“The Times George Caulkin has a piece in the Times today, and he doubts that Rafa Benitez will sign a new deal with Newcastle when there’s no trust between the manager and the owner.
Mike Ashley promised every last penny the club could generate to Rafa last May and yet he was able to spend only about £20M net in last summer’s transfer window.
And the problems started as that cane as a shock to the manager, and he was not happy about it.
And Amanda Staveley on her white horse may not come to the rescue after all because while she’s still interested in buying the club that was for around £300M.
Lee Charnley and Mike Ashley
She will not pay Ashley new price which is said to be closer to £400M and George has that first hand from Amanda.
George also reports Ashley is trying to sell the club in the American market with there being no takers so far this summer; in fact, nobody who’s even interested in buying the club at the new price.
Rafa doesn’t seem to see eye to eye with Ashley at all.
And as well as wanting a business plan every year that allocates money for transfers – Rafa also wants the club to invest in the infrastructure.
We’d be surprised if Mike will want to that when his first priority presumably is to sell the club.
Here are some small sections from the Caulkin report today:
“At the heart of the matter is trust. For three transfer windows in succession, Benítez believes months of work in identifying players and setting up deals was wasted.”
“The record books show that Newcastle went up as champions and have now finished tenth, yet Benítez would argue that both accomplishments were jeopardized by the club’s lack of action.”
“Why take that risk? And why make life more difficult for yourself, when some prudent investment would remove that stress and give you something to build upon?”
“The table says one thing, but this has been a season of toil and it has taken a toll.”
“When Benítez attempted to sign Willy Caballero on a free transfer last summer, the club demurred – Newcastle already had too many goalkeepers.”
“Benítez pushed and eventually Lee Charnley, the managing director, took it up with Ashley.”
“No dice.”
“Yet when they brought in Martin Dubravka in January, the manager’s logic immediately became obvious.”
“Dubravka has changed the team.”
One reason Rafa wants to be the person to decide who comes into the club and not Mike Ashley is that he knows a lot more about players than Ashley ever will.
Owners should stay in the background and let the football people like Rafa do their job without interference.
Ashley doesn’t have a clue how to run a club, and he’s proven that over eleven long years.
Comments welcome.
7 comments so far
Optimistic Panda
May 15, 2018 at 12:40 PM
Comment #1Apparently Ashley wants to scrap Local Hero and wants the team to come onto the pitch with this playing
https://youtu.be/DrUB0g8Vjgg
ITUNDERASHELL
May 15, 2018 at 12:58 PM
Comment #2Hopefully Rafa will not sign and contract until the club is sold to Staveley is in situ. Wouldn’t trust Ashley and Rafa is pressurising Ashley to put his had in his pocket and spend ‘ EVERY LAST PENNY’ you know, like he did last year !!!!!!!!
Geordie-john
May 15, 2018 at 1:10 PM
Comment #3It seems to be all hear say at the moment. I want to hear the facts from someone trustworthy like Rafa. the rest is all bollocks
Jib
May 15, 2018 at 1:31 PM
Comment #4Geordie-john
Agreed
Everyone has an secret agenda
except Rafa – who has been quite clear
and open about what he requires and desires
widowmagandapoke
May 15, 2018 at 2:19 PM
Comment #5I was a bit suspicious with the”everylast penny statement last year. Does Ashley think he can pull the same wool over our eyes again? Let’s hope the statement has real substance behind it this rime. Oh and Goeorge – put a caulk in it.
dig-n-dig22
May 15, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Comment #6It’s a shame that money is tight in the Markets because we have great potential even at 400 Mill. It’s ironic that Rafa has done too good a job ,he not only steered us to safety in the Prem with no investment in the Jan window but did it in style and increased the value of the club by about 80Mill. I think Ashley is setting the fans up yet again for a big let down, Ashley want’s to sell, just as he did last year, so that means minimal investment by the F@T TW@T of about 20Mill transfer money , again.
BANDWBURNABY
May 17, 2018 at 1:10 AM
Comment #7Have never hated anyone in my life before but when I see what that fat leech has done to NUFC & its fans over the last 10 years that fact has changed. I hate the man with a passion & there is no limit to how low he will go to squeeze one red cent into his pocket