Rafa was bombarded with questions from the local journalists today amid reports his negotiations at Newcastle have reached an impasse.
He is still waiting for answers to his requirements to stay on as Newcastle manager past the end of June and even pointed out he has a contract until June 30th.
An before the game at Arsenal he was asked to submit the information on what he wanted from the hierarchy (Mike Ashley) to stay on at the club.
The more positive information this afternoon was about our two injured players Florian Lejeune and Sean Longstaff, who both suffered knee injuries that end their seasons.
From what Rafa has said about Florian Lejeune it looks like the operation went very well and Professor Paolo Mariani has told him the rehabilitation will be quite quick.
Sean Longstaff talks to Rafa Benitez
Maybe that’s a sign that this ACL tear is not as bad as the one he suffered in July last year that kept him out for around five months.
This is what Rafa has said about Lejeune and Longstaff this afternoon:
“We sent him (Florian Lejeune) to Rome and he’s doing a great job already.” “He’s had the operation. Everything has gone well.”
“Now it depends on the doctor. The doctor told me rehab has started and it’s quite quick.”
“Sean Longstaff is working again and getting stronger. The rest of the players are fine.”
That is excellent news and while Sean should be ready for preseason that could be very tough for Florian Lejeune.
But both players are now on the mend.
Comments welcome.
98 comments so far
Tsunki
Apr 18, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Comment #1David Coverdale was ok in deep purple, a bit so-so in Whitesnake. Dead right he’s a liar he’s no journalist. Doesn’t even have his own teeth let alone a typewriter.
lesh
Apr 18, 2019 at 2:35 PM
Comment #2Reposted
Just a fan
You don’t help your cause by asking people to prove assertions that Just a Fan is one of Jib’s manifestations.
You protest too much as do those who’ve committed crimes yet insist that their accusers to provide proof!
JaF, yiv been catched bonny lad so put your hands up an admit it – Jib’s a great believer in honesty and he’ll protect you from those nasty nasty posters who make life difficult for you.
lesh
Apr 18, 2019 at 2:38 PM
Comment #3Could the Ritchie leaving story have been planted by Bishop to send Rafa a message about older players being u welcome and cause a Ritchie-Rafa rift.
Mindshaft
Apr 18, 2019 at 2:39 PM
Comment #4I think Ashley is just waiting until we are mathematically safe and he’ll then tell Ashley the same old lies , you can spend what the club generates after I’ve taken my bit – basically there’s no money so see you later.
Ashley is well known for his brash style of negotiating, it’s his way or the highway – I fear for us next season with some Ashley apologist manager in charge
Just a fan
Apr 18, 2019 at 2:42 PM
Comment #5Lesh
Not difficult just tedious.
I doth protest to much.so what you are saying is just let the lies continue they then become the truth.
You and your cronies know nothing about me..
I do know I’m from walker not benwell maybe that will help you.
Just a fan
Apr 18, 2019 at 2:44 PM
Comment #6Nasty nasty posters.
Sounds like something Mr tuff would say.
Is that a pattern.
martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 2:49 PM
Comment #7lesh @3 – More likely to be a Sun journalist (if you can call them that!) putting 2 and 2 together and making 5 and writing a completely made up story. If you’re looking for a conspiracy theory then we have an effective 6 pointer on Saturday against a team on the South coast and Southern based press have written a story to upset one of our best players!
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 2:56 PM
Comment #8martoon
DP Coverdale of the Sun is a lifelong Sunlun supporter
DaveD1000
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:01 PM
Comment #9That is good news regarding Longstaff
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:08 PM
Comment #10Jib,
From previous, Rafa has been asked a question on his future and said talks are at the same point and he’s unsure of his future, where is he being evasive or skirting the truth, unless of course you know different regarding the contract talks and that is a different kettle of fish all together.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:10 PM
Comment #11Tsunki
I beg to differ, (and I realise what you said was in jest)
But the plastic epidemic is everybody’s concern, Toon and beyond.
The planet really is on a countdown to extinction unless real action is taken now.
Micky
I would probably be p!ssed off as well if i was trying to get to work but 10 to 20 years down the line from now there may be no jobs to go to, the protester are doing it for all of us not just to satisfy some self aggrandisement.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:12 PM
Comment #12And posh- geordie long words don’t happen that often on this blog!
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:15 PM
Comment #13I think that the contract shenanigans are something that’s been cooked up by Rafa and MA just to give the blog something to talk about.
martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:16 PM
Comment #14Jib @8 – Is he? I didn’t know that – probably a better reason than my theory 😉
geordietom
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:19 PM
Comment #15i think this blog is made up just to get people to argue …
martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:22 PM
Comment #16According to the Chronicle Charnley is in charge of the Rafa contract negotiation and we know Ashley is on holiday in the States. So surely Rafa must see Charnley quite often at nufc so can he not just ask him “whats happening with my new contract”?
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:22 PM
Comment #17Of the last 8 in the Europa League
only Villareal and Eintracht Frankfurt (I think)
qualified directly the other 6 dropped down from
the CL those two will likely be eliminated tonight
which imo makes this competition a bit of a farce.
Mister Tuff
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:29 PM
Comment #18On the “Green” front – they need to stop cutting down trees and using the wood to smoke/cure herrings to produce kippers. All that smoke/carbon dioxide is polluting the planet. Disgraceful.
What about burning trees for bonfires when those wizard/druid orgies occur.
