It is Rafa Benitez by his expertise and strength of character that has been holding the club together for the previous three years.
Shouldn’t Rafa be rewarded for this by the owner?
Any other manager would have found it very difficult to keep Newcastle as a Premier League outfit over the last two years with the distinct lack of investment from Ashley.
Rafa has had to buy what he can with the money available but still has brought in some excellent players – Fabian Schar being the latest stellar buy for £3M from Deportivo.
So maybe Ashley should think about what he likes – money – and realize just how many millions and millions of pounds Rafa has saved the owner over the last three years.
First of all the manager got us promoted immediately and has had the team around mid-table in 10th and 13th positions in the Premier League the last two seasons – that’s no mean feat.
If we had been relegated again, Newcastle could have ended up like Sunderland and Middlesbrough and not come straight back up to the wealthy Premier League.
We would now be missing out on the massive money in the Premier League.
But we’re not – principally becasue of Rafa’s brilliance, strong character, and tolerance.
Rafa Benitez – the savior of Newcastle United
Doesn’t Ashley appreciate that – and it’s Mr. Benitez he should be thanking?.
And think about the squad Steve McClaren had when we were relegated three years ago.
Two players – Gini Wijnaldum (£25M fee to Liverpool) and Moussa Sissoko (£30M fee to Tottenham) will be playing in the Champions League final this year.
Think what Rafa could have done these players if they were still on Tyneside – he wanted to keep both payers when we were relegated but couldn’t do it.
He was already having Sissoko playing out of his skin for Newcastle when he arrived.
During that season pundits we asking why Newcastle were struggling so much when we had some outstanding players.
Steve McClaren was out of his depth from the first day at Newcastle and should never have been appointed by Lee Chatbley.
It was an incompetent and ill-advised appointment by the Managing Director.
Back to Ashley.
Why is a man who hasn’t attended Newcastle games for months and doesn’t seem to have much interest in Newcastle in sole control of Newcastle’s future at the moment?
Make no mistake – it will be a complete and utter disaster if Rafa walks away.
I’m not sure what our reaction would be – dismay, anger, depression, all of them and more.
If Rafa does leave, there has to be a case put to the FA about how Mike Ashley – because of his billions – is allowed to wreck a football club.
This will not be the last time a Billionaire buys a Premier League football club for publicity and for the good it can do his own company in (free) advertising around the world.
We hope Rafa stays, but if he walks then Ashley has to get out of Toon.
We will then thank Rafa for what’s he’s done for our club over the previous three years and keep some of the great memories in our hearts.
Let’s hope Rafa stays – and have a positive ending to this story – and an exciting summer ahead.
Comments welcome.
86 comments so far
geordietom
May 18, 2019 at 10:01 AM
Comment #1Rob …
just read through the comments off last night …
your Cornish Cream Tea comment made me spit me coffee out …
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 10:02 AM
Comment #2So online was scaremongering?
I bought 47 rolls of tin foil last night and I’m on revision 12 of my tin foil hat, waste of bloody time.
Ron Knee
May 18, 2019 at 10:04 AM
Comment #3Sorensen scores:
https://twitter.com/hksoccer7s/status/1129605876644438016
martoon
May 18, 2019 at 10:05 AM
Comment #4Re the tweets anybody notice our old poster Indian Magpie also I loved the one about Tony Pulis Gemma Collins 😀
martoon
May 18, 2019 at 10:10 AM
Comment #5OP – he’s right about mobile phones next to your head but that’s well known. The RF/Microwave as long as you’re not close to the transmitter I,e. next to it. This homeplug thing I’m not sure exactly what it is yet – I need to do some research.
Bambams
May 18, 2019 at 10:15 AM
Comment #6Thursday talks only lasted two hours before Ash had to leave for a business meeting, Charnley Bishop and Barnes went for a meal – Rafa did not.
Rafa will, I presume have his legal team with him/nearby but Ash has CharnLIE, Bishop and Barnes with him or again nearby.
Wonder why Ash feels the need for all his henchmen !
As long as talks continue….
It should never take this long though – Ash is a bloody disgrace.
ronaldo aarons
May 18, 2019 at 10:20 AM
Comment #7Ashley’s vocabulary and dictionary starts at Ashley, then straight to B.
Cuts out Ambition.
ronaldo aarons
May 18, 2019 at 10:21 AM
Comment #8Reports have it than when Rafa has been speaking, Ashley has been showing him the Perez celebration.
#TrueStory
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 10:25 AM
Comment #9Martoon this
Some clever fella realised you could use your ring main to send though internet signals
thereby hard wiring your internet round the house
One of the trade names is powerline
Online the silly billy confused it with this
jane
May 18, 2019 at 10:27 AM
Comment #10what does RF stand for? do mobile phones have an RF?
when you speak into a mobile phone it converts voice to microwaves and transmits it?
and it’s the transmitting bit that is bad?
toon22
May 18, 2019 at 10:30 AM
Comment #11If MA is selling the club why bother hard balling Rafa ?
