Rafa wants to concentrate on the games leading up to the January transfer window and try to win as many of them as possible.
The manager wants Newcastle to be in a good position by January 1st, but the winter transfer market is always tricky.
However, we did well last year when we got Kenedy and Dubravka in on loan, and they changed the team dramatically, and we pulled away from the relegation zone and finished in 10th place.
Those two players are still with us this season – goalkeeper Dubravka is a permanent signing for a bargain £4M, and left winger Kenedy is on loan for the season.
While Rafa admits he wants to concentrate on the upcoming games, he also acknowledges the club are working on potential transfers in January.
Rafa Benitez – working on transfers and names of players
This is some of what Mr. Benitez said in his press conference today:
“I would like to go to January 1 with a lot of wins, then we will see how it affects the window.”
“We have to improve the squad regardless, but we have to keep winning, then look at January when it comes”
“January is always quite difficult. It is not about how much (money is available) it is about what players are available.”
“If you see a player you like it’s a question of whether we can do it.”
“You have teams in the Champions League who have settled squads.”
“We also can’t do loans in the Premier League because we have two players already.”
“We just have to keep working hard and if we find the right player work on that.”
“We have to work until January 1 and get wins and maybe you will ask me again.”
“We are working on transfers and names but that doesn’t mean we must stop focusing on winning.”
Having a decent number of wins coming up and then having a good transfer window in January is what we are hoping for.
If that happens it could even persuade Rafa to stay at the club.
Here’s hoping.
Comments welcome.
140 comments so far
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 4:39 PM
Comment #1Gauntlet thrown down for Ashley ?
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/11561004/rafael-benitez-says-newcastle-must-add-to-squad-despite-turnaround
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 23, 2018 at 4:40 PM
Comment #2No problems there Rafa, the nice Mr Ashley has a huge sackful of money prepared for you!
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 23, 2018 at 4:41 PM
Comment #3Isn’t that more or less what Ed has just printed?
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 4:43 PM
Comment #4With different emphasis
Older folks tend to miss subtle stuff 😛
JohnJ
Nov 23, 2018 at 4:45 PM
Comment #5I predicted a draw for the last to games (Watford & Bournemouth) in the hope that Newcastle would win and asw we all know now the did win and six vital points were won!
Well I think I’ll stick with the formula of predicting a draw for the Burnley game in the hope that we winn anotrher three precious points!
Haway the Lads!!!
JohnJ
Nov 23, 2018 at 4:47 PM
Comment #6I predicted a draw for the last to games (Watford & Bournemouth) in the hope that Newcastle would win and as we all know now they did win and six vital points were won!
Well I think I’ll stick with the formula of predicting a draw for the Burnley game in the hope that we win anotrher three precious points!
Haway the Lads!!!
Our Toon
Nov 23, 2018 at 4:47 PM
Comment #7I’d take a draw away to Burnley, better if we win but a draw isn’t bad at all
RobLeenio
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:04 PM
Comment #8I’ll agree with several posters and say avoiding the loss is a good step forward, keeps the points accumulation going and maintains belief in the squad. A loss to Burnley could potentially detroy any progress we have made in the last couple of matches.
Mind, a win is by no means out of the question, but it will be difficult.
I’d like to see us push on up the table and get well clear of the relegation zone by Christmas – the run of games in January and February doesn’t look too appetising.
toon22
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:15 PM
Comment #9On average we have spent about 3 million or less on strikers over the last 11 years
Who do you think we’re going to get with that kind of money ?
Let’s start blaming Rafa
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:19 PM
Comment #10Early start in St Petersburg
Hiya Ivan
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:20 PM
Comment #11OR
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:20 PM
Comment #12He just got in from school
Munster Mag
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:23 PM
Comment #13School jib! Now stop being an Ashley pr plant here. Oh I forgot, I am too. Because I obviously despise rafa and obviously love Ash.
Our Toon
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:27 PM
Comment #14Munster
Jib just defends Ashley as people on here respond to that nonsense, it means he gets attention which is what he wants……go against the grain, bit like catchy really
Nostra Magpie
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:41 PM
Comment #15What ever happened to Catchy, is he lost at sea or something.
Tsunki
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:42 PM
Comment #16When that window is cracked open the only thing that will come rushing in is an icy January draught I expect. It would be foolish to expect any more than the usual lacklustre effort and subpar investment. Cries of nobody wanting to move, not being available, looking after sick grandparents, freezing Northern Weather, irrational phobia of flat-capped, whippet – racing potential horse-punchers, sorry but I’m washing me hair etc will abound again. A claimed budget of £30m+ will materialise as a couple of faux pursuits of quality players, then dodgy bungs leading to loans for cheap outsourced labour which will arrive on a stretcher with full fitness promised the day before the loan ends, no doubt. That’s the bright side as well. It’s assuming we don’t also have news filtering through of Rafa packing the good china and labelling boxes with room labels on.
