There’s an expanded interview in the Shields Gazette where Rafa is talking about his one-on-one talks with owner Mike Ashley.
Rafa says that Ashley is happy with everything.
That’s not surprising since the price of the Newcastle club has probably gone up about £100M with Newcastle now in 10th place in the Premier League.
If we can improve our recent form, we have a chance of even catching slumping Leicester City in 9th place who were hammered 5-0 at Crystal Palace yesterday.
Rafa Benitez talks with star winger Kenedy yesterday
Rafa was asked if Mike Ashley had congratulated him:
“We were talking in the past and he was happy, obviously, with everything, so we had the conversation before.”
“The conversation about the contract and the future is between Lee Charnley and my people.”
“My representatives have talked with Lee Charnley, and that’s it. I won’t say anything else about that, because I want to concentrate on football and the game.”
“The talks are about everything, but that is part of the conversation next week.”
“I’m telling you now, because obviously a lot of people want to know. I will not talk too much about that, because we will have another meeting and we’ll see how it’s going.”
“I think this would be good for everybody.”
“What I will say is that I don’t want to talk about my ambitions, because it’s linked with the contract and all these things,”
“My answer is that we have to talk, and that’s it.”
“We know that we have a massive city behind us, so you have to try and do your best with this massive club, but I will not talk about that.” (he just did)
“They (his reps and Lee Charnley) had a conversation talking about everything.”
“You have to talk about everything, and now they have to continue talking and see where we are.”
“You had three months (in the transfer window) to do whatever you want to do – now you have two months,”
“You can do whatever you want in two months.”
It may just be us – but it seems Rafa is even upbeat about staying on at Newcastle.
We suspect his relationship with Ashley is better than people think and certainly the owner should be delighted with what’s happened with the club this year.
Now Ashley needs to back Rafa fully in the summer transfer market and agree to his demands to make Newcastle into one of Europe’s top clubs.
Why wouldn’t he do that?
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
Jib
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:27 AM
Comment #1I find it funny (and a bit sad) that some posters
judge a defender on one goal being scored on their side.
Apparently Dummett was at fault for
their goal so therefore he had a crap game.
Jib
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:33 AM
Comment #2Rafa is in a brilliant position
If his demands are not met
and set in stone – he can walk
without any recriminations from
the NUFC faithful and a queue
of English clubs ready to offer
him a job.
NezzaNUFC
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:33 AM
Comment #3I just hope Rafa does not sign Slimani full time, massive value for a player who has not played a full 90 minutes.
People judging him on a few minutes each game shouldn’t be judged whether we should sign him plus he could be facing 3 match ban!?
We need a similar player with a similar style as Slimani.
I’m hoping we sign Kenedy which probably won’t happen and we do need new players that are hungry and passionate to play for the toon.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:34 AM
Comment #4Cyprus
This is how I saw the game…
any way back to today – ON OUR HOLIDAYS
we were poor from the first minute to the 94th minute – five minutes of pressure first half when we hit the bar and Kenedy missed a sitter.
Goodbye to Slimani just Mitrovich in disguise – yes got great movement but always looking for the player and should get a 3 match ban for striking their defender.
We were back to our slow sideways build up backwards sideways wanting to many touches
Dubravka – 7 – nowt to do but pick the ball out of net and deal with loads of back-passes
Dummett – 4 – Worst display all season give Philips far too much space and caught flat-footed for their goal – looked tired or was he injured
Lascalles – 7 – Ok but not at his best hesitant when on the ball
LerJuene – 8.5 – my man of the match good in defence and on the ball he was sublime great passes long and short
Yedlin – 6 – OK but wanted to many touches on the ball had great opportunities to cross first time but kept cutting back and passing inside and backwards
Ritchie – 6 – Another OK but did not have his usual bite and tenacity
Shelvey – 6 – Passing good at times but looked lazy fell asleep second half – didn’t track their runs and got in Diame’s way a couple of times
Diame – 6 – Got stuck in but again not up to his high standard of late. did a power of running covering for Shelvey’s laziness
Kennedy – 7 – tried to get things going linked up defence and attack but over-did things in second half – trying to hard maybe. Should of done better when put through
Perez – 6 – the enigma he is does a great deal of running but no end product needs to get his head up runs into brick walls
Gayle – 6 – another who did a power of running bur could not get on the end of Shelvey’s overhit
passes
Subs
Murphy – 4- poor did not want to beat his man and not sure where he was playing
Slimani – 1 – For his stupid lash out at their defender – Juries out on his play great movement but all to busy looking for the marker instead of the ball
Joselu – 1 – not on long but dear oh dear
Crowd – Tried to lift team but gave up half way through second half – disappointed to see half the crowd left well before the end – maybe 20,000 left at final whistle
Nufc-83
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:34 AM
Comment #5Dummet can be excused as he has been immense since returning and I am one of his biggest critics. Yedlin and Dummet has a poor game yesterday but so did most.
