Rafa Benitez gave his press conference this afternoon and the shock was that he still hasn’t been told what budget he has for this month’s transfer window.
We hope Mike Ashley will give Rafa sufficient transfer funds to bring in the four players he wants to bring in this month.
I don’t want to go on about this situation too much – but it’s completely unprofessional of Mike Ashley on January 5th to have not told Rafa how much he has to spend this month.
It’s unacceptable.
What a way to run a football club – especially when we have such an experienced and accomplished manager in Rafa Benitez.
Rafa Benitez – at his press conference
If Mike Ashley does not sell the club before the summer we just cannot see Rafa putting up with this nonsense much longer.
Rafa is professional and does his job very well, and the Spaniard can hardly be impressed with the tardiness of the owner.
Here are some of the comments Rafa has made during his press conference today:
“I don’t know exactly what our budget is.”
“In terms of the atmosphere, maybe a lot of fans are talking about it, but the players and staff are just concentrating on football, and us staff on transfers too”
“At the moment, we don’t have any movement in the transfer window, so we are waiting.”“We approach this year with the same idea – one game at a time. We know LutonTown are doing well in the league and will bring a lot of fans.”
“We will try to win this game and see if we can progress.”
“We have experience in the cups in England, and every game is difficult. You cannot go into any game with overconfidence.”
“We are playing against a good, well-organized team with lots of confidence so we cannot underestimate them.”
Fans are confident we can progress to the FA Cup 4th round tomorrow – let’s hope we can get the win.
Wins are great for the confidence of our players – we need as many as we can get.
Comments welcome.
112 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:11 PM
Comment #1Wow! Just wow!
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:15 PM
Comment #2😐 😐 😐
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:17 PM
Comment #3I don’t think Rafa is after that Norwich lad.
I think it was just an itsy bitsy teeny weeny fleeting thought about Troy Deeney.
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:19 PM
Comment #4As you can see from my photo, I’m a mug half empty sort of guy. No movement on transfers yet? What? Like Charnley hasn’t even tucked his shirt into his underpants purposefully and topped up his phone SIM yet?
DubaiMicky
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:19 PM
Comment #5When he says he doesn’t know, that could mean he has £20 or £200 million. He doesn’t know exactly his budget – we (should) all know that Rafa knows what’s happening but he’s never ever going to say, I know my budget it’s £x, and why is it no other manager EVER gets asked that question anyway?
SColl
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:19 PM
Comment #6This ties in with what Hibbit said. Ashley has sold and not going to invest a penny, new owners waiting on premier league approval and won’t put a penny in until its confirmed.
Optimistic Panda
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:24 PM
Comment #7In the words of Lady GaGa, poker face.
Who in their right mind knowing we’re desperate for players is going to say we have x amount or I have decent funds available.
Even with serious dollar in the bank no one wants Ripped off.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:26 PM
Comment #8Are any of us surprised, really??
FAT CU*T OUT ASAP!!!!!!!
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:26 PM
Comment #9Tsunki
Lol. Keep at it, I’m sure there’s a song in there. Flesh it out, get one of those beat combos to back you, make a record and Juke Box Jury might just vote for it to get into the hit parade.
Keep it up and you could become another famous Geordie like George Romain or Terry O’Neill.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:27 PM
Comment #10It’s not so much of a worry that we have no one in this week but if there is no bids or players in before Swansea it will be a big concern
Need a win against Luton to keep the good feeling and keep the unbeaten run going then a win over the Sheep to send them down would be fantastic!
kimbo
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:27 PM
Comment #11We can all speculate but Rafa will know what is going on as he is a big part of the valuation of the club for new buyers. Is Ashley gambling that we will stay up and hang on to get his £300million+, he has taken a big hit with his Debenham shares and there are stirrings at Sports Direct, has Ashley got bigger fish to fry at the moment.
Thump
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:28 PM
Comment #12Not even surprised.
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:29 PM
Comment #13If the EPL are having doubts about our new owner, Amanda should get Bowis on the case to sort it out.
On second thoughts, we don’t need to be at the bottom of an international incident – the Maybot’d be vewy vewy cross!
Jib
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:29 PM
Comment #14If Ashley reads this blog he must be having a chuckle.
Ed says:-
“I don’t want to go on about this situation too much
– but it’s completely unprofessional of Mike Ashley
on January 5th to have not told Rafa how much he
has to spend this month.”
HE SOLD NUFC TWO WEEKS AGO
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:30 PM
Comment #15“I was just dying to play. And then when I was coming on, I was putting pressure on myself, trying to do things that I don’t normally do because I was trying to catch the eye, get the fans off their seats and stuff. Then I just thought, ‘wait – stick to what you know, and it’ll come good in time’. Once I started the games, from the Manchester United game, it took me ten or 15 minutes to settle into the match, but then things were coming off for me and I started finding more confidence. As each game’s gone on and I’ve played more minutes, I’ve relaxed into it.”
“I like to think I’m a confident boy. But when I was coming on and not doing well, people weren’t really taking to me straight away, it was quite frustrating. It was a bit like, ‘am I ever going to play well?’ But I knew that in time it would come good. All I needed was a run of games to find my feet, and then I’d be cooking on gas.”
