Rafa Benitez after the 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday cut a frustrated figure in most of his interviews after the game.
Here’s a world-class manager who is struggling with a team because he doesn’t have the players – not at the moment anyway.
It looks like Alan Shearer could be spot on when he says that Newcastle have a Championship side in the Premier League and we have struggled in our last six games and picked up only one point.
This is one of our worst runs in the Premier League ever, although John Carver did manage to get 8 defeats in a row back in 2015 when we only just survived relegation.
That’s when we beat West Ham 2-0 in the last game.
At that time Mike Ashley said he would invest in the team and wanted to win something before he sold Newcastle and one year later we were relegated.
Rafa Benitez had come in to try to save us with 10 games to go a year last March but he couldn’t do it, even though we picked up 3 draws and 3 wins in our last 6 games.
Rafa Benitez – in the dark over takeover – getting frustrated?
We hope it’s not going to be as bad this season, but it’s clear that Rafa has been let down badly by Mike Ashley.
The owner has not backed him in the last two transfer windows, and it’s now showing on the pitch.
This is what Rafa said after the game on Saturday as reported by the Northern Echo:.
“We knew from day one that we will be in the bottom half of the league,” “It is not a surprise to anyone.
“We have to improve, but I think we have enough quality to stay up. To stay up? I think so. But when people talk about these games, this is the Premier League.”
“We know we have to improve a lot of things, but still we will be a team in the bottom half of the table.”
“Is this a difficult moment? No. It is exactly what we were expecting on the first of September.”
“I have no idea about January”. “Because of the takeover? “I have no idea”.
The longer it takes Amanda Staveley to agree on a price with Mike Ashley to buy Newcastle the less chance the deal has of going through.
And that will not be good for the club because we have no idea what Mike Ashley will do in January when he’s now likely to still be the owner.
We hope he comes to his senses and can give Rafa some (significant) money to bring in new players – who we desperately need.
After all, he is protecting the investment he has made in Newcastle United over a long and very unsuccessful and tedious 10 years in charge.
Hopefully, that reign will soon come to an end.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
19 comments so far
ShirebrookToon
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:30 AM
Comment #1Rafa knows more than he’s letting on
toontaff2
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:31 AM
Comment #2Let’s hope the Blog gets visited by some Christmas ghosts!
toontaff2
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:32 AM
Comment #3Shire, we need a smileypoo, on a pink seat, with a season ticket stuck in it like a wafer in chocolate ice cream! 💡
hibbit
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:34 AM
Comment #4toontaff2
I just hope its not scrooge
expatmag
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:35 AM
Comment #5SHIRE
I get that feeling too.
If Dubai Mickey is right, a consortium including investors from China Kuwait and the UAE (AL Futtaim?) could provide immense funding on a level similar to the likes of Man City.
That would entail huge areas of sponsorship to get round the FFP implications.
expatmag
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:36 AM
Comment #6Toontaff
Please…..dont…….just had my dinner
hibbit
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:44 AM
Comment #7expatmag- FFP
could that be the one reasons Ashley demand for free advertising at the same level as now is causing such a big sticking point to PCP ??
ShirebrookToon
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:48 AM
Comment #8Smileypooemojionapinkseat
ShirebrookToon
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:49 AM
Comment #9Wonder if that turd flicked up off the seat and hit the person sat behind em when he stood up 😆
posada
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:51 AM
Comment #10If you were worth 20 billion and you bought NUFC.
Would you trust Rafa and his recruitment to spend 200 million ?
If yes what checks and balances would you put in place.
expatmag
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:54 AM
Comment #11SHIRE
JEEZ…..YUK
expatmag
Dec 4, 2017 at 8:55 AM
Comment #12Hibbitt
God only knows
Hatem_Indonesia
Dec 4, 2017 at 9:03 AM
Comment #13Blah…..blah..blah… I can’t read it anymore, SACK HIM !!!!!!!!
JohnJ
Dec 4, 2017 at 9:28 AM
Comment #14Can I please make Three observations……..
No 1 – Please give Ed a break! He provides us, the followers of NUFC, the very best information on all matters relating to our team every day even though he is seriously ill. His page is the first page I look at each day for unbiased updates on our team if, for instance you don’t like “Twitter” then move on to the next page! Please don’t knock a man when he’s down.
No 2 – Rafa Benitez! He’s our manager and we should be VERY GRATEFUL for that fact! So exactly WHO would those doubters have in place of qa manager who is a class above most of the others around? The others who may or may not be better, do you really think they’d wish to come to manage our team as things stand with an owner who is so reluctant to support team building! Just be thankful that Rafa has been loyal to our team! If we lose Mr Benitez we’ll be heading in one direction and that’s not up.
We all have our opinions about who should be in or out of the starting eleven but at the end of the day the manager selects who plays who’s on the bench & who’s not in the match day squad! We are on the outside looking in and don’t always know all the facts about injuries or whatever else is going on behind the scenes. Rafa tells us he only thinks about the next game but I feel he must also have an eye on the one after the next.
No 3 – There has been a complete lack of support and many broken promises from the owner with cash for new players on the recent transfer windows – We need new players to have a chance of moving up into to the top end of the Premier League just pray like I do that a takeover happens sooner rather than later!!!
I’ve followed Newcastle United since 1957 and when they lose it hurts badly! As a fan I’ve been through some tough times, thick and thin, but thankfully was at SJP in 1969 to witness of Fairs Cup wins – I still don’t know why the final away leg was only on Radio and not TV I was glued to the radio like everyone else at that time! I even dreamt the result against Setubul when they won 5 – 1 in the snow (dreamt the snow as well even though it wasn’t snowing on the morning of the game!) I wish I could dream a few more wins at this time. The lowest point for me was the defeat at Hereford in the cup.
JohnJ
Dec 4, 2017 at 9:31 AM
Comment #15Qa = Quality!
ashleysmate
Dec 4, 2017 at 10:08 AM
Comment #16JohnJ
I have supported them for many years too and remember the fairs cup run very well, especially the home game against Rangers where we won …2/0…I think…
it’s the only time I can remember…I may be wrong…that SJP was taken over by away fans…..a great night
JohnJ
Dec 4, 2017 at 1:42 PM
Comment #17Ashleysmate No 16
Yes I was in the Gallowgate end for the Rangers game and it was mayhem – when the Scots charged onto the pitch and towards “our end” I thought it was going to be another full blooded battle of England v Scotland – Thankfully the Rangers supporters changed their minds halfway down the pitch and returned back to the Leazes end Phew that was a close call………
JohnJ
Dec 4, 2017 at 1:45 PM
Comment #18Yes it was 2 – 0 and we and went through after a goalless draw at Ibrox! I still have the programme from that game!
widowmagandapoke
Dec 4, 2017 at 4:03 PM
Comment #19Surely Ashley must realise this is last chance saloon for selling nufc if he wants to get anything like a decent price. Miss this boat and the club will plummet in value if we get relegated yet again.