Newcastle took the unusual step of issuing a joint message to fans from Lee Chabtley, Rafa Benitez, and Jamaal Lascelles yesterday.
It is an attempt to bring everybody at the club together before today’s first game against Spurs at St. James’ Park this afternoon.
It follows a tumultuous transfer window in which Newcastle made around a £20M profit.
But Rafa stresses he was happy enough with the seven players he signed in the window and called for unity.
Here is the letter as published on the Newcastle website:
Dear supporters,
As the transfer window closes and attentions turn to the start of the season, we wanted to make this joint statement, on behalf of everyone at the club.
Doing good business in a transfer window is about ending the window clearly stronger than when you started and we believe we have done this.
The view we all share is that we have a better squad now than the one that finished tenth last season and all involved have worked tirelessly to make this happen.
Collectively, we must extend praise to Steve Nickson and his recruitment team.
Their operations are year-round, but they have worked day and night in recent months to support efforts to enhance the squad.
We are all excited about the seven players who have joined us this summer. Their combined experience in the Premier League and at an international level – with three of them appearing at this summer’s World Cup for their respective countries – cannot fail to strengthen us.
Martin Dúbravka and Kenedy have already proven themselves to be fantastic players here and we are confident that Ki Sung-yueng, Fabian Schär, Yoshinori Mut?, Salomón Rondón and Federico Fernandez will be excellent additions to the dressing room.
Given our finishing position last season, we already had a team of players who were more than capable of performing well in the Premier League.
They have shown heart, guts and determination and the inference that they are ‘Championship’ players and not good enough is unfair and untrue.
The players all believe in themselves and in the quality of the squad, and we all believe in the players.
Now, it’s about all of us pulling in the same direction, for the good of the club.
This came through strongly in a recent positive call between our owner and senior members of the squad, who agreed that better dialogue going forward will benefit all parties and is in the best interests of the club.
With the transfer window now closed, the focus should be on unity and getting behind the efforts on the pitch.
We know our supporters are incredibly passionate and we know that passion will be channelled into supporting the players we have in black and white on Saturday, and every matchday thereafter home or away.
Lee Charnley, Managing Director
Rafa Benítez, Manager
Jamaal Lascelles, Captain
That’s an excellent message from the three men representing the hierarchy, the team management of the club and the players.
Let’s support the team just as we did last season and we could even surprise ourselves.
And don’t let Mike Ashley foolishness get in the way of that.
And finally – let’s not forget the strength of Newcastle has always been the supporters – and always will be.
Howay The Lads!!

9 comments so far
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 11, 2018 at 8:19 AM
Comment #1Yay, good old Ed.
lochinvar
Aug 11, 2018 at 8:20 AM
Comment #2Dolly Parton has re-released her classic for the start of the season
Joselu, Joselu, Joselu, Joselu
I’m begging of you please don’t take my mam
Joselu , Joselu , Joselu, Joselu
Please don’t take her just because you can
Your passing is beyond compare
With flashing headers everywhere
We’re eating wor pies of beef and beans
Your goals are like a Gasgoine thing
Your voice is soft like Amber ale
Teams cannot compete with you, Joselu
She talks about you in her sleep
There’s nothing I can do to keep
From crying when she calls your name, Joselu
And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my mam
But you don’t know what she means to me, Joselu
Joselu , Joselu , Joselu, Joselu
I’m begging of you please don’t take my mam
Joselu , Joselu , Joselu, Joselu
Please don’t take her just because you can
You could have your choice of mams
But I could never love again
She’s the only one for me, Joselu
I had to have this talk with you
Our goals for depends on you
And whatever you decide to do Joselu
Joselu , Joselu , Joselu, Joselu
I’m begging of you please don’t take my mam
Joselu , Joselu , Joselu, Joselu
Please don’t take her just because you can
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 11, 2018 at 8:21 AM
Comment #3Dolly’s the best.
Harley
Aug 11, 2018 at 8:23 AM
Comment #4If we’d signed a left back, I’d go along with this statement. I wouldn’t agree it’s been a good window but it would’ve been adequate. We have been saying we need a left back since Enrique left and we still don’t have one (to challenge Dummet). Ridiculous.
lochinvar
Aug 11, 2018 at 8:23 AM
Comment #5The Sunderland Echo reports that in a survey of Mackem fans 99% agreed that Ashley signing the HofF for £90m was a good buy but couldn’t see how David Hasselhoff would get a work permit in time.
The other 1% liked his car.
Lindisfarne
Aug 11, 2018 at 8:27 AM
Comment #6Jib
You need to go to the pub pre-match
Lindisfarne
Aug 11, 2018 at 8:33 AM
Comment #7All raise your glasses to Steve Nickson
giimps
Aug 11, 2018 at 8:35 AM
Comment #8Bishops done well
Graeme
Aug 11, 2018 at 9:46 AM
Comment #9What a bloody shame the Illustrious Owner couldn’t release the funds needed, much earlier in the window – so the original targets could have been brought in, in a timely manner, to avoid scratting around for anything with a pair off boots and a pulse!!