Rafa Benitez is a world-class coach and he is admired in his home country of Spain.
This is a man who has won three European trophies with three separate clubs – Valencia, Liverpool, and Chelsea so he the consummate coach.
And while at Valencia Rafa won La Liga twice in the 2001-2002 season and 2003-2004 season before he joined Liverpool.
That’s with competition from both Real Madrid and Barcelona – two of the most famous clubs in world football.
A slimmed down Rafa Benitez arrives in Murcia yesterday
In 2002 Valencia finished 7 points ahead of second-placed Deportivo and in 2004 they finished 5 points clear of Barcelona.
After the Newcastle squad landed at Murcia airport yesterday the Chronicle are reporting Rafa was surrounded by reporters with their camera crews in tow.
It looks like while Newcastle United are in Murcia there will be ample publicity about Rafa Benitez and about Newcastle United’s short winter break.
We are handily placed in 13th place in the Premier League at the moment after winning our last two home games.
It seems the friendly against Royal Antwerp on Sunday will be attended by lots of Spanish media who will reporting on one of their native sons and one of the best football managers in the world.
And he’s (still) our manager.
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Howay The Lads!!
15 comments so far
Munster Mag
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:45 PM
Comment #1Jib all ready for the big one tomorrow?
Jail for Ashley
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:50 PM
Comment #2I don’t know how anyone can point the finger at anyone other than the person who devised the recruitment, coaching and financial structure at the club in the run up to that inevitable relegation. A team full of get out clause, free contracts and willing to go on strike, all promised a move as soon as the price was right. A captain desperate to go home who the club wanted to wring the last drops out of. They can or Cabella I can’t even remember which was which, one had stupid hair or did they both were both typical examples of that disastrous recruitment policy.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:50 PM
Comment #3They can? Thauvin
G
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:53 PM
Comment #4Why is one of the Chuckle Brothers in the Picture. I spotted them in this weeks episode of Benidorm, but didn’t realise they were sticking around in Spain.
Jib
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:53 PM
Comment #5Munster
I think the BiG will hump us
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Jail for Ashley
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:53 PM
Comment #6There is no doubt a better manager would have got more out of that motley crew before jettisoning them but Ashley didn’t want a better manager because a higher calibre of manager wouldn’t want players here just waiting for a move. Ashley only opted for a better manager as a last throw of the dice.
RobLeenio
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:54 PM
Comment #7“one had stupid hair or did they both”
Nice to see a good, thought out and balanced critique of recruitment policy under Mashley.
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Jib
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:56 PM
Comment #8Having said that , it should be a cracking game.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:59 PM
Comment #9Jib,
They’ve flown into Murcia with Jet 2 but they aren’t flying there till next month. They must have hired the whole plane.
Tsunki
Mar 16, 2018 at 2:01 PM
Comment #10Rob yes these issues must all be considered. Stupid hair has to be factored in to understand all nuance of the failed deals.
Tsunki
Mar 16, 2018 at 2:04 PM
Comment #11Remy Cabella had slightly daft hair with that Tintin wisp but his younger compatriots ventured into the New Romantic era, that was their downfall. A foppish hairdo is usually the beginning of the end .
RobLeenio
Mar 16, 2018 at 2:05 PM
Comment #12Tsunki, I always knew there was a reason we didn’t sign Paul Pogba. Maybe Collocini is further evidence of the failure to secure the ‘proper’ type of players.
Ron Knee
Mar 16, 2018 at 2:06 PM
Comment #13Thauvin’s partner didn’t want him to move to Newcastle.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 16, 2018 at 2:09 PM
Comment #14Now take Tiote, at 3.5M that was one mo foo-ing haircut.
Jib
Mar 16, 2018 at 2:13 PM
Comment #15Charlotte Pirroni looks happy enough
but
Women are soooo changeable