Rafa Benitez has had a lot to put up with since he came to Newcastle.
He was unsuccessful in avoiding relegation, and that was a huge disappointment to start off his Newcastle career.
If we had avoided relegation in May 2016, he would have started with a better class of players – including Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend, Daryl Janmaat and Mousa Sissoko who is now playing well for Tottenham as their holding midfielder.
But we were relegated, and those players wanted out, although Rafa has tried to sign Townsend since we were promoted back to the top league in May 2017, but with no success.
The manager has not been supported financially by the owner, and there have been too many distractions off the field over the last 16 months of various takeover attempts.
All of them have so far been unsuccessful and there’s news Ashley is about to pull the plug on his latest attempt to sell the club.
But the papers have been flooded with press reports about what is – or could be – happening with these potential takeovers.
Rafa Benitez – in training
And now we have the winter transfer market in full swing but no sign of any players coming in after it’s been open for three weeks.
Rafa has been asked in the Chronicle if the takeover has had any ill effects on the pitch:
“Again, we try to keep these things outside of the pitch because they are not of importance to the players.”
“If you play against a team and you lose, people say: ‘Oh it is because of that.’ But the players, they do not worry about what is going on in terms of takeovers.
“Maybe the English players worry a bit more because they hear everything, but the foreign players like Ki Sung-yueng and Yoshinori Muto, they do not have a clue.”
“The players might watch the TV and see what people are saying, but they were focused on beating Cardiff.”
“The players are quite focused, and against Cardiff, they were really, really focused (and did not listen to the animosity against the owner).”
“The players, especially the foreign players, they are not bothered about what people are saying.”
“They are just worrying about what happens on the pitch.”
Rafa has used his immense experience in management to keep the players concentrating only on what’s happening on the pitch during both training and in matches.
With the Magpie Group starting up their protests again at our home games against the owner – hopefully, our players will be too professional to let that distract them from playing well – as they did last Saturday.
We need as many wins as possible in our seven remaining home league games to survive in the Premier League this season.
Wonder if we can sign any good players in the final 10 days of this transfer window?
Comments welcome.
456 comments so far
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:51 PM
Comment #81What does that mean jib?
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:52 PM
Comment #82The constitution (as in the governance) of the company is having major changes
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:53 PM
Comment #83Lee Charnley is listed on there.
firebug666
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:53 PM
Comment #84It could just be new directors being appointed by Ashley for all we know. Hope it’s the takeover, but not building my hopes up.
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:53 PM
Comment #85It’s really happening
RobLeenio
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:54 PM
Comment #86Wow Jib that’s quite a spot.
Of course all our really means is that NUFC are shuffling their internal rule book. Last time they removed a couple of superfluous directors and left Charnley as the sole one.
This time could in theory be them adding Dennis Pitbull as Director of football
Hope you’re right though…
😮
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:54 PM
Comment #87Is that the one mentioned a name change of?
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:54 PM
Comment #88Spell it out.
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:54 PM
Comment #89Panda it’s the 2 entries dated today
Pain in the Blog
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:54 PM
Comment #90Sounds good Jib. Well spotted.
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:55 PM
Comment #91Major changes?
Get in, Ashleys gonna back Rafa.
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:57 PM
Comment #92Has Charnley been sacked?
He’s been missing.
If the club is changing hands surely a fit n proper test should have been done??
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 6:59 PM
Comment #93the last time it happened
was when Charnley’s situation as company vendor was changed
last month
and before that when Ashley bought us
Bigjim67
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:00 PM
Comment #94Regarding any takeover, it’s looking like a repeat of the Staveley fiasco. Was it about this time last year Ashley spent £80m on the hof rescue package? Now the talk is he’s going to buy hmv, dodgy dealings surely? He seems to be using the club’s money to diversify his business interests, is he breaking any epl rules or even breaking any laws. He really is slime ball. I don’t want Rafa to walk away but i really can’t understand why he’s still at the club. Anyway, Watford at the weekend and another chance for Longstaff and Co to show us what they can do. Cup run anyone? Hwtl
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:00 PM
Comment #95It’s really really happening
Bambams
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:02 PM
Comment #96Charnley had a reason to miss the match.
I asked about it yesterday, nothing in that.