It’s the new owners problem
Tells you all you need to know about the sale lie
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 10:34 AM
Comment #12Martoon
I only text unless I have to.
What about my Bluetooth headphones, have I paid £200 to cook my brain quicker?
Jib
Its called a network
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 10:35 AM
Comment #13Radio Frequency
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 10:39 AM
Comment #14A network smartarse is what your router sets up with different
devices round the house acting as a hub.
This system is not a network it is merely using house wiring as ethernet cable
geordietom
May 18, 2019 at 10:40 AM
Comment #15OP…
you got any tin foil left i’ve ran out …
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 10:45 AM
Comment #16Jib
Are you sure, I think you’ll find it’s still called and classed as a network.
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 10:46 AM
Comment #17Tom
Sorry mate I’m currently cooking 500 bacon sandwiches under the grill
ronaldo aarons
May 18, 2019 at 10:46 AM
Comment #18I think online guy’s thing is not just there’s one or two issues with rf devices and they’re around sparingly but that they’re everywhere. There are studies for and there are studies against it. Then you have the 5g which is coming and is just not necessary and is a hot topic with a lot of people questioning the dangers it poses not just to humans but the environment, birds etc.
All part of the wider emf discussion that’s being played out but majority of people just know about 5g as fast internet, download speeds etc like we have an issue with it and needs improving.
#DavidMoyesOnAlert
#NUFC
RobLeenio
May 18, 2019 at 10:52 AM
Comment #19I have powerline adapters running the internet signal through my house, with ethernet cables connecting things like my TV and son’s X-Box and wireless access points in each room. I think it’s fair to say my house is flooded with wifi signal.
It may be frying my brain, but I can stream 4K ultra HD when the missus is catching up on Corrie
😉
lesh
May 18, 2019 at 10:52 AM
Comment #20Jib
You’ve kept your electrical engineering knowledge quiet.
Presumably you gained your knowledge and expertise while working with Faraday, Ferranti, Marconi and Tesla?
Your modesty is commendable.
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 10:53 AM
Comment #21Someones been reading or watching Jonny Pneumonic…
RobLeenio
May 18, 2019 at 10:53 AM
Comment #22Good to see Sorensen scoring again. Looks like he’s bulked up somewhat over the last season. Could be why his scoring rate has slowed while he adapts his game to his new physique.
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 10:54 AM
Comment #23Panda
perfectly sure thanks
I was working with these in Spain 10 years ago
but no doubt you’ll not acknowledge you’re wrong and
do your impression of a pigeon playing chess
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 10:55 AM
Comment #24Give jib 10 mins hes googling network to try and make me look stupid.
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 10:57 AM
Comment #25Jib
Really, ho ho ho ho
Your talents have no limits.
Are you Tesla in disguise
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 10:59 AM
Comment #26Jib
I can post as many links from YouTube or other sources.
Its called a network…….
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 10:59 AM
Comment #27Rob
You miss the point
With a house full of pl adapters you are keeping your
wifi signal to a minimum.
Online was talking crap when he said there’s an rf
signal off the house wiring
Ron Knee
May 18, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Comment #28#DontForgetMarkHughes
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 11:02 AM
Comment #29Network
a group or system of interconnected people or things
Hmmmmmm
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 11:04 AM
Comment #30Coo coo Panda
bettyswallocks
May 18, 2019 at 11:05 AM
Comment #31This isn’t the first time OLG has had the blog in a frenzy with his misinformation. It really makes one wonder whether he is doing this deliberately.
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 11:06 AM
Comment #32Jib
Do you have a permit for deep excavation?
You dig some canny holes for yourself
RobLeenio
May 18, 2019 at 11:06 AM
Comment #33Fair play, Jib.
Our hub is at the back of the house in an extension, the signal at the front of the house (where we spend most of our time) was always bad. Those signal booster boxes are just flaky and need rebooting like daily, so the PL adapters are great. We have 4 of them set up with the same network name so mobile devices connect to whichever is closer and we all get great signal.
Well worth the investment.
#NUFC
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 11:06 AM
Comment #34Betty
I thought the same regarding the sale early in the year.
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 11:07 AM
Comment #35Panda
I always figured you as a shitbag but not stupid.
In Robs house his kids xbox cannot connect to his
tv unless directly cabled therefore they are not
INTERCONNECTED it aint
a network
bettyswallocks
May 18, 2019 at 11:11 AM
Comment #36Jib may well have made numerous blunders when attempting to make knowledgable comments about football. However his knowledge on satellite dish installation surely gives him the upper hand in this discussion and should merit him a modicum of respect in this area.
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 11:12 AM
Comment #37Jib
I’m talking about your post not robs, keep digging
Optimistic Panda
May 18, 2019 at 11:12 AM
Comment #38Jib
Hahahaha
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 11:14 AM
Comment #39There you go Rob used the correct terminology unwittingly
They are an “extension” of your internet capability
Jib
May 18, 2019 at 11:16 AM
Comment #40Got to love Panda
He’d never even heard of powerline internet extenders
until last night and now he’s an expert.