Rafa was upbeat and jovial at his press conference this afternoon for the game against Tottenham at Wembley tomorrow night.
It was similar to his last press conference last Friday, and it was hard to think that Rafa was concerned about his future at all.
And the manager has put no real timeframe on the talks with Managing Director Lee Charnley, and he’s willing for them to continue; he also said there was plenty of time to talk this week.
Of course, Rafa didn’t talk too much about any details, but it could be positive that Rafa was so relaxed and happy.
Rafa Benitez – upbeat at his press conference
We hope it’s positive that Rafa was so relaxed and happy.
🙂
Here’s some of what he had to say on the negotiations during his press conference today:
“The conversations are still the same. So no news at the moment.”
“Not really (no specific timeframe for negotiations)”. “There will be another conversation, for sure, then we will see where we are.”
“But we are not thinking too much about: ‘Oh, we need it done before this time. Or this one.’”
“We will have plenty of time to talk during this week.”
There are not many fans think we can win this game tomorrow night – but we really need the 3 points to finish in the top half of the table.
Comments welcome.
138 comments so far
Geordie-john
May 8, 2018 at 4:28 PM
Comment #1Well I think it would it be nice to have a win over Spurs just to p##s GREEDY COCK-ney off.
Jail for Ashley
May 8, 2018 at 4:40 PM
Comment #2John,
He’s a Chelsea fan if we can believe that he has at least one in a hundred truthful statements in him.
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 4:42 PM
Comment #3From NUFC.com
Only once in 22 seasons of Premier League football
have United won their final away game.
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 4:44 PM
Comment #4This looks awful like Benton this morning
Dragon64
May 8, 2018 at 4:45 PM
Comment #5if Rafa doesn’t get the reassurance’s off fat Mike he will be gone and who can blame him. there is no takeover accept it
Munster Mag
May 8, 2018 at 5:10 PM
Comment #6We all know that Rafa likes to use the media to communicate with the fans and he wasn’t slow getting his veiled annoyance into the media last summer about transfers. So the fact that he is relaxed for now has to he a good sign. In other words if Charney had said ‘your budget in 20mill plus player sales’ I think we’ d know it by now, or we would be getting smoke signals
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Comment #7If you look at those training pics
there area lot of strange faces
and squad numbers
Apparently Rafa has had the U23’s
training with the squad to try and shake things up
Bianconeri
May 8, 2018 at 5:36 PM
Comment #8Lesh from a couple of posts back,I’m all for equality in the work place,but only if you’re good at the job,she isn’t.I think sky are all about jobs for the boys/girls now.Hence dennis wise bah.
Celebration was a 70 mile ride in and around the wannies 😉
Is Armstrong available to play for us again after loan is up ??
AncientC
May 8, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #9There’s really no reason why Benitez wouldn’t have been given as estimate on this summer’s budget a year ago, based on the club staying up, of course.
At the end of the winter window after the three loan players were signed, Charnley should have been able to account for the wage bill, speculated the prize money etc. Even the gate income should have been easy enough to estimate.
Perhaps it is a case of Benitez already knowing approximately what his budget is for this summer, with recent contract talks discussing future budgets. With Benitez only having 1 year left on his deal, I would suppose he isn’t privy to the transfer budget for next summer, as currently he wouldn’t be at the club to spend it.
There is something seriously wrong if Benitez doesn’t know what the budget is yet for this summer—but with the way the club has been run in recent years, it seems rather quite possible that could be the case,
Bianconeri
May 8, 2018 at 5:47 PM
Comment #10Rafa saying talks to be held over Kenedy and Dubravka makes me wonder if he has been given a little bit of a green light.Slimani going back to Leicester looks like that deal is dead.
Bianconeri
May 8, 2018 at 5:49 PM
Comment #11Squeaky bum time in Swansea the night.I think the saints may pinch it and Swansea having to beat Stoke to stay up.
Thank god it’s not us.
A draw tomorrow and a win v chelski
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 5:51 PM
Comment #12The last thing we need is for the world and his dog to
know what Rafa’s budget is !!!
