rafa has even said so…maybe it was Barnes
Chancel be a fine thing
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:46 PM
Comment #179Jesper
Was widely reported that the Abrahams transfer broke down because of a 1 million agent fee. Everything else had been agreed. The stalling/reluctance to pay this allowed Swansea to come in and steal him. With Caballero the reports were less definitive, but suggested this was due to protracted wage negotiations.
Chancel be a fine thing
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:47 PM
Comment #180Caballero’s contract had run out and was released by Man city.
jane
Oct 18, 2017 at 11:48 PM
Comment #18167 days till Christmas and counting
Mister Tuff
Oct 19, 2017 at 12:17 AM
Comment #182Tynemouth – reasonable point about announcing intentions to sell before a certain date. If this is true then surely the interested party would just hang fire and “wait Ashley out” – Mexican standoff sort of thing.
If Tubbs had to sell before a certain date – why would he go public with this.
All very strange stuff. Mr Tubbs is a tricky fellow – can he be up to something.
Chancel be a fine thing
Oct 19, 2017 at 12:40 AM
Comment #183Jabba’s lawyer released a statemeny which said for sale until christmas, but not for sale at any price after. This seems to tie in with the information provided by sparky.
TyneMouth
Oct 19, 2017 at 12:45 AM
Comment #184Mr T @ #178.
I agree, the fat berg is a devious chap, possibly not as clever as he thinks he is, if his previous track record is taken into account.
His public announcement of offering ‘defered payments’ smacks of a barrow boy mentality. It suggests a possible concern regarding the implications of criminality, and a rush to distance himself from his investment in NUFC…
Mister Tuff
Oct 19, 2017 at 2:17 AM
Comment #185Reports in the Mail that Staveley has made a £300 million bid for the Toon.
With an equal amount to buy players.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4994808/Amanda-Staveley-makes-300m-bid-buy-Newcastle-United.html
lesh
Oct 19, 2017 at 4:00 AM
Comment #186Health Warning
Anyone who opens Mr Tuff’s link to the Daily Mail is strongly advised to thoroughly wash their hands! 🙂
jimmysmith
Oct 19, 2017 at 5:05 AM
Comment #187I think it’s been done to entice a few other bidders into the process and drive up the price and urgency, especially if the Stavely consortium are lowballing. A consortium by the way is unlikely to start throwing money at Rafa either, but regardless, a change of ownership is long overdue.
jazzyp
Oct 19, 2017 at 5:07 AM
Comment #188The transfer kitty has just doubled to 300 million now if Staveley buys Nufc.
I wonder if that’s enough for the boys who were mocking the measly 150 mill being mentioned yesterday over 2 transfer windows??
expatmag
Oct 19, 2017 at 5:31 AM
Comment #189LESH
Well said about the canadian numpty. Pain in the arse.
hibbit
Oct 19, 2017 at 6:06 AM
Comment #190http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/18/amanda-staveley-expected-make-formal-newcastle-united-offer/
magscar
Oct 19, 2017 at 6:08 AM
Comment #191Expat
He is very much an acquired taste (not one that I have managed nor will) but is harmless, has his followers and I accept Blog has room for all. His Amanda stuff is a bit juvenile but there are several with a fixation on her generally at moment. Perhaps it is an age thing?
A sprinkle of humour is a good thing (even been known to unsuccessfully give it a go myself) but some do overdose at the expense of footy contributions. One or two definitely see it as mainly an outlet to test their wit and sparkling repartee on a wider audience.
Press the fast forward is option if bored 🙂
magscar
Oct 19, 2017 at 6:13 AM
Comment #192hibbit
I know you are convinced that all is good for a sale before Christmas but is there anything stirring in your waters about deal off if a December deadline passes and we are stuck with him?
hibbit
Oct 19, 2017 at 6:23 AM
Comment #193magscar
Ashley wants out and that’s the driving force he’s going 100% guaranteed
magscar
Oct 19, 2017 at 6:32 AM
Comment #194hibbit
You are not a man given to flights of fancy so your certainty is intriguing.
For investment purposes and to protect PL status new owner(s) in before transfer window does make perfect sense and does dovetail with Sparky’s theory and the caveat in Lawyers statement.
Press speculation mounting (can feed off itself) but as yet nothing concrete but deal won’t be done in public even though Ashley has gone public with spelling out terms to some extent.
Anyway back in the everyday world must win match coming up on Saturday (for a change) 🙂
toontaff2
Oct 19, 2017 at 6:45 AM
Comment #195Well, previous conspiracy theorists surely must conclude that JIB/Jeff/Jane/Expat/Lesh
are all one and the same!
💡
toontaff2
Oct 19, 2017 at 6:46 AM
Comment #196Just in the interests of BLOG consistency and historical ‘facts’, of course! 👿
lochinvar
Oct 19, 2017 at 7:22 AM
Comment #197Dear Ed,
If this is the case and that he who is over here is soon to over there then good luck with that.
Sam Allardyce has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Leicester job but is interested in taking charge of the USA team. (TalkSport)
beermonkey
Oct 19, 2017 at 7:32 AM
Comment #198Magscar
There all must win games aren’t they ?
Ron Knee
Oct 19, 2017 at 7:37 AM
Comment #199George Caulkin:
https://twitter.com/CaulkinTheTimes/status/920889426972200960
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2017 at 7:44 AM
Comment #200Mikey seems to be a bit stubborn when sticking to valuations, I hope he doesn’t hold out for too much money. If he is so willing to sell surely 300M should keep him happy.