Rafa Benitez is pragmatic and he doesn’t mess around, so if suitable players are not available at the right price next month then it could be that Newcastle will not strengthen their first team squad before the end of the upcoming transfer window.
Rafa has said often that he is satisfied with the current squad and that they can see us through the rest of the season – and hopefully get us promoted – but it’s still good to strengthen the squad if at all possible.
We could still bring in some younger players for the future, but it seems some of the transfer prices being quoted for potential targets are way too high and do not offer value for Newcastle.
Rafa Benitez with his players in training
This is what Benitez has told ChronicleLive before tomorrow night’s crucial game at home to Sheffield Wednesday:
“We have one or two positions we would like to reinforce a little bit with someone.”
“But you have players in the Championship who are maybe not much better than your players and the prices are so high that it is impossible.”
“Also you have some players who are playing in Europe who maybe do not want to leave the Europa League or the Champions League or the top of their league to go to a Championship team.”
“Maybe the club will not want to sell their player either.”
“So we have to be realistic; we have a good team, a good squad, we are doing well, we are at the top of the table.”
“And what we have to do is find the right player in the right position to make sure we improve the squad.”
We hope Rafa can find one or two good players for Newcastle at the right price next month, but that may not be possible in the current environment of clubs asking ridiculously high prices for their players.
Comments welcome.
21 comments so far
Novocastrian66
Dec 25, 2016 at 9:07 AM
Comment #1Happy Christmas Ed and everyone.
We always seem to falter on Boxing Day. I would say we would be a nailed on for a win against Sheff Wed however the Boxing Day course may strike.
JDdubai
Dec 25, 2016 at 9:20 AM
Comment #2Think loans in January is the best solution, meaning we keep our powder dry for summer when we can attract better players.
Go and defence seems strong enough in depth, midfield and no10 I would look to get someone in, AFCON will be a test on the squad but hopefully all this rotation will show its results.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 25, 2016 at 9:38 AM
Comment #3Liked what I read about that Delph yesterday in the Birmingham post, could be ideal.
sing in the corner
Dec 25, 2016 at 9:45 AM
Comment #4Me too JfA
If we get him it’d be a great coup. Just hope his time languishing in the (albeit star studded) reserves hasn’t taken the shine off what was a great talent.
sing in the corner
Dec 25, 2016 at 9:48 AM
Comment #5That’s the season remainder tickets opened. Ha ha, how to put a smile on a teenagers face.
Well, I have no remorse…why should he get away with a lifetime of oscillating between agony and ecstasy? :). 🙂
cyprus
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:02 AM
Comment #6Usually fans are disgruntled if no one is signed in January. MA being stingy or this or that coach following MA’s orders, are common explanations. Not in Rafa’s case, however 🙂
Me I’m always in two minds re this window. Even a super player like asprilla can disrupt things. And, whoever it is must hit the ground running. The whole thing smacks of bad planning and desperation. Still, sometimes it can change all, see Defoe for instance.
Conclusion: I’m OK if we sign no one.
Merry Christmas all. May we keep number three at bay all the way and avoid our usual last minute excitement.
sparky55
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:14 AM
Comment #7jail…have you got a link to share with everyone…i like delphi!
Ron Knee
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:21 AM
Comment #8Delph link:-
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/former-aston-villa-star-fabian-12351257
Jail for Ashley
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:22 AM
Comment #9sparky
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/former-aston-villa-star-fabian-12351257.amp?client=ms-android-orange-gb
Jail for Ashley
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:26 AM
Comment #10Cyprus.
That’s the difference between getting told the truth and making ficticious bids at 22:50 on deadline day for wingers when we had two fit defenders.
Jib
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:41 AM
Comment #11Jail
In that link you kindly supplied I noticed Tony Xia (real name Xià Jiàntung) the new owner of Villa has quite a lot to say about Villa and footy in general (he studied landscaping at Harvard).
I think I prefer the owner of my club to keep his gob shut most of the time and let the experts get on with it.
Hopefully we have now achieved that .
Jail for Ashley
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:41 AM
Comment #12We’ll never ever know why Pardew said we’ll sign four or five top players in the summer when it was looking increasingly likely we’d finish top six, he added the if a player was sold we’d sign six. Where did he get that info, was he lied to, was he already lying to us. We’ll never know.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:43 AM
Comment #13But not Wise, Llambias or Joe Kinnear I trust.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:47 AM
Comment #14If Tony Xia starts mentioning bolting donkeys to carts then the Villa fans know they are in trouble.
Jib
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:49 AM
Comment #15A good mid-season summary
Jib
Dec 25, 2016 at 10:59 AM
Comment #16Jail – I’ve got some horrible news for you !
I don’t know if I should tell you on Christmas day
😎
Jib
Dec 25, 2016 at 11:07 AM
Comment #17Go on I will
Jib
Dec 25, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Comment #18Alan Pardew has approx. £7.5million in his pension pot and is considering TV punditry.He is being pursued by both Sky and BT
Jail for Ashley
Dec 25, 2016 at 11:28 AM
Comment #19Of course he’s going in to punditry no ones going to give him a managers job anymore.
catchy in norway
Dec 25, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Comment #20merry xmas all, hope everone is havang a great day.
nufc 11
Dec 25, 2016 at 11:36 PM
Comment #21Rashford on loan would be great bit of business