Rafa Benitez has given a lengthy interview with France Football where he is asked several things principally related to his present club – Newcastle United.
We have to remember that Rafa is known around the world for his management expertise and what he has done in football.
He has won European Championships with three different clubs – Valencia, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
Some of us are hoping he can stretch that to four clubs, and take Newcastle to those dizzy heights in the future.
But that depends if we can get a new owner in this year who shares Rafa’s ambitions for Newcastle.
Rafa Benitez – Newcastle fans love their club
Here are just two of the questions asked of Rafa and his responses:
Question: It’s amazing that you, someone who is so analytical, speaks as much of the passion of the fans as a decisive element in the success of a team, is it not?
“It’s not just romanticism. The strength of a club is measured by its financial means, its know-how, but also its popular support.”
“When Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, do you think it would have been possible without the fans?”
“If we do not analyze this dimension, we miss something.”
Question: You were impressed by Liverpool as a city. Did returning to a similar environment, like in Newcastle, help you make your choice to go there?
“My family still lives in Liverpool. My daughters grew up there, they have friends there – it’s really their city.”
“The relative proximity of Liverpool to Newcastle was a factor because you can get from one to the other pretty fast.”
“When I was working in Naples or Madrid, it was more complicated.”
“In addition I like the atmosphere that reigns in Newcastle, like Liverpool.”
“It’s where the fans know how to invest (sic) in you and the work that you do. These are places where people live for their club.”
“Where the fans want their players to give everything on the field because they give everything for the club.”
“Like Liverpool, Newcastle is a city of workers, so there is also that mentality that must be shown by the team: work is everything.”
Good responses there from our manager – we hope we can keep Rafa at Newcastle for many years to come.
That’s one goal for the summer -to extend his contract, but he will only do that with new owners at the club.
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101 comments so far
Novocastrian66
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:16 AM
Comment #1t’s not about Jorgensen being a saviour, it’s about the typical way Newcastle United go about their transfer business. Somehow, someone has identified this player as what we need. I’m not going to argue about that because I’ve never seen him play.
What it is about and what needs to happen is; that the owner should back the judgement of the man he has employed to run the football team and buy the player.
Lindisfarne
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:17 AM
Comment #2New song:
Please don’t go!
Don’t go-oh-ohhh!
Please don’t go!
Thunder and lightning
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:17 AM
Comment #3Humble pie Ashley you can eat the lot and have seconds
AncientC
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:19 AM
Comment #4“It’s where the fans know how to invest (sic) in you and the work that you do. These are places where people live for their club.”
France Football inserting a (sic) which should be [sic] and has no place being there in a quotation. The writer was attempting to be a smart-ass but failed miserably. Awkward.
Jib
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Comment #5It could well be case of
“Rafa we’ve gone for your man
they want £20m for him – do we pay it”
“Que !!
veinte milliones de libras !!!!
besa mi culo “
magic hat
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:39 AM
Comment #6Is it only me that thought we’d see some more outward transfers?
beefman13
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:39 AM
Comment #7Come on Jorganson we need you???? Who the fek is he anyway, its pathetic.
TudorCrisps
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:49 AM
Comment #8No lies just seen messi in the toon, I stood gobsmacked just in awe looking at him,was in the back of a sports mag like but nevertheless
RobLeenio
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:51 AM
Comment #9The ‘promise’ to break our transfer record was obviously just PR schtick and everyone saw through it at the time, but it shows how disconnected from the fans the Ashley camp actually is. Quite apart from alerting all selling clubs to the fact there is upwards of £16m available for transfers, it also missed the point by miles. I don’t care about records as such, I just want us to spend money on players when required and if we happen to break the transfer record at the same time, then whatever – it’s incidental. The point is that Rafa has not been backed in three consecutive transfer windows and, had he been, then the Michael Owen transfer record would likely have already been broken.
Mag52
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:54 AM
Comment #10So the Ashley apologist @#5 is suggesting that Rafa might be the one to have balked at the price being asked for Jorgensen.
Jib
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:55 AM
Comment #11RobLeenio
Good name
A Pain in the Blog
Jan 26, 2018 at 10:58 AM
Comment #12Jib
“Besa mi culo”.
Lo me mucha gusta! Un bueno!
Jib
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Comment #13Mag 52
Just putting it out there.
It’s called keeping an open mind.
A quality that is signalling lacking
in cyberspace
RobLeenio
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Comment #14Thanks Jib
🙂
hibbit
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:10 AM
Comment #15other club are getting deals done while we watch Rome burn
https://www.themag.co.uk/2018/01/23-premier-league-transfers-far-newcastles-rivals-now-making-big-moves-avoid-relegation-newcastle-united/
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:14 AM
Comment #16Looking like no purples will make it over the line again this time. Real shame because FatAsh seems to be really trying this time (NOT)
Tsunki
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:15 AM
Comment #17I’ve been busy doing other stuff this morning but thought I’d check in seeing as I’m driving past Haymarket bus station I was wondering if Griezmann needed a lift round the corner or was he just walking through the cut past the Back Page?
hibbit
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:16 AM
Comment #18Tsunki
got the link to work this time ……….LOL
Oldgit1
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:21 AM
Comment #19Unless Ashley is intending to pay the full amount up front, it’s his decision, however, if he puts in a bid for say 18 m and pays it over 3 years that’s 6m per year which could be covered by the monies owed by Spurs for Sissisco, so no outlay.
He is willing to let our players go for excessive amounts but not willing to invest on incoming players. A bit double standard.
