Malcolm Macdonald has an exclusive interview in the Star, and he has used the opportunity to rail against owner Mike Ashley and the ridiculous way in which he is treating a world-class manager Rafa Benitez, who deserves so much more.
Ashley said last summer (2017) that Rafa could have every last penny the club generates but in the three transfer windows since then it’s been laughable how little Rafa has been given to spend.
We made a £20M profit in this summer’s transfer window and last January he allowed only two loan players to come in and wouldn’t’ give Rafa the money to make some permanent transfers.
Like a lot of pundits, Macdonald feels Rafa is waiting for the end of the season to come when his contract is up, and he will leave.
We have never understood what Mike Ashley thinks because if he did invest and allow Rafa to build the club, it would be worth a lot more than it is today and that has to be to Ashley’s advantage.
Malcolm Macdonald – Rafa will leave next summer
But he runs Newcastle like we are a pauper in the Premier League and we made a profit this summer when other clubs were spending big money, and that’s not just the top clubs in England doing that.
Here’s some of what Malcolm has said in the Star:
“Rafa was made a promise that whatever he created he could have to spend. Well, Rafa has actually made a profit way in excess of £20M.
“But the awful thing is that the transfer money is being withheld and Rafa is totally and utterly hamstrung.”
“I feel sorry for him because this is a great manager who I feel is just getting dogs’ abuse.”
“He’s being used and abused and he doesn’t deserve it. He’s got a great track record and he’s done an absolutely terrific job at Newcastle.”
“But he’s getting no support from above.”
“I think Rafa is just looking at the end of the season and that’s his contract up.”
“It’s heartbreaking. You look and it’s a full stadium every match day with 52,500 fans.”
“And those supporters will think: Where the hell are we going? I get the overwhelming impression that they are running out of hope.”
“Sadly, I think he is being not just pushed but shoved towards the door. He’s a great football manager getting the very best out of a very ordinary squad.”
“But I’m looking at the fixture list between now and the end of December and I’m not sure they will even get into double figures.”
“I’ve never known a situation like this. Does the owner want to sell?
“I don’t think he does because Newcastle are too valuable for him.”
It’s an awful situation to be in, but we still think Rafa will stay on past next summer.
Maybe that’s more hope than good judgment, but he will find it very difficult to walk away from his adoring fans at Newcastle United.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
3 comments so far
jazzyp
Sep 9, 2018 at 9:32 AM
Comment #1The Sobering thought is at least we’ll still have Ashley here guys eh.How bright the future looks for Nufc under the Fat Controller
Jib
Sep 9, 2018 at 9:34 AM
Comment #2Rafa more than most knows that owners come
and go – the only permanency is the club and
the fan base – Rafa is in a place of his own choosing.
If he was as meticulous in his research of Ashley
30 months ago , as he is with other football matters
none of this will faze him.
Rafa is as stubborn as a burro , he’ll wait Ashley out
for the arrival of new proprietors
or
change the tycoon’s mindset
nufc 11
Sep 9, 2018 at 8:04 PM
Comment #3I hate to think that dirty tramp will part with the cash in January when we really will be in trouble. He seems to always withhold the cash in the summer windows and then spend in January when we are in trouble and prices are twice as high or the too targets aren’t allowed move by their clubs, pure desperation stuff. That wI’ll only float with rafa for so long. I’d take relegation if it meant Ashley selling up.