We’ve noticed that when Rafa rates a player, he keeps going after them until he can sign them.
The first time Rafa wanted to sign Irish International James McCarthy of Everton was way back in January of 2017 when Rafa wanted to buy the recently departed Andros Townsend and James McCarthy.
But Mike Ashley refused to sanction any deal thinking the squad was good enough to be promoted the following May.
He was right, but this is the way Ashley has run the club – spending the least amount of money possible while trying to keep Newcastle as a Premier League club.
It hasn’t worked for 12 years, but he still keeps doing it and proving he should not be the owner of a Premier League club.
Since then the 28-year-old Glaswegian suffered a broken leg on January 20 in an attempt to block a shot on goal by Salomon Rondon.
Newcastle want Everton’s James McCarthy this summer
It resulted in the striker accidentally breaking McCarthy’s leg.
The 41 times capped Republic of Ireland International was ruled out for the rest of the 2017–2018 season and Rondon was in deep distress on the field.
According to an exclusive in TEAMtalk today Rafa wants to sign James this summer.
McCarthy is now back to full fitness after an injury-ridden time at Everton but Rafa is good with players that seem to get injuries, and we may be able to get the very talented McCarthy for a decent fee.
And James will have something to prove at Newcastle, so that’s always good – Rafa will help him do just that.
McCarthy wants to leave Everton, with manager Marco Silva not having James in his plans for the Goodison Park club.
In fact, McCarthy has hardly played over the last two seasons for the Toffees (7 times in all and only once last season) so it’s a bit of a risk.
But McCarthy has always been an accomplished player ever since he came into the Premier League with Wigan back in 2009.
If Ashley is still the owner, it may be difficult for Rafa to persuade him to pay maybe £15M (it could be less than that) for a player who turns 30 in September.
If we have new owners, then it’s likely they will trust Rafa’s judgment on transfer targets this summer.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
355 comments so far
magscar
May 29, 2019 at 4:06 PM
Comment #121So when is David Craig (SSN not our Fairs Cup RB) rocking up to SJP to interview some excitable teenagers?
SSN hourly bulletin on about some final, a bolshie manager and cricket – aw c’mon let’s have some reality TV 🙂
GS
May 29, 2019 at 4:07 PM
Comment #122Supposedly this is what fonging is:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2019/may/28/david-squires-on-planes-trains-and-autocracies-europa-league-final-arsenal-chelsea-baku
Ron Knee
May 29, 2019 at 4:07 PM
Comment #123Liam Kennedy@LiamJKennedy23
Contacted Premier League re #Newcastle United takeover, been told they will not comment on situation – whether they’ve been sent docs, or if any tests in process. Say it is down to #NUFC to comment on said situation. #NUFC also contacted. Also “no comment” at this stage
Ibizatoon
May 29, 2019 at 4:08 PM
Comment #124OP…It does seem so. Great news, at last.
Still, I’m sure there are a few hurdles to cross still. Hard to dot the i’s and cross the t’s when you’re illiterate, but I have some faith in Ashley and Charnley…when it comes to getting Ashley cash.
toon22
May 29, 2019 at 4:08 PM
Comment #125JIB
If you so sure the sales happening why wont you commit to never posting pro MA stuff again if it turns out to be lies ?
GS
Hiya JIB
Pottsclock
May 29, 2019 at 4:08 PM
Comment #126Fong is a “cockney” English word referring to a slim pair of ladies lower undergarments
Reilly
May 29, 2019 at 4:09 PM
Comment #127Would BZG not have to get the nod from the fatman,before releasing these statements.
Optimistic Oryx
May 29, 2019 at 4:09 PM
Comment #128Ibiza
Money makes Ashley’s world go round
GS
May 29, 2019 at 4:09 PM
Comment #129Hiya KBA
Ibizatoon
May 29, 2019 at 4:10 PM
Comment #130OP…I’d remove the sim and battery and get a new phone asap. Anonymous are on to you.
GS…If it helps, you’re fonging the hell out of this.
Novocastrian66
May 29, 2019 at 4:10 PM
Comment #131Ibiza; I’m in denial about everything these days, it’s the only way I can keep sane. Refuse to believe anything is actually happening. It the ostrich syndrome.
Optimistic Oryx
May 29, 2019 at 4:11 PM
Comment #132Reilly
I thought about that and figured they must have discussed it before the first release.
GS
May 29, 2019 at 4:11 PM
Comment #133Hiya G2.
Moron.
geordietom
May 29, 2019 at 4:11 PM
Comment #134you know something a little shukran jazilan goes a long way …
so does hayak allah…
Optimistic Oryx
May 29, 2019 at 4:12 PM
Comment #135Ibiza
Anonymous? Just tell me who it is?
As long as it isn’t the guy from Mr Robot
Ibizatoon
May 29, 2019 at 4:12 PM
Comment #136OP…Well, it’s certainly helped make him round.
Whoops, shouldn’t poke fun at Mike just as he’s about to sell.
GS
May 29, 2019 at 4:12 PM
Comment #137Doesn’t help at all Ibizatoon. What does fong mean?
Ibizatoon
May 29, 2019 at 4:14 PM
Comment #138Novo…It’s a tried and trusted method, can’t blame you. I just like the ride 🙂
OP…We’ll have to hire a whizz to find the whizz.