From Jacob Murphy
Should defo be starting against Luton need to keep building the lads confidence
Jib
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Comment #16Don’t forget
Austin Steele and David McBeth
Thump
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Comment #17@Lee: it’s good to see him so reflective and honest about himself. He’s still learning the game, but his performances have improved quite a bit. Really hope he can keep on kicking on.
ShirebrookToon
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Comment #18Rafa knows exactly how much he’s got to spend this month. Once FA give the nod it will be announced.
ShirebrookToon
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:35 PM
Comment #19The takeover will be announced. Not his budget
hibbit
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:35 PM
Comment #20i think Rafa’s telling the truth at the moment he doesnt know
if this approval doesn’t come through in time then it will be down to Ashley but if the buyer gets the nod then the sky could be the limit !!!
sparky55
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:36 PM
Comment #21It’s got nowt to do with Ashley anymore…the club is sold and all that’s happening now is the “subject to’ clauses are in the process of being actioned out and I would guess both parties are keeping their lips tightly sealed until everything is sorted and it would appear the “subject to take-over being approved by the FA” is the last “subject to” clause to be cleared and then all can be revealed.
Would any of you guys in Ashleys postion hand over money to Rafa knowing the takeover will be concluded very shortly. It’s only the 5th of January FFS so it’s not like there’s only 5 days to go and no time to complete any deals…Rafa has plenty of time to conclude the business he commenced negotiating 4 months ago when he knew the take-over was going to happen
Jib
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:38 PM
Comment #22I think the unseasonal cold weather in
North Carolina is annoying Ed
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:38 PM
Comment #23Hibbit
There’s nowt lost if your info turns out to be a bit premature, you only passed on what you’ve been told and folk pressed you into passing on.
In saying that, if the prospective ultimate owner’s causing the EPL committee a problem, it calls for someone to have a quiet word in their shell-likes.
Reilly
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:38 PM
Comment #24“I don’t know exactly what our budget is.”
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:42 PM
Comment #25Jib @17
Thanks for those two names. They cab join the Barry Sisters in the annals of Geordie greats. I was gonna inckde Whacky Jackie but he was a cockerny!
Ah, The One ‘o’ Clock Show…. Great stuff eh.
🙂
hibbit
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:43 PM
Comment #26lesh
not sure the new owner is causing any problems for EPL committee think its had more to do with the time of year
Frank pingles come sock
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #27Lots of good info above
Jib, shire, sparky, hibbit
All on the same page
Starting to get excited , time to get that sock wet
Jib
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:46 PM
Comment #28Terry O’Neill was born in Ireland
He ‘s still alive I believe
He was 95 last month
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:48 PM
Comment #29It becomes a problem if Rafa’s main targets go to other clubs before the takeover is announced!
Mister Tuff
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:51 PM
Comment #30hibbit @20 that sounds very logical and does seem to fit in with things as are suspected. What with the formation of that new company – does look as if things might be coming to a head sooner rather than later.
ShirebrookToon
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:51 PM
Comment #31Rafa and Amanda are in this together. They have been since day one. This is why he’s still here!
Rafa has been a major part of this deal being done.
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:51 PM
Comment #32Get yer finger out, Charnleeeeeee!
There’s another song for you. Plenty where that came from. Sadly.
Are we alright to prep for dancing on tiptoes nervously like a four year old waiting to go through the turnstiles at Disney World? Heads up would be good.
Optimistic Panda
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:52 PM
Comment #33Sergio Aguero could be our first signing but i hear hes to short.
hibbit
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:53 PM
Comment #34Lee Charnley Bunga Party
in all honest we don’t have a clue who’s on Rafa’s list people are taking as gospel these names being bandied about by the press but who actually knows ?????
Oldgit1
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:54 PM
Comment #35Interesting article re Peter Beardsley praising Big Sam, wonder if he has been told his position as under 23 coach is under review.
Saying he is the best manager when Rafa is on his shoulder is not the brightest thing to say.
I have tickets to see Peter Beardsley and Rob Lee at a talkin on the 16th Jan, be interesting what reaction he gets from the audience. There’s a few questions I will be asking him re the current crop of kids he is supposed to coach.
Wayayman
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:54 PM
Comment #36Just a point on this alleged BBC interview with Staveley that is supposedly booked for tomorrow; it’s possible that the interview is booked, but that doesn’t mean it’s for live broadcast. Could just mean that she is recording one for when the hammer goes down on the deal and it’s all out in the open.
Or it could be postponed until that date.
Or it could just be a load of old Shiite.
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:55 PM
Comment #37Shirebrook @31 is this them?
https://youtu.be/1gwHMjYuk1w
catchy in norway
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:56 PM
Comment #38Sparky
i’ve asked a few times now, who do we vent at.
i personally like you don’t think it’s Ashley’s problem anymore, the only thing he could have done was accept the bid sooner, but boot on the other foot, they, who ever it is could have also gave the money he was asking for , on both counts they are 100% right.
Right now i believe it’s in other people’s hands, and the only thing Rafa can say is, i don’t know, knowing full well things are at an advanced stage, i believe the critic did from Rafa about the 20th jan is the key to all of this.
Lindisfarne
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:56 PM
Comment #39So we are waiting on the FA to get back to work after xmas and rubber stamp the takeover, then Rafa will be able to do some transfer business. A shame a bit of fore thought would have avoided this situation but when the dust settles all should be well.
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 2:57 PM
Comment #40Wayayman – what like next year’s Jools’ Hotenanny? Hmm. Disappointing.