In the Q&A yesterday with the Chronicle one of the reporters (Chris Waugh) suggested that he didn’t think Mike Ashley would give Rafa Benitez any money in the January transfer window unless we were really struggling and relegation was (again) a possibility.
That’s how Ashley seems to have freed up money in the past.
As one example when we were struggling with relegation in January 2013, Ashley got involved, and we brought in five French players – four of them in one week after we were beaten at home 2-1 by Reading for the first time ever in our history.
We just survived relegation that season after we had finished 5th the season before.
The problem was created in the first place by Mike Ashley himself by refusing to strengthen the side in quality and quantity when we qualified in 5th place for the Europa League.
Why did we need to buy new players after we had our best league position since 2004?
Mike Ashley – he must support Rafa Benitez in January
So it was Ashley (what again?) who caused the problem he had to solve six months later.
That’s what Mike Ashley does – he dishes out the money and seems concerned when relegation threatens.
So the Chronicle’s Chris Waugh could well be right that Rafa Benitez will only get money if we are really struggling against relegation.
But that’s exactly what Rafa doesn’t want to happen.
It will prove to Rafa – if he doesn’t already know – that Ashley has no ambitions to have Newcastle become a top team.
He’s simply not willing to spend the club’s money to achieve that.
Rather, he’s happy enough to keep Newcastle in the Premier League and spend as little money as possible.
If that scenario does happen – that Rafa gets little or no money to spend in January because we are fairly safe in the League – it will cause Rafa to leave the club when his contract runs out in June.
We wouldn’t blame Rafa in the least if he left in those circumstances and, the problem is again caused by Mike Ashley.
Rafa has struggled in trying to build a top team over the last two and a half years and he hasn’t been given the necessary funds to do that.
Managers of much smaller clubs and with much less history than Newcastle have spent some big money – clubs like Bournemouth, Fulham, Brighton, Burnley, Watford, Southampton, Crystal Palace, and others.
If Ashley again withholds money – for whatever reason – Newcastle may save money in the short-term.
But the price Ashley can get for Newcastle in a sale will then plummet and we’ll have trouble hiring another manager when Rafa leaves.
So long-term Newcastle will lose a lot of money becasue of a probable third relegation next season.
And Mike Ashley is supposed to be a good businessman?
If that happens and Rafa leaves the club, Mike Ashley will have made his biggest ever mistake at Newcastle – and that’s saying something.
Comments welcome.
91 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 6:48 PM
Comment #41Rodgers, like any other manager would be hampered by Churnley via Ashley’s reluctance in the negotiations.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 6:50 PM
Comment #42cyprus,
What dilemma?
jane
Oct 13, 2018 at 6:54 PM
Comment #43“cyprus,
What dilemma?”
Bulgaria away is a toughie
ToonLegend
Oct 13, 2018 at 6:55 PM
Comment #44He did very well at Swansea City.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Comment #45Swansea are shite!!!
jane
Oct 13, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Comment #46come January Newcastle aren’t likely to be safe.
cue investment/strengthening.
we will stay up and Rafa will stay.
ToonLegend
Oct 13, 2018 at 6:57 PM
Comment #47Speaking of which, I wonder what welshie would say.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Comment #48jane,
Rafa will not be hoodwinked by Ashley spending in January to save our bacon only to be let down again in the summer. His methods have been well and truly sussed and no one bar you and Jib believes in him anymore.
hibbit
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:01 PM
Comment #49jane
what makes you so sure/confident Rafa will stay ???
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:03 PM
Comment #50hibbit,
Because like her alter ego she’s a footin wind up merchant.
jane
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:03 PM
Comment #51Jail for Ashley to clarify are you saying Rafa won’t be here next season?
jane
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:03 PM
Comment #52hibbit i think he wants to stay.
Ron Knee
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:07 PM
Comment #53Clark on the bench for RoI.
jane
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:07 PM
Comment #54“she’s a ..wind up merchant.”
why would that be a wind up? isn’t it entirely possible that Rafa will still be here?
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:11 PM
Comment #55jane,
If Ashley is still here Rafa won’t be that much is clear. They have met four times in two and a half years and each time Ashley has lied to him, I doubt very much they will have a face to face meeting about a new contract ever again.
Jib
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:15 PM
Comment #56Jail
That’s the point
You believe it
but
You don’t KNOW
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:19 PM
Comment #57More likely it’s the same person
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:22 PM
Comment #58Congrats to Gibraltar, 1st ever win. Away to Armenia!
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:23 PM
Comment #59Circumstantial evidence Jiblets.
Genjikai
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:27 PM
Comment #60Jane your confident that ashley will pull through and give Rafa funding in janurary and beyond.
What do you think ashley is going to do? Is he selling or not? If bot where do you see him leafing us?
Genjikai
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:28 PM
Comment #61Sorry for wrong letters big thumbs, cracked phone screen, does what it wants!
Moonraker15
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:34 PM
Comment #62Ashley is committed to spending some money in January and I would think Rafa has identified his targets and told Charnley. So that won’t affect Rafa’s decision to go or stay. It will be investment in the training facilities and academy which will persuade Rafa and he’ll want it written into his new contract.
AncientC
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:35 PM
Comment #63Jib, Dalglish won a cup on his return to Liverpool. Ask Liverpool fans who they preferred out of Dalglish’s (mickey mouse cup) term, and Rodgers’. I am sure you know a few to ask…
If you were not such a Keegan critic, you could probably get away with your admonishment of Rodgers.
jane
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:37 PM
Comment #64“Jane your confident that ashley will pull through and give Rafa funding in janurary and beyond.”
yes to January don’t know about beyond
“What do you think ashley is going to do? Is he selling or not? If bot where do you see him leafing us?”
don’t know
AncientC
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:37 PM
Comment #65Imagine how painful it would be for Jib, if, (big IF) Rodgers rolled up, and another Keegan style era began.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:41 PM
Comment #66AncientC,
You must be pretty desperate to get shot of Rafa to clutch at the straw that things might be better under Rodgers?
Reilly
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:41 PM
Comment #67Whys the fat man the referee at the boxing at the arena tonight.
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:42 PM
Comment #68We all know with MA it’s simply not possible
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:42 PM
Comment #69Ancient,
Have you been dabbling with hallucinogenics this evening?
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:42 PM
Comment #70We won’t ever have a good team or youth setup
You kinda need one or the other to do well
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:44 PM
Comment #71In the last 11 years MA has owned us where has he taken the club ?
Are we better off ?
And you think suddenly that’s going to change ?
ToonLegend
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:45 PM
Comment #72Toon22
Could have a good team if the club had a decent manager.
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:49 PM
Comment #73Bollocks
In the last 11years every time we have come close to having a good team MA sells all he can
Where have you been in all that time not to notic ?
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:50 PM
Comment #74Con W@nker will be Swansea’s next manager after Cardiff, the top team in Wales sack him.
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:50 PM
Comment #75Won’t talk nicest on players
Won’t invest in youth
Won’t spend on facilities
Explain how any manager will do well
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:51 PM
Comment #76Dam auto correct
Won’t invest in players is the fist line
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:51 PM
Comment #77Toon22,
It’s welshgeordie9 being a dick!
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:52 PM
Comment #78Ahh
toon22
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:53 PM
Comment #79Alls good though as it let’s me point out what I like to
I don’t mind if they are on the wind up,it fits my agenda just fine
DubaiMicky
Oct 13, 2018 at 7:53 PM
Comment #80To be fair, Ashley would make more money selling NUFC than he will by investing in HoF in the short term.