Meanwhile tubby Charnley will, along with his crack “negotiating team”, disappear from existence at the exact moment a pursuit of a credible target is announced (either on holiday hiking in an Argentinian national park, accidentally sent into orbit after a misunderstanding during a visit to NASA, or recovering in hospital following a radical sofaectomy during which he has his Pringles removed) and upon reappearing – too late darn it! – will be instructed to wave the chequered flag as reports of key players returning from injury are set to revitalise a beleaguered squad in time for the annual desperate relegation battle.
Meanwhile Mr Ashley will be fully occupied with his more pressing business interests, such as his promising line of plastic anti-splashback white oversize shirts – perfect for this Christmas parties by the fireside!
Inevitable. Inventive. Depressing. Just another transfer window at NUFC.
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:42 PM
Comment #17Our Toon
You are totally wrong
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I’m a paid shill working for
Keith Bishop
Tsunki
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #18Nostradamus – no we haven’t been losing. Next loss catchy will be brought up quickly like a bad prawn.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:45 PM
Comment #19Munster,
Riots in North London have got nothing to do with substitutions.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:47 PM
Comment #20Neither are factual inaccuracies about chasing a not so awful Scottish defender ALL summer.
jane
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Comment #21“Who do you think we’re going to get with that kind of money ?”
got several experienced internationals in the summer with much less than that toonyMctoonyface 🙂
c-dog
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Comment #22Jib
Nov 21, 2018 at 7:53 PM
Comment #73
Mike Ashley has given enough
to this club.
Fans need to stop asking for more.
He’s only one man.
Great insight Jib. You read the future accurately.
Optimistic Panda
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:55 PM
Comment #23I hate the January window now.
You know what you need and want but you also know you ain’t getting 5hit unless we’re in the 5hit.
It’s just 5hit!
Tsunki
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:56 PM
Comment #24Of course as Rafa’s number one fan it’s not surprising that after zorbing across the Saqqara dressed only wearing thigh waders to meet my hero and shake his miniscule digits I would set about erecting a shrine to the great man in my outside toilet and worship at the feet of its 40ft high statue every two hours.
That doesn’t mean of course that I can’t be balanced enough to want him gaffer taped to the front of a wagon carrying explosives, set on fire and pushed into a quarry when he hasn’t brought a 30 goal a season striker in on loan.
Tsunki
Nov 23, 2018 at 5:58 PM
Comment #25“got several experienced internationals in the summer with much less than that toonyMctoonyface ?”
Oh. Did we chase THEM all summer? Or just a part of it?
jane
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Comment #26“Oh. Did we chase THEM all summer? Or just a part of it?”
better late than never if that is what you mean
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #27Munster
It looks like the FAI are going to appoint
Mick McCarthy with Keane as asst
What’s the Irish fascination with ex scum
managers ?
jane
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #28pessimistic panda would be more appropriate although i can think of more appropriate names!
Belfast
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:08 PM
Comment #29I think we’ll have the usual month of endless speculation and dead ends and probably end up with nowt at the end of it.
The recent upturn in form probably ends the faint prospect of a desperado transfer splurge come January time in my opinion.
Optimistic Panda
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:10 PM
Comment #30Jane
Is it because you’re a lady you won’t say?
Munster Mag
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #31Hilarious tsunki. How long did that take to write? Jail do you think lots of arsenal fans wanted rafa. Really? Or spurs if needed. What I pointed out was correct, obviously. If colourful in imagery. I think rafa will stay partly because no big English club will want him. Unless you consider West ham etc big. But it is the likes of West ham, Leicester, maybe a Leeds etc who could lure him but not the big boys of English football. He likes an adoring public like Liverpool and Newcastle so I think he’ll stay, given any bit of decent Ashley budget encouragement. I’d be happy with that. You might repeat that when you are busy spewing your ‘munster hates rafa’ story.
Munster Mag
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:17 PM
Comment #32Jib I don’t mind mick. In fact he’s a lovely guy. Keano, please nó….
Munster Mag
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:18 PM
Comment #33Jib it’s Robbie not Roy I assume!
jane
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:21 PM
Comment #34“Is it because you’re a lady you won’t say?”
enough said
“Hilarious tsunki. How long did that take to write?”
he has a gift
jane
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:24 PM
Comment #35“Jib I don’t mind mick. In fact he’s a lovely guy.”
like him too punched above weight with Ipswich. nice people often do well.
Tsunki
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:24 PM
Comment #36“Munster hates Rafa” – wasn’t that an 80’s American sitcom?
Munster Mag
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:25 PM
Comment #37Jib, froggie may not be finished his homework yet so if you keep loving Ashley and I keep telling everyone I want rafa sacked we can earn our destabilising PR shillings before he can finish his schoolbooks and bore us all witless. Hurry, quick. OK I’ll start…. er…. Rafa has small hands. Erm… Ashley is going to spend 50mill in Jan. Go go go jib!
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:25 PM
Comment #38Aye Robbie – not the prick
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:26 PM
Comment #39Do you want paying in Euros ?
Munster Mag
Nov 23, 2018 at 6:28 PM
Comment #40You probably have it taped on VHS tsunki. You certainly watch it enough to believe it.