And the wizard costumes – leather bags for their potions, leather sandals, polyster (plastic) fake beards and tashes. Image for one of these fellows below – disgraceful it needs to stop.
http://media.thepartypeople.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1380x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/T/H/THP-24809.jpg
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:29 PM
Comment #19martoon,
Here lies the problem. From what Rafa is saying he’s outlined his terms and is waiting for Ashley to agree. Churnley can say what he wants, it’s Ashley who has to ultimately agree and get Rafa to sign.
Mister Tuff
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:34 PM
Comment #20polyester.
hibbit
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:35 PM
Comment #21Ashley pulls the stings Chumley is just his yes man puppet 😉
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:39 PM
Comment #22Why can’t “The club” make a statement and let us know what’s happening.
Tsunki
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:39 PM
Comment #23Aye when deb industries took the old car mechanics fix of chucking a handful of sawdust in their swarfega to make it work better and decided to “revolutionise” it with plastic micro beads, do you think they were concerned in the slightest about the long term ramifications? Nah. Little known FACT! There is a floating island of plastic in the Pacific roughly the size of the continental US. Not a joke actually.
Oh…
#NUFC
Nearly forgot. 😉
Tsunki
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:41 PM
Comment #24Jail – AshleyCorp and his henchmen operate on surprise realises only. Never let anyone get wind of their next move. It’s surprising everyone got taken in by the takeover stuff, if they were really insiders they would have known Ashley let’s nothing leak.
martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:52 PM
Comment #25Jail & hibbit – are you saying the Chronicle is wrong and Charnley is not in charge of Rafa’s contract negotiations? – I’m shocked 😉
c-dog
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:57 PM
Comment #26martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:52 PM
Comment #25
Jail & hibbit – are you saying the Chronicle is wrong and Charnley is not in charge of Rafa’s contract negotiations? – I’m shocked
Ashley is in charge of Charnley
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 3:59 PM
Comment #27martoon,
Yes, I would say they’re right in saying that Rafa has to talk to Churnley but unfortunately Mikey is pulling the strings. If Ashley had any intentions of agreeing to his conditions he’d be sitting down with him directly or a conference call. It’s not looking good.
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 4:12 PM
Comment #28#WHERE IS THE MONEY?
#IF RAFA GOES WE GO
#TOON TOON
#SAVE THE PLANET
Sad Frog II
Apr 18, 2019 at 4:14 PM
Comment #29Time to thank Rafa and wish him all the best for the future. Who will be next?
Harley
Apr 18, 2019 at 4:25 PM
Comment #30Just want to add in on the Rafa contract situation.
I swear this is first hand information. I have a friend of a friend (honest) who is a well known reporter on sky sports. I’d rather not say who but he knows Rafa well and speaks to him regularly. He says-
Rafa loves the club and doesn’t want to leave and would sign tomorrow if Ashley would get the terms right. He said the biggest problem has been getting Ashley to the table as he has so much going on with his retail interests.
I asked him about both stavely and kenyon as he knows both and he said Kenyon thought it was a done deal and had £250m ready but Ashley wants £350m. Stavely ran in to a similar problem but she was also put off by the fans reaction to Ashley. He said she was worried that if things didn’t t go right then she’d get the same backlash. (Typical of the impression those not in the know have of us fans).
He also said that Rafa is a darling of the press as they all love and respect him as he has so much time for everyone. However he also said the same of Ashley lol, he said everyone who knows him likes him.
Not really new news I know but just thought I’d share it.
lochinvar
Apr 18, 2019 at 4:27 PM
Comment #31Is Rafa the new David Attenborough ?
Will Ashley become extinct ?
For the answer to these questions and many more stay Tooned to this channel….
Novocastrian66
Apr 18, 2019 at 4:31 PM
Comment #32I reckon Rafa will be away. I’ve thought that since last summer when a new deal wasn’t thrashed out. The club is a shambles.
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:02 PM
Comment #33Charnley has been speaking about #NUFC’s financial performance.
The club have announced a profit after tax of £18.6 million for year ending June 2018.
“There’s much more work to be done, but these positive financial results give the club a strong platform on which to build.
….is this what the Q&A was all about?
DaveD1000
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:02 PM
Comment #34Cue twitter meltdown as accounts are published
DaveD1000
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:04 PM
Comment #35@MsiDouglas
Following Following @MsiDouglas
More
BREAKING: NUFC accounts are out.
They’re back in profit, they’ve repaid Ashley’s £33m loan and say they have money to spend.
Here’s what we learned.
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:04 PM
Comment #36Scott Wilson@northernecho
#NUFC accounts: Turnover increased by more than 100 per cent to £178.5m, largely as a result of the Premier League television deal. However, in an era when most PL clubs are increasing their budget, Newcastle’s payments on wages and salaries falling by more than £18m to £93.6m.
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:05 PM
Comment #37Newcastle Ventures Ltd
changed its name last week to
Credit Karma UK Holdings Ltd
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/11594902
Ron Knee
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:05 PM
Comment #38Moyes to manage Scotland? Charmless will be disappointed!
Bambams
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:07 PM
Comment #39This afternoon I have had some Twitter chat with Mark Douglass in relation to the Chronicle not doing enough in relation to what’s going on at Newcastle and in particular Rafa contract.
Mark suggests, from what he has been told by the Club/source, Rafas demands are not straightforward !
Not wanting to suggest the club/source is lying but they are bound to say that.
Which by this statement I suggest Charnley has a new masterplan to appease Ash and they are not going to give Rafa what he is asking for.
Cant see why else they would tell Mark this unless they are creating an excuse already to allow Rafa contract to run out.
A CL winning manager at the 15th best supported club in the world, at the best league in the world and Charnley cant get this right.
Totally out of his depth, useless !
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:09 PM
Comment #40Ashley’s total financial value in Newcastle stands at £245m after his initial purchase of £134m.