Rafa Benitez is in Ireland with the first team squad which now includes 22-year-old Brazilian winger Kenedy – signed on loan for the season from Chelsea.
It also includes new goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and we expect our third signing Ki Sung-yueng to join up with the squad in about two weeks time.
He’s resting on holiday back home in South Korea following his World Cup exploits.
Those three new players we have in are all good signings.
Rafa Benitez directing a training session in Ireland
This summer seems to be going better than last summer, which was a disaster for us and had Rafa Benitez at this time last year complaining openly about not being able to sign the players he wanted.
He talked about hoping that Mike Ashley would keep the promises he made in their meeting last year in May.
In retrospect, it looks like the owner didn’t keep his promises last summer.
Rafa has been interviewed in the Chronicle today and he talks about what it will take for Newcastle to compete in the Premier League next season:
“I think that the approach has to be the same as last year.” “It’s one game at a time.”
“We won’t put any targets on this game or another.” “For me, it is just to be sure we do the right things to compete.”
“But they (other clubs) have squads that are already strong anyway.” “We know what we need to do and we must try.”
“If we are strong enough we can compete in the table to finish in the middle of the table or higher.”
“But if we aren’t strong enough we will try to avoid relegation because every single team is spending some money.”
“You hear some people saying: ‘Oh this team or that team hasn’t signed anybody yet either’.”
“It’s a real test. It couldn’t be more difficult.”
“But it is what we have and we have to be ready and prepare the team. They’re training well.”
“If we can improve a little bit on some things we can try to be stronger for next year.”
“We have four young players with us just in case.”
Rafa pulls no punches there and he’s always been a complete realist when he says “It’s a real test. It couldn’t be more difficult.”
We need at least three more players brought into the squad and a good striker is our biggest need of all.
We assume Lee Charnley is working hard on that and hopefully, we can sign three good players in the next week or two.
The sooner we get the new players in the sooner they can be integrated into the squad.
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
RobLeenio
Jul 13, 2018 at 8:55 AM
Comment #1Ed “We assume Lee Charnley is working hard on that” – well, yes you would assume that, but Rafa still has not mentioned either Charnley, Ashley or the club hierarchy in the present tense. The only vague reference was that he had a face to face meeting with Ashley ‘earlier in the Summer’
Jib
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:05 AM
Comment #2One would hope that Lee Charnley is at Carton House
to liaise with Rafa when he’s not doing coaching duties
beermonkey
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:06 AM
Comment #3Morning peeps
Did the new kid we signed a week or so ago
The latest in a long line hot prospects we have had come in
did he go to Ireland
Jail for Ashley
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:17 AM
Comment #4I think it’s definitely a case of Ashley knowing this is Rafa’s last year and will give him SFA knowing that his personal drive will keep us up regardless of what is spent. The sad thing is though money will be thrown at some incompetent yes man next season to buy unproven U25’s to make a quick buck, we all know how that has gone over the last eleven years.
Novocastrian66
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:21 AM
Comment #5The club is an embarrassment. Other Premier League sides manage to sign their targets with the minimum amount of fuss, while we struggle to make a loan signing.
Ashley’s tight fisted grip on this club Is choking it to death.
Tsunki
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:22 AM
Comment #6Jesper – no you haven’t answered anything you keep wriggling . Ok even simpler version –
1/ Is Benitez to blame for our poor transfer performance? Answer YES or NO.
2/ If YES, should he be sacked? Answer YES or NO.
Just answer the questions and stop avoiding the fact that you are being pressed on why you are complaining. Are you afraid?
Jail for Ashley
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:23 AM
Comment #7”You can have every last penny the club generates Rafa, but I’ve taken 93% of shirt sales, it’s another company has got the catering and they’re not willing to share mate, it looked like we made a lot but my accountants have made a bit of a hash with the books and there’s not that much left over, I wasn’t lying though when I said very last penny Rafa, luckily some fans understand why I’m reluctant to spend money though”
Jail for Ashley
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:25 AM
Comment #8Tsunki,
Do you honestly expect a straight answer here without reference to your age or some type of gender stereotype followed by that stomach churning winking smiley emoji!!
Jib
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:32 AM
Comment #9beer
Yes Josef Yarney is in Ireland
beermonkey
Jul 13, 2018 at 9:37 AM
Comment #10Thank you jib