Tsunki
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:22 AM
Comment #20Hibbit yay! 🙂
Fishermen53
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:23 AM
Comment #21Sorry reading @15
SPRINGY
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:33 AM
Comment #22Improved offer for jorgensen reported from sky today
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:39 AM
Comment #23Why offer – they have stated the price – we have had two ‘offers’ kicked back
Bargain bucket management throughout FatAShes reign
RobLeenio
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:40 AM
Comment #24Springy This news was reported last night by a Dutch Twitter feed
https://twitter.com/TotalDutchFB/status/956659304832077824
Having it appear on Sky suggests Ashley has confirmed it to his pals – more PR?
Moonraker15
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:45 AM
Comment #25I’m sure we will get Jorgensen or a n other before the window closes. It would be madness by Ashley not to sign another striker as it would probably relegate us to the championship. Even he knows that and their will be a lot more deals done in the next few days. I’m still optimistic! You have to be!
Jib; Rafa doesn’t give a toss what he costs! I think we’ll get him for 18 million ish; Mitro out for 13 million ish; goalie in loan/option to buy and maybe a no.10?
Best signing for me is Kenedy! He’s a Newcastle type of player he’ll be a revelation!
Good times ahead! Howay the Lads!
lochinvar
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:50 AM
Comment #26Even The Sun has reported this so maybe someone should check the Amsterdam flights today as Friday is medical day rather than the weekend
It has been reported by the British tabloid that Newcastle hope to complete a club-record £18 million deal for the Denmark international within 48 hours.
It has also been reported that the 27-year-old striker is keen on leaving Dutch giants Feyenoord and has been offered a £50,000-per-week salary by the Magpies.
Mr Funk
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:54 AM
Comment #27Just to clarify (if it has been issue) the Total Dutch football twitter feed says that the first bid was 15 million euros. Personally I don’t think Jorgensen is worth more that £16 million, but if we do go for another bid (3rd bid), I would like him in so he can play in the FA cup.
lochinvar
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:58 AM
Comment #28Now we know why our transfers take so long. Charnley is over in France stock piling supplies of Nutella for the Board Room and Mike’s personal consumption. Shocking.
A discount on Nutella has led to violent scenes in a chain of French supermarkets, as shoppers jostled to grab a bargain on the sweet spread. Intermarché supermarkets offered a 70% discount on Nutella, bringing the price down from €4.50 (£3.90) to €1.40.
But police were called when people began fighting and pushing one another. Interpol have issued a photofit of a leading suspect believed to be returning to England to get on with his day job.
SPRINGY
Jan 26, 2018 at 11:59 AM
Comment #29Robleenio
I initially thought it myt of been another…3rd bid, but ya probs right that its just a rehash of the story from last night.
Toondog2
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Comment #30Moonraker,
Glad to see you are so enthusiastic
I wish I could be
Apart from the Kenedy Loan there has been no inward or any outward sales either to date.
£20 plus Million for Jorgensen is rather OTT and given the MA doesn’t like paying anything like those sort of figures , nothing is likely to happen
Schurrle on loan is probably the only thing left if you are after a proven EPL player
I live in increasingly distant hope still though . Roll on Wednesday 11 pm I.e close of the transfer window .We then are into squeaky B** time
toon kk
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:11 PM
Comment #31All this pi55ing around over transfers have worn thin now. We all know the drill.
Even if we spend 20mil many haven’t even heard of Jorgensen. Will the money be wasted? probably. Play Mitrovic instead.
We need several top players to get up the table that isn’t going to happen so relegation is a high probability.
Fed up with it all tbh.
SPRINGY
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:15 PM
Comment #32Not convinced schurrle would be a good loan tbh… he’s not been playing much apparently,out of form and injured…in addition to the fact he’s not what a lot of people would recognise as a out and out striker…just seems like there to many if’s and buts for him to come in and be the instant hit we need now.
RobLeenio
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:16 PM
Comment #33Springy, I’m glad you highlighted it, I didn’t mean to dismiss your input which I always value – there’s a vast difference between something released on Twitter and a more considered piece from the Ashley preferred media partner.
Rob
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:17 PM
Comment #341st time poster. Daily reader. I know a few will be against this idea but how about hatem ben arfa back on loan to fill the number 10 void? He was immense for us under a stagnant manager p45due but under benitez? He can create and score and inject flare into our side, draw defenders out freeing up space which the likes of gayle would thrive in with his pace. Just a thought like. On loan from psg… bring back the mercurial one
SPRINGY
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:20 PM
Comment #35Robleenio
I read the stories last night and when i i seen the sky report this morning i stupidly assumed charnley had gettin aggressive in transfer talks….. daft me eh!lol….guess im just gettin desperate for some sort transfer activity…..like they… assumption is the mother of all f**k ups! Lol
Toondog2
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:21 PM
Comment #36Every transfer window is like this nowadays for the Toon. Hopes raised then dashed.
Can’t see the point of not try Mitrovic otherwise MA can reasonably say. Look he cost me £13 m and on ? How much per week why isn’t he playing ,waste of money why should I fork out for another £20m on an untried EPL player
SPRINGY
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:23 PM
Comment #37Rob
Dont think rafa would like ben arfa’s work rate,along with not knowing what form or fitness he’s in….no doubt he’s talented and could do some good for us…but i doubt rafa would entertain the idea at all.
toon kk
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Comment #38Rob
No doubt Hatem Ben arfa has talents, he’s a bad apple though, he could very easily upset the dressing room. A lazy attitude doesn’t help either.
Moonraker15
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:28 PM
Comment #39Toondog
Sky Sports reporting we’re talking to Slimani!
Toondog2
Jan 26, 2018 at 12:31 PM
Comment #40Moonraker
Slimani ? Really? Thought he was off to Europe