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Comment #13Rafa is contemplating up to 5 changes for Wembley
A hat-trick for Arma would be luverly
Bianconeri
May 8, 2018 at 5:55 PM
Comment #14It would be nice to see him get some game time Jib.Especially with Slimani gone and Joselu being crap.
Nothing to lose giving him game time,but I doubt it will happen 🙁
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:08 PM
Comment #15Arma and Perez could frighten a few defences
Tsunki
May 8, 2018 at 6:08 PM
Comment #16There will be much humble pie being served up by bobbybee should Armstrong sink a hat trick. I will need a lot of custard myself…
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:09 PM
Comment #17With Jonjo and Mikel pinging the passes of course
Tsunki
May 8, 2018 at 6:09 PM
Comment #18Could anybody feasibly be worse up front given our top scorer isperez? 😐
Tsunki
May 8, 2018 at 6:10 PM
Comment #19No I’m not going to bother. Isperez is a great player.
Mag52
May 8, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #20Jib (from a previous post),
Of the options you give me as to why Ashley wouldn’t be bothered to travel the 12 miles to watch Watford play Newcastle United, the one I think is most appropriate is ‘out of the question’.
Why ? – because, to the best of my knowledge, he is not a supporter of either team and, and here I’m guessing, he doesn’t actually like the game of football.
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #21Squeaky bum time in West Glamorgan
where’s Welshie when you need someone
to tease ?
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:21 PM
Comment #22Mag52
I think what you say about Ashley not liking footy
probably applies to most owners
If there was a 4 way footy quiz
between me and the last 3 owners of PL champs
Roman Abramovic
Sheik Mansour
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
I’d murder them
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:21 PM
Comment #23😛
Tsunki
May 8, 2018 at 6:24 PM
Comment #24Tbf I don’t think i could be bothered to crank up the chopper for a 12 Mile trip. Parking is horrendous in Watford never mind finding an “H” for the budgie. 🙂
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:25 PM
Comment #25Apparently Sir Alex is sitting up and talking
to his family which is good !
Mag :P
May 8, 2018 at 6:26 PM
Comment #26So am I missing something? Is arma available for spurs?
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:27 PM
Comment #27Tsunki that reminds me of Milton Jones joke
about standing next to a hot water tap waiting
for a chopper to land
😀
welshgeordie9
May 8, 2018 at 6:29 PM
Comment #28Come on the mighty swans.
Mag52
May 8, 2018 at 6:29 PM
Comment #29Veltman.
Long time no communicate.
I must say my input on here has decreased a lot with the arrival of Rafa as, like me, most bloggers are happy with the Spanish maestro, and would hope that Ashley does the right thing by him and gives him what he clearly deserves, and has earned, an extended contract and a decent transfer pot.
It’s only Jail these days who can’t help himself from throwing in the occasional reference to the AP era, but he only does it when he’s bored and he soon gives up when he realises we all know what he’s up to.
John Tudor
May 8, 2018 at 6:30 PM
Comment #30He is a Newcastle player so for the spuds not a hope
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:30 PM
Comment #31Mag 😛
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-considering-making-up-14627199
who knows?
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:31 PM
Comment #32I see why you chose that moniker you little tinker
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:32 PM
Comment #33hiya Welshie
Good luck for this evening
Mag52
May 8, 2018 at 6:33 PM
Comment #34Jib,
But at least those guys turn up at home games when they’re in town.
Ashley has been conspicuous by his absence this season.
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:34 PM
Comment #35It would be nice to have the S Wales derby back in the PL
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:36 PM
Comment #36Mag52
It’s very time consuming parcelling and despatching
cheap sandshoes you know .
Jib
May 8, 2018 at 6:41 PM
Comment #37These were trainers when I was a kid
welshgeordie9
May 8, 2018 at 6:44 PM
Comment #38Jib
We going to need it.
A Pain in the Blog
May 8, 2018 at 6:46 PM
Comment #39Jib @ #4
If the lads are at Benton this morning (as you proved) then where did the rumour come from that Rafa and the team stayed down in London?
Mag :P
May 8, 2018 at 6:46 PM
Comment #40Jib
Nowhere in that link mentions arma? Is he back from his loan?