Sky Sports has shown the following footage of Rafa Benitez returning to the Benton Training Ground, which was provided on Twitter by NUFC fan Robin Verhagen:
Footage of Rafa Benítez at #nufc training ground. Live on SSN! pic.twitter.com/O3bEC9fTtG
— Robin Verhagen ?? (@robinnufc) June 10, 2019
This is the first time the manager has been seen at Newcastle since his final press conference after the season’s final game at Fulham.
With less than three weeks remaining on his current contract, the speculation is vast as to why Rafa has returned.
Could there be significant progress on his contract talks? Is he there to do photographs with a new transfer?
Or maybe he there on routine business.
Let’s just hope we don’t get follow up footage of Benitez carrying a box of family photos and “How to Defend Corners” props back to the car.
Then there will be a Chernobyl level meltdown in Newcastle.
With the current level of communication from the club being sub-zero, all we can do is speculate.
It is really sad that the simple act of the manager returning to his club has resulted in mass confusion on Tyneside.
Keith Downie has sent out the following tweet on the return of Rafa:
Lots asking: Our pictures show Rafa Benitez back at NUFC training ground today. There is, however, no developments positive or negative on his future. There’s nothing significant about him being there today #NUFC
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) June 10, 2019
Maybe it is just nothing. But how are we to know at this point.
141 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:32 PM
Comment #81Yeah, whatever!
Sheikh Bobby
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:33 PM
Comment #82Charnley getting married and taking his vows.
Vicar: Do you take this woman to be your wife?
Charnley: No comment.
Online Guy
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:39 PM
Comment #83Betty
Only if you touch them .
If data is sent down them , (its Not) It would impinge on Radio communication and the HF/VHF radio part of the spectrum, causing interference and at least wiping out the Shortwave bands . We have the human right to listen to SW so it illegal .
Data is sent down the earth national grid in North America but after trials here it was stopped.
BT and BT outreach are breaking the Law installing home plugs to send data round your house ..it’s not secure and is slower than cat 5 or 6 .Ethernet cable is the way to go , most new builds are using cat 6 within the walls ..fast , safe and secure.
Even Wireless is slow compared to Ethernet cable which gives you 100% speed and what you pay for and causes no interference.
Wireless does not cause harmfull interference but it’s slow . You may not notice until the day you change to Ethernet or cat 6 cables ..You will be shocked on the spot at the amazing speed difference ..you will go from 50% download speed or less to 100% speed as soon as you plug an Ethernet cable into your computer and the other end into your modem..hide the wire under the carpet or whatever.
The worst thing is home plugs…less than half the speed you pay your ISP for and eats electricity ..you stick a third on your electricity bill with Homeplug..Ethernet cable is free in use as it’s passive and does a 100% job.
Gamers take note .
Homeplug you will be looking at less than half the speed your paying good money for.
Also led bulbs , low energy bulbs, all slow down your Internet. Dimmer switches for lighting are the same .
Don’t take my word for it ..check it out.
Online Guy
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:40 PM
Comment #84Earth national grid ? Typo .
lesh
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:43 PM
Comment #85droppy in Wallsend
Clearly my post was too subtle and I agree with you – they’re not incompetent, they’re plain arrogant and show total contempt for fans and the media.
Many have said that the way Ashley’s screwed and screwed up a great football club should be used a text book illustrations for teaching management studies.
Toon44
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:51 PM
Comment #86This takeover lark is bs as far as I’m concerned.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:54 PM
Comment #87Lesh
Wasn’t having a pop. They have treated the fans with absolute contempt.
I think what really irritates me is how completely deliberate the whole withholding of information is, it’s calculated to keep everyone on edge.
Weirdly I am optimistic that this takeover is going to happen, and I think this is a final two fingers up from the dodgy shopkeeper.
It’s the hope that kills you and yet hope is all we have.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:56 PM
Comment #88OLG,
I once thought you might be Neil Young due to your musical connections, obviously not. I think the anagram isn’t long enough and you’re Neil from the Young ones, the lentil eating downtrodden hippie who bored the foot out of his housemate, and once was savagely beaten with a cricket bat by Vivian 😀
kev1664
Jun 10, 2019 at 8:58 PM
Comment #89People mentioned about the China trip before, I’ve a little information on that.
A lass from work is Aunty to the Murphy twins and Jacob was back at the training ground 2-3 weeks ago sorting out his Visa etc for the pre season trip.