RobLeenio
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:02 PM
Comment #97OP we can’t know that it hasn’t been
I’m suspicious just because Charnley was missing on Saturday and Barnes was back for the first time in ages.
I hope it’s more than that. Their phones were going ten to the dozen on Saturday.
Has Twitter picked this up yet?
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:04 PM
Comment #98It’s about two weeks since the PL and FA
went back to work after the holidays
just the right time frame for a fit and proper test
ronaldo aarons
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:07 PM
Comment #99I swear lol, this site is the textbook definition of ‘clutching at straws’.
Aces-of-Eights
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:09 PM
Comment #100Or maybe ash knows fans check the company house website and is messing around
ronaldo aarons
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:09 PM
Comment #101Lee Charnley has been awaydoing a few errands for his master. Apparently he’s been speaking to Claire’s Accessories regarding a hostile takeover to add to Ashley’s portfolio.
The messages that Ashley was reading at the match on the weekend was just Lee sending updates and nudes.
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:11 PM
Comment #102Nothing on twitter yet
however Peter Graves currently presenting
Sky Sports News
Has a very noticeable big NUFC tie on
RobLeenio
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:13 PM
Comment #103I don’t know how these things work but here’s how I would imagine a timeline
Negotiation – agree a price and terms. Undefined time span
Once complete, fit and proper persons test – 2 weeks.
If passed, period of exclusivity, including adding a representative of the buyer to the board for oversight and to make sure the old owners are not doing anything dodgy – 2 weeks.
At the end of that, the club is sold and transferred to the figurehead while the new owners get the legals sorted.
We could be a week off yet, assuming Jib is right.
Ffsashley
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:13 PM
Comment #104I so hope your right Jib
Firstly for our club
And it would be so funny if you’ve stole OLG And BamBambs thunder haaaahaaa
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:13 PM
Comment #105Jib
Behave, I’ve got me Nufc socks on and I know fcuk all about the takeover!
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:13 PM
Comment #106Aces-of-Eights
Or maybe ash knows fans check the company house website and is messing around
ffs you are a mackem
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:16 PM
Comment #107If this is just Wise being made CEO
I’ll have to live in Kielder for the next few months
😀
yorkymag
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:18 PM
Comment #108There’s only one jib one jib there’s only one jib
Doesn’t quite work
But nevertheless there is only one jib
Aces-of-Eights
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:19 PM
Comment #109Ffsashley is another jib alter ego and jib using f word again. Repent jib… REPENT
RobLeenio
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:21 PM
Comment #110It’s a beautiful place Jib, enjoy your star gazing lol
In its favour, why would the club do this having just done the same in December? Presumably there’s a cost involved.
Pete graves being on the train ‘coincidentally’ with Kenedy in the summer proves that he’s better connected to the club than most North East sports journalists. It’s possible he’s had some inside info passed to him, I guess. Can’t rule it out for sure.
toon22
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:22 PM
Comment #111JIB
Nobody believes the sale lie
For me even less so if youve posted it
He has no intention of selling the club,same as last year.And the year before that
And on,and on…
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:22 PM
Comment #112Rob
“make sure the old owners are not doing anything dodgy”
wash your mouth out
😛
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:24 PM
Comment #113That’s it, I’m off in search of someone with a Nufc tie on to see what they know.
ashleysmate
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:24 PM
Comment #114Jib, has this not got something to do with Ash moving bishop to other parts of his business away from NUFC?
toon22
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:24 PM
Comment #115Didnt he exact same thing happen in December ?
Did he sell us then too ?
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:24 PM
Comment #116toon 22
that’s right
I actually control Companies House website
you’ve sussed me you clever little mackem
Optimistic Panda
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:25 PM
Comment #117Did online say he was gonna try get some news today?
toon22
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:25 PM
Comment #118All very pro MA
Hiya KBA
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:27 PM
Comment #119ashleysmate
who knows
however
Ian Fleming Quote
“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action”
toon22
Jan 21, 2019 at 7:27 PM
Comment #120JIB
The exact same thing happened in December
You can remember that far back?
I see we wernt sold then either
You can graps the concept of doubting things that have happened in just about the exact same way for 11 years
And it end the same way every single time ?
Maybe not since your PR