There’s an interview today with Rafa Benitez in the Chronicle where he’s asked about the meeting Mike Ashley wants to have with him – probably at the Benson training grounds.
It’s to discuss the transfers and how they can get some good players in over the next 10 days to strengthen the squad.
We are leaving it late once again.
Ashley will also bring up Rafa’s contract which runs out at the end of June and Ashley will try to keep him at the club past that time.
They will probably be loan players from the continent although apparently, we are still trying to bring Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron to the club.
We have bid around £17M for him but that was turned down, and it looks like his agent wants another £4M for himself.
Rafa Benitez – on the touchline on Saturday
That’s simply ridiculous.
This is how Rafa responded when asked in the Chronicle today about Mike Ashley attending the game on Saturday:
“I don’t have any problems, I’m open to any good ideas.”
“It’s fine Ashley being at games – but it will not change my game plan, it will not change my substitutions, but it could be good if he comes.”
“I certainly don’t think it is a bad thing.”
“I will not talk about whether we’re close to any new signings.” “I will just keep working and get the best from these players.”
“My idea is – you know what my idea is, but we have to concentrate on what we have.”
Rafa has always been positive about the owner attending the game – the manager wants everybody to be behind the team and be united.
One last thing, I had breakfast with my twin sons yesterday, and Neil has watched Almiron many times in the MLS last season and thinks he’s not strong enough physically for the Premier League.
Miguel Almiron reminds him of Remy Cabella.
Neil also thinks Rafa will walk away at the end of his contract in June.
I hope he’s wrong on that one – so does Neil.
Comments welcome.
20 comments so far
bettyswallocks
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:34 PM
Comment #1Ashley’s chauffeur has just resigned. I’d like to propose Prince Philip as his replacement .
Reilly
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:38 PM
Comment #2https://mobile.twitter.com/BlackpoolFC/status/1087356946297090048
jayphoto
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:39 PM
Comment #3@Neverwin – Seen Almiron a few times! Hes a huge risk at 30m! But…he has the ability to be a 50-75m player but who knows how he’ll settle etc! Another factor is, his agent actually looks after him, they refused to talk to Chelsea and Arsenal because they know Miggy needs to have a team built around him, theyre pretty strong on the position and game time he gets wherever he goes… Because of that, theres actually only a few clubs that can afford him that hes interested in at the moment… tho IMO hes got West Ham written all over him and in 3-4 years we’ll have a new could have signed modric story
Personal thoughts are the fact hes not played in Europe yet is the ONLY reason we have any chance in taking him…hes given a few world class defenders the run around for Paraguay and the MLS despite lacking quality is full throttle and requires super high fitness if you play in the middle
Id have considered rondons international teammate Martinez too…. rapid isnt the word
Belfast
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:41 PM
Comment #4I did think the same thing as Neil after watching videos of Almiron a few weeks ago to be honest. I think he’s totally out of our price range anyway.
Dondatta13
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:44 PM
Comment #5Elias Sørensen has joined League One side Blackpool on loan until the end of the season.
bettyswallocks
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:44 PM
Comment #6Still no news at all on the takeover. OLG did say he would be getting on to it today and trying to make contact with his source for an update.
As we speak he is probably hidden away in his disused nuclear bunker frantically listening to ham radio and whichever other bugging devices he has installed down there for any bits of info. that might be useful to us.
He has mentioned a couple of times that if the takeover doesn’t happen, as now looks unlikely, he will be contacting his source to insist on a full and detailed explanation as to why it failed and then passing that on to us. He will also be becoming actively involved in the efforts to remove Ashley from our club so I suppose at least we have that to be thankful for.
martoon
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:49 PM
Comment #7I thought Sørensen was away with the Danish U21 squad?
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:50 PM
Comment #8Reilly not blanking you
been busy
https://www.oneplaylist.space/
https://vk.com/topic-78276992_34940222?post=5441
https://www.infomir.eu/eng/solutions/ministra-tv-platform/
martoon
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:50 PM
Comment #9At least we know what the big news is today – not quite what we were hoping for!
barkel
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:51 PM
Comment #10He was … looks like he’s swapped mexico for blackpool now though
barkel
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:53 PM
Comment #11club have confirmed…
https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/sorensen-joins-blackpool-on-loan
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:53 PM
Comment #12Obviously
The tip of the iceberg
but it is a public forum
jayphoto
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:55 PM
Comment #13interesting to say the least to see how Sorensen does! At the moment he looks in that weird position, along with Callum Roberts where hes far too good for the U23s but not quite ready for the first team! I call it the Haris Vuckic stage… hope he pushes on! Blackpool seems an intense place to play at the moment, lot going on so that’ll at least get him used to fans hating the owner
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:55 PM
Comment #14https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYuqN9SrvX8
Some of Almiron’s skills are fantastic! Totally reminds me of Ben Arfa but a lot harder working and more of a team player!
Reilly
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:58 PM
Comment #15Jib.thats not an iptv service.thats just sites that have m3u urls.
half of them dont work and if they do they will play for about 20 seconds.
Jib
Jan 21, 2019 at 2:58 PM
Comment #16So toon 22 has decided to bluff it out
which to be fair is probably what I’d
do in the same position.
Just as long as the near 5000 regulars
reading this site bear in mind he’s from
the village of the damned
JohnJ
Jan 21, 2019 at 3:35 PM
Comment #17I always thought there was something strange about the little toad!
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Jan 21, 2019 at 4:16 PM
Comment #18I guess going to Blackpool gets him ready for home fan boycotts and owner calling – every little helps
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Jan 21, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Comment #19Even if he is a Mackem – Toon22 called it right unlike some!
BeeGuy
Jan 21, 2019 at 4:20 PM
Comment #20Right on schedule, the next 9 days will be for moving players out of NUFC. If there is cash left over after “internal operating costs” Rafa will get it to buy during the last 30 minutes of the window. Next day Charnley announces how hard they tried to get players in over the line……