We have already written about how the recruits Rafa brought in last summer now look so much better.
Dubravka is a terrific goalkeeper, and Federico Fernandez has been a consistent star player at center-back.
And Ki Sung-yueng and Fabian Schar have played in the last one, and a half games (both wins) and both have played well with Ki controlling the midfield and Schar heroic in defense.
And then last Saturday Salomon Rondon scored two goals and looked a proper center-forward, and Alan Shearer seemed delighted with his all-around performance in the number 9 shirt.
But Rafa (shown above on Saturday) still thinks there’s lots of room for improvement, but at least our new signings seem to have been good ones and much better than we first thought.
Benitez was asked if the recent results have justified his specific moves to sign Rondon and Fernandez:
“I don’t want to say that, because when you sign people, they are not judged on one game.”
“They are playing well. You are trying to sign players who, in your opinion, will be good for the team.”
“They have experience of the Premier League and they can help the players around them.”
“It is good for everyone who was involved in the process. We had a clear idea of what we wanted and what we needed.”
“This is confirmation they can give us something.”
“They are doing what we expected, but I still think there are areas they can improve.”
The way Mike Ashley works and thinks is if Newcastle do well before the January window rolls around he’s likely to spend less on new players,
That’s because his ambitions for Newcastle seem to extend to keeping Newcastle a Premier League club – and spending as little as possible to do that.
Rafa was asked about the possibility and said:
“It’s a nice problem to have,”
Maybe Ashley can shock us all, and if we are comfortable in mid-table in January, he can still help Rafa to bring in three or four good players.
The Newcastle owner will need to do something like that to encourage Rafa to sign a new deal to stay on Tyneside.
Ashley was again in attendance on Saturday and seemed to be upbeat – much like the Newcastle fans were.
Comments welcome.
2 comments so far
lesh
Nov 12, 2018 at 10:38 AM
Comment #1Lindisfarne
Sun “” Money is tight at Newcastle as they continue to flag under Mike Ashley”
Looks as though Bishop’s spinning early – probably telling Rafa there’ll be the usual backing in January!
Ashley doesn’t seem to have the balls, decency or wit to talk turkey with Rafa.
Business as usual?
Online Guy
Nov 12, 2018 at 4:50 PM
Comment #2Well said Lesh