Optimistic Oryx
May 29, 2019 at 4:15 PM
Comment #139You’ve got to be a bit of a prick to only come on the blog to throw insults or wind fans up on what could turn out to be one of the important days in living memory for Newcastle United.
Take a hike
JohnJ
May 29, 2019 at 4:15 PM
Comment #140Here’s a link regarding Newcastle United & Rafa Benitez
http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2019/05/29/sheikh-khaleds-plan-for-rafa-benitez-ahead-of-potential-350m-takeover-reporter/
Just hoping all this is true!
Love your new Avatar Micky!
RobLeenio
May 29, 2019 at 4:16 PM
Comment #141toon22, I’ll answer on behalf of Jib as a fellow Ashley shill.
If Jib or anyone else promises to never again post anything pro-Ashley, that implies that pro-Ashley posts have been made in the past, which has always been denied.
Whether you realise it or not, you’re asking a loaded question which nobody in their sane mind would reply to.
Let’s just say that Ashley is suddenly irrelevant and leave it at that, eh?
We’re supposed to be celebrating. I might even get you a virtual slice of dead fly cake to celebrate.
😉
Here’s looking forward to many future conversations with you about proper footy stuff.
Ibizatoon
May 29, 2019 at 4:16 PM
Comment #142GS…My understanding is that to fong someone is to hit them with a paddle like tool.
A good fonging would be equivalent to a good beating, I believe. I also understand, it could be either punishment or for pleasure. People are odd, I’m not sure how G2 gets special mention if I’m being honest.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
May 29, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Comment #143Rob
Cheers for the mention.
Up at SJP Friday – Still loads and loads of kegs waiting to be shipped out.
Plus friend who works for the Opta stats for NUFC told me in March that their contract ends at the end of the season and the Club shop were running down stocks and not re-ordering.
So seems like something been going on – press must be kicking themselves they have not got wind of anything.
Not a bad thing tho if both parties want to push through a deal
Heres hoping
Swlabr
May 29, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Comment #144Toon22. Just an observation here, if the sale’s going through, (and it is) why would anybody bother making any MA statements (pro or anti) at all? It would be pointless.
Also, you realise you’re asking jib a “When did you stop bashing your wife” type question. Nobody would respond to that.
Just saying is all.
Novocastrian66
May 29, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Comment #145Ron Knee; that’s a non confirmation, confirmation by the EPL if I’ve ever read one.
Is the Pope catholic? Err, I cannot confirm that, erm you need to speak to the, erm, Vatican. It’s up to them to tell you that.
Swlabr
May 29, 2019 at 4:19 PM
Comment #146Blimey Rob that was spooky
Optimistic Oryx
May 29, 2019 at 4:20 PM
Comment #147Ibiza
You’re fonging or flogging a dead horse with GS he’s been asked talked to etc, he’s just obsessed.
hibbit
May 29, 2019 at 4:20 PM
Comment #148so bloody obvious GS is nowt more then a silly little mackem wum trying to gate crash the party
PLEASE DON’T FEED THE WUM
GS
May 29, 2019 at 4:20 PM
Comment #149Because he talks about fonging all of the time. Which is very strange.
Jib
May 29, 2019 at 4:21 PM
Comment #150“Optimistic Oryx
You’ve got to be a bit of a prick to only come on the blog to throw insults”
So why do it ?
Swlabr
May 29, 2019 at 4:21 PM
Comment #151Just shows how fast the posts are coming in!
GS
May 29, 2019 at 4:22 PM
Comment #152Hibbit: you think I am a Mackem? and winding up. You could not be more wrong.
I think G2 is very strange and I am saying so.
That is all.
Optimistic Oryx
May 29, 2019 at 4:22 PM
Comment #153Jib
Ho Ho Ho, I bet you weed a little whilst typing that?
RobLeenio
May 29, 2019 at 4:23 PM
Comment #154Swlabr, great minds and all that.
It’s a new era, new start. I’d like for catchy and jesper to come back on and join in the celebrations. This is a time for all NUFC fans to share a couple beers and some goodwill, no matter what squabbles they’ve had in the past.
And that will last about 2 hours, I reckon.
;-
Ibizatoon
May 29, 2019 at 4:23 PM
Comment #155OP…That’s okay. I’m off shortly anyway. Hasn’t taken up anymore of my time than watching the constant posts over the past 20 minutes or so 🙂
So, does anyone know when our current sponsorship deals expire? Isn’t that the way owners get funds in for players these days and not fall foul of FFP rules? This is a grey area for NUFC fans…an owner wanting to find a way to put money in. Typing it even seems foolish.
Reilly
May 29, 2019 at 4:23 PM
Comment #156Did you enjoy ya trip to wembley this past weekend jib.Spain my arse. 😆
hibbit
May 29, 2019 at 4:23 PM
Comment #157jibs feeling left out
gillmag
May 29, 2019 at 4:24 PM
Comment #158Why aren’t the local press banging on the doors at St James to demand a statement…useless the lot of them.
Somebody somewhere must know for sure what’s really happening or when we might get final confirmation the Fatman has gone??
JP...from The Rock
May 29, 2019 at 4:24 PM
Comment #159Oh FFS not this twat McCarthy again. I don’t rate him at all!
We should be going for Allan of Napoli or someone similar like Bakayoko.
ben.g
May 29, 2019 at 4:26 PM
Comment #160Rafa the Wiley old fox has known the whole time.
No wonder he’s been knocking back other clubs with no contract sorted!