I know crap intel compared to others on here.
Singinginthecorner
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:04 PM
Comment #90So back in 2008 when ashlie tried(lol) to sell the club he opened his fat mouth and well totally screwed us over. roll forward 11 years and this time hes keeping his fat mouth shut which is a good thing cause everything hes ever said is lies. Personally if I never hear from him again it will be too soon, the next person I want to hear from is the new owner so nufc saying no comment is good for me
Jail for Ashley
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:07 PM
Comment #91kev1664,
Excellent intel and sure a whole lot better than some people who know Mongolian pigeon fanciers, at least we now know he isn’t being retained by WBA.
jon
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:08 PM
Comment #92As long as there’s nothing dodgy, arrests, outstanding court cases etc, visa takes less than a week
Jail for Ashley
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:15 PM
Comment #93The ICC ticketing website is a disgrace and Bobbybee talks about the corruption here in the UK, there are Platinum tickets shown as available for Durham next month, you can’t buy them because they’re still in the baskets of touts who the ICC are fully aware of and must be checking on via gogo, they’ll get bought by the touts when the other hundreds of tickets they own get sold on dodgy websites, bloody disgrace!!!
NY Mag
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:17 PM
Comment #94You can get a visa for China in 24hrs (probably not advisable to use my method though) 🙂
jon
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:17 PM
Comment #95You can get in for free Jail, although, you can’t drink, they are desperate for volunteers
Tsunki
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:18 PM
Comment #96New week same non story. Oh well.
Someone give me a shout when the big announcement comes, I’m out in the back yard planting a replacement fence post – I’ve left the kitchen window ajar so I should be able to hear.
Cheers.
kev1664
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:19 PM
Comment #97Jail,
I’m wondering how long he’ll be here, I wouldn’t be surprised if he moved on in the summer, I guess they have to go through the motions just in case he is still here come pre season.
If things don’t hurry up one way or another he could end up being in and around the first team next year.
By the sounds of it he’s a pretty quiet lad in and around the dressing room, and when I’ve asked her about how he was doing last year she said he was disappointed he didn’t get much of a look in. She also said he really liked diame. I guess that would be another blow for him and would only knock his confidence further.
jon
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:19 PM
Comment #98You can ny, I had to hand deliver application (not for me, for my useless brother) he got it next day, nowt dodgy
oldarse
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:19 PM
Comment #99Jon
unless you take a hip flask
jon
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:22 PM
Comment #100If I was volunteering it would be a damn sight more than a hip flask
😉
oldarse
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:24 PM
Comment #101ok Jon a big hip flask
Jail for Ashley
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:41 PM
Comment #102jon,
Cheers for that but I wouldn’t fancy that, I might sacrifice a drink for a CL semi final at SJP but not cricket which is very much a secondary or even thirdory 😀 sport for me to watch.
kev,
It’s a real shame that we were about to be in a relegation struggle when he came in but to be fair he had loads of the ball in his debut against Hellas and didn’t do anything, maybe we are just a step up to far for him, I’d absolutely loved to be proved wrong and really hope he makes it somewhere.
jimiley
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:43 PM
Comment #103Rafa is playing Mashers at his own game.
No comment.
And just walks away.
No Rafa. No fakeover..
Its all bollix. Surely the penny is starting to drop slowly even for those who have been had over 7 times????
jimiley
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:46 PM
Comment #104Rafa has been conned again waiting for the fakeover. He aint signing the Mashers contract.
But he will have to walk away soon or just look stupid.
jon
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:50 PM
Comment #105Jail, I’ve got to know an ex County championship umpire, could have ump’d internationally too, who used to play for Durham, he’s been up there today for a county championship match, hopefully procuring a few tickets for the England NZ match for me…….watch this space
jimiley
Jun 10, 2019 at 9:59 PM
Comment #106Mashers is playing a blinder here. The Sheik is talking the takeover up and Mashers is making no comment. The sheik wants to buy but Ashley will not sell. When Ashley makes a sale impossible he can come out and say that there was interest from the Sheik but he could not deliver the goods. Ashley does not want to promote a sale, perhaps disappointing the fans, and so kept quiet until it was sorted. Sadly not able to get it over the line. Putting all the blame on the mouthy buyers. Mashers is exploiting the situation for his own benefit. The Sheik has come along at a great time and Mashers does not need to say anything.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:03 PM
Comment #107