NezzaNUFC
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:37 AM
Comment #6Jib
This is what I fear with Rafa, he clearly stated he wanted to aim for trophies and Europe, but this puts Ashley to square one, and that’s spending to be a successful club.
Ashley had plenty of chances to turn us into a top 6 team but he rather play safe and stay mid table with maybe a chance at cups.
lochinvar
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:43 AM
Comment #7Missed the match and the MOTD highlights by choice. Clearly the pitches against Everton and WBA were too wet and sloppy and out players had the wrong studs on their boots so clearly this is an area that Rafa needs to tell the coaches to improve on.
It’s almost if clubs have been told what position in the League they’re allowed to achieve. Come on lads three games to prove us wrong.
NezzaNUFC
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:45 AM
Comment #8Rafa with the right investments could lead us to glories, look where we are now, 3 loaned players in January and we are 10th!
Imagine what 50 million in the summer could do, I know it’s not a lot but it’s a start.
The sale of other players that are not needed could boost the kitty to maybe 70-80 million if not more.
After watching yesterday game I could tell the players eased of the gas because they know they are safe and have nothing to look up to, 10th place are below, no cups, no euro and most don’t play for their national teams, so what’s to look forward to?
In the summer no doubt Rafa would state to the lads, look we are going Europe next season and give a shot at both cups next season.
lochinvar
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:48 AM
Comment #9How will we offload Joselu ?
Slimani doesn’t want to be here.
Gayle I suspect will end up at a London club but which one who knows.
Rafa needs to make some good choices in the transfer market as after glimpses of what the team can do well this season we need more strength, consistency and determination to be in the top six for the future.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:51 AM
Comment #10On Perez…won us plenty free kicks, has a big engine with is needed with Diame and Shelvey midfield and setup Kenedy for the goal that should have been…
…no end product well isn’t that the story of Newcastle!
Slimani though…what a signing! At least Mitro has reignited his career. Well done lad…hope he has a great summer tournament!
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Apr 29, 2018 at 8:52 AM
Comment #11lochinvar…you don’t reckon Joselu was a great signing ;D
dig-n-dig22
Apr 29, 2018 at 9:07 AM
Comment #12NezzaNUFC #8
“10th place,no cups,no Euro, and most don’t play for their national teams, so what’s to look foreward to?”
How about busting a gut on the pitch for the fans who have paid hard earned money, instead of serving up that crap?
Moonraker15
Apr 29, 2018 at 10:21 AM
Comment #13Like most I’m disappointed at the last 2 performances and results, but howay man Lads give them a break! They’ve pulled up trees this season to reach 10 place and it looks like the future is good!
Howay the Lads!
Moonraker15
Apr 29, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Comment #14On the Mitrovic debate, I watched this match on Friday last and he looked overweight and slow and barely finished the match. Don’t be fooled by the goals he’s scored for Fulham; remember how many Gayle scored for us last season? If we can get 20 mil for him then I would snap their hand off. Slimani is a good option for us if he’s available for 20 million but I’m sure Rafa has a plan. The only mistake was Joselu! Omg he is crap and I think Rafa just plays him as nuisance value as he couldn’t score in the proverbial brothel.
Geordie-john
Apr 29, 2018 at 11:24 AM
Comment #15Slim , Is he another Mitrovic or Shelvey or even David Batty ? His silly little trip/kick or however you want to describe it has now just ended his possible NUFC career in my opinion. His pace is good and would no doubt improve but from what I’ve seen so far he isn’t what Rafa really wants or needs.
You daft bugger Slim, Now that the pundits have spotted it and highlighted it on TV the FA will definitely look at it. BYE BYE NUFC Hello Leicester .