Rafa Benitez is a great believer in the Newcastle United Foundation which does such a great job in the area with local charities and represents the face of Newcastle United FC to the local community.
Today was the 1892 Foundation Cup at Benton which brought together some local school teams who played in front of the watching club’s coaching staff.
And of course Rafa Benitez was there as well – as he took just a little time off from coaching the first team squad.
We haven’t heard too much from Rafa since he’s been back for just over a week now, so it’s good to see what he has said.
A somber looking Rafa Benitez congratulates award winner Ryan Hyacinth of Cambois Primary
Rafa’s in deep thought – thinks – this lad can be the next Lionel Messi
This is what the Newcastle manager had to say to the Chronicle today at the 1892 Foundation Cup:
“The staff are always great because you have to do a lot of work behind the scenes.” “It’s great because the link between the club the Foundation and the community are important.”
“They help a lot of people who may not have had the chance.” “But now they have come here and they will remember this forever.” (that’s so true)
“They are quite young but you can see the ability and the technique.” “They still have to develop and learn.”
“Normally you are looking for people who work hard and try, and have the enthusiasm to do what they have to do.”
“After that, you can look for talent and give them advice.” “The main thing is that they enjoy their football.”
“To be fair I was I lucky I watched both finals and there were some great goals.” “The idea is to keep the connection between the club and the community.”
“You know from experience if you get the shirt of your team and city and you have a day with the Foundation you will keep supporting the team forever.”
“It’s important to bring more young people and we’ll have more supporters in the future.” “Everything the Foundation does now is important.”
“You can help people do little things and that is for us something quite simple.” “You saw a lot of people here and that was the main thing.”
“It’s great if you can produce a player out of the Foundation games.” “It’s not the main idea but at the same time you come across one talent nobody knew about.”
“And then maybe he will be the new Messi!”
If Newcastle are going to be successful in the future and create a flow of top young players through to the first team, then Newcastle must build a scouting team that can spot the good young players and get them to the club – essentially from all parts of the world.
It’s also very important to make sure we get all well most of) the local talent in the north-east and we’ve been guilty of missing out on far too many top north-east players in the past who have joined other clubs.
It’s a very important part of Rafa’s blueprint for the development of Newcastle United into a European powerhouse.
Yes – I mean that – one of the top clubs in Europe – we certainly have the right manager in place to do just that.
Why not?
🙂
51 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:34 AM
Comment #41Expat
I realize that you and Bobby are oil and water, but he wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s black and white through and through, so I don’t understand why he gets as much grief.
I know he can be a bit pedantic but if you read what he is saying it makes a lot of sense.
As I’ve said before before I’d love to get you all in a pub together, I reckon it would be a great night with loads of good craic and probably a lot less animosity.
We are all after all in love with the same thing, NUFC!
Anyway that’s my last comment of the morning (Here) as I need my ugly sleep, catch you all later!
expatmag
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:43 AM
Comment #42BOOBY
More insults, I see.
Behave, you silly old man
expatmag
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:49 AM
Comment #43BILL
Sleep well mate.
For what it is worth, I dont take the blog serious but when I read the fact that no matter what disagreements there are, he always needs to be right and then resorts to childish insults. I am not the only one he besmirches. Thats why I like to wind him up. I find his written tirades humourous.
Bobbybee
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:56 AM
Comment #44Bill, I just don’t suffer fools gladly mate, as you realise. That’s sometimes difficult on here as you are aware. 🙂 Sometimes the truth is painful to some people and they dish it out but cry when they get it back tenfold.
I’ve never cared what anybody thinks about me face to face, so I’m not going to back down to faceless wonders I’m unlikely to ever meet. No chance of meeting most of the whingers at the game, that much is for sure! 🙂
There are plenty I would happily have a pint of shandy with – you being one of them. There are others I’d sooner not bother with.
You can count those I argue with on your fingers and it’s always the same ones, who argue for the sake of it. They can’t hold a dialogue pertaining to football so resort to insults, then cry when I respond in like manner. Football always comes first though and I can talk football all day and every day. Our lass will confirm that! 🙂
I find it ironic that the ones who might have reason to complain about things – the ones who pay for the pleasure of watching the games – seldom do. The reason being, if we’re not happy with the football on offer, we can always walk away. 51k average crowds in the Championship tells its own story I reckon. 🙂
Bobbybee
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:59 AM
Comment #45Yawn.
Bobbybee
Jul 11, 2017 at 3:22 AM
Comment #46Update on NUFC transfer business…
Spent a little bit of time with Rafa Benitez at the Academy today. While the club have been frustrated with the lack of done deals Rafa seemed in good spirits.
Seems very determined to get players in and said the club were working hard to make that happen.
The summer window is certainly testing Newcastle right now but seems to be a belief they will get what they need this summer.
Newcastle still have deals on the table for players so it’s very much a case of watch this space.”.
.
The above is from Lee Ryder who spoke to Rafa personally.
Clearly the whole club is frustrated with the window but that is understandable with the prices being touted. It’s nothing to do with the club renaging on anything, it’s just a difficult window. Something Rafa understands.
No conspiracy theories. Looks like the sixth time Rafa’s going to walk is pretty much like the other five times – BS.
expatmag
Jul 11, 2017 at 4:07 AM
Comment #47Booby
Go to bed you silly old bugger…..lol
toontaff2
Jul 11, 2017 at 6:27 AM
Comment #48Welsh’Udders9 : ‘Premier League newcomers Newcastle United are weighing up the possibility of lodging a bid for PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, according to France Football.
Never heard of him.’
But you have head of Erwin Mulder, that famous perennial free signing? The famous understudy to that other world famous keeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt?
toontaff2
Jul 11, 2017 at 6:43 AM
Comment #49Whilst Bobby does demonstrate his annoyance very vocally, I am sure I am not the only other blogger who does find certain posters’ constant negativity extremely irritating. Where people support the Toon from, how they support us etc are all good, but for the first time in a while we have a world class manager and a squad of mainly young, committed players, who actually want to play for us.
Doubt Fat Mike is on anyone’s Xmas card list, but I think the prices and wage demands for average/poor players are ridiculous. We certainly need and hopefully get, some upgrades to our squad, but there is still 7 weeks for these to sign.
Everton are now trying to offload McCarthy for 25 million, Barkley for 50 million- as the end of the transfer window looms, they will need to get rid of these, meaning they will have to lower their demands. We will buy players, no doubt not as quickly as any of us hoped, but paying over the odds for mediocrity is not the best option. Seems Brighton are doing the same, whereas ‘Udders have just spent the whole kitty on anyone. ‘Udders already look like a Championship squad, with their 9/10 mediocre signings. If we’d signed those 9/10, there’d have been meltdoon, here, along with a large influx of mackems/WUMS and of course, our resident Welsh’Udders, having a field day.
toontaff2
Jul 11, 2017 at 6:53 AM
Comment #50Whilst I’m talking to self, myself, besides wondering where my medication is , I’m wondering how many of our 29?eniorars we need to/can actually shift.
Krul/Darlow/Woodman loan
Jesus/Hazaar/Hairdryer
Hanley
Colback/Diame/Saivet
Rivierre/Murph/De Jong
We should get 10million for Murph/Hanley/Hazaar. Maybe 2/3 for Krul/7 for Darlow. 5 for Jack. 3/5 for Diame.
Max 30million.
Saivet and Rivierre, we cannot give away! De Jong?
Shifting the deadwood will be harder than bringing in new players.
toontaff2
Jul 11, 2017 at 6:54 AM
Comment #51enioras ~ senior players 🙄