After watching the Newcastle manager on nufcTV do his press conference yesterday, you wouldn’t have thought the team had picked up only one point from the last six games and only one win (against Crystal Palace) in the previous 10 games.
Rafa was as upbeat as ever and talked about the team and the players and the fact that everybody in the squad is now physically fit.
Paul Dummett, however, is not available for the game today and he played yesterday for the U23 team for 60 minutes and said he felt fine after the game.
Paul is now ready to play for the first team when Rafa chooses him – maybe Wednesday night against Everton?
Rafa is also a savvy businessman, and he has said that in January Mike Ashley needs to protect his investment of £262M in Newcastle.
Rafa Benitez – cool and calm as always
That’s by investing in new players so we can keep in the Premier League this season.
If the team is low down in the Premier League or we get relegated the value of the club goes down.
That is simple business 101 – but we still don’t really know how much Ashley will invest in January.
This is what Rafa has said as reported in the Northern Echo today:
“At any football club in the world, the value depends on the first team. What you are doing on the pitch.”
“You can put everything around and that’s fine, but if you are in the Premier League and doing well it is easier.”
“If you are in the Premier League and things are not going well it is more difficult and if you are in the Championship it has less value.”
“That is so simple. For any club in the world, it depends on the performance of the first team.”
“And then you have to be sure that the first team is doing well.”
“It is very simple. You have to be sure that your team is strong enough to stay in the Premier League.”
“That has been my message from the beginning of the season. We have a very good group of players who are working very hard, but always you need players.”
“And you have to adjust things because normally you can see if something is wrong then it is now that you can fix things.”
“Hopefully we can do what we have to do and I will be positive after January.”
We even think the January transfer money was discussed during the one-on-one meeting between Amanda Staveley and Mike Ashley at the Paradise Indian restaurant in Hampstead on Wednesday night.
Maybe everybody was happy at the end of that meeting because some agreement on the transfer funds had been agreed – even if the club is not sold by the end of January.
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
Veltman
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:34 AM
Comment #1expatmag – aye,enjoy your drink.And pass my regards to that ozzy.Used to like him and the debating.Was a good chap whether he like it or not 🙂
Bambams
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:35 AM
Comment #2I had this waiting as I woke….
Craic from ‘my source’ Is that its Qatari Money- all he got at mo- cant confirm any names.
Sorry boys and girls it could be he just does not want to share too much. He told my source a bit more which I have shared yesterday (with my source permission) but at the request of naming this person he obviously is not prepared to. He states can’t confirm at the ‘mo’ so hopefully I might get more next week.
I have literally cut and paste what he sent me. I have shared everything I have been told.
All I can add is both sources are professionals.
sing in the corner
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:35 AM
Comment #3Expat
You do know what prawns eat right? And their habitat?
Smileypooemoji
🙂
sing in the corner
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:38 AM
Comment #4Good work Bambams! Sign and depart Michael!
expatmag
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:41 AM
Comment #5Veltman
Will do if I hear from him
expatmag
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:45 AM
Comment #6SITC
Our Moreton Bay prawns are a lot more civilised than your everyday ither prawn…….lol
How are you mate?
hibbit
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:49 AM
Comment #7Bambams
it will come when they’re ready a few more days won’t matter
sing in the corner
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:56 AM
Comment #8Expat
I’m canny. Although stomach is a bit twitchy, had defrosted a pack of Morrisons ‘The Best’ jumbo prawns and had a stir fry last night..
Bar be was not an option in the back garden this time 🙂
Bambams
Dec 9, 2017 at 8:58 AM
Comment #9Hibbit
I know my source and there will be doubters but he is sound.
He was originally told the name but couldn’t remember it, we discussed it yesterday and we looked at ‘what names could be in the hat’ there was one that ‘rang a bell ‘ which made me smile.
But if his source has come up with the response given it’s not possible to share.
I think we are close to an announcement anyway so all will be revealed – shirts might look nice with ‘Greggs’ across the chest…..
Only joking !
Enjoy your day you lot…..i am getting grief for the amount of time I have been on my mobile (married life eh)
toonluvva
Dec 9, 2017 at 3:11 PM
Comment #10Of course it’s simple what Mr Ashley should do. However it IS Mr Ashley!
Anyone with a modicum of business / football acumen will know the cost of not investing in their product by buying decent players.
Get relegated, again, and he knows how much the income drops. More importantly his passion SportsDirect does not feature as much on the TV, for which he gets paid.
Do I expect Mr Ashley to get involved this transfer window especially as there is a bidder, or 2 if you believe the press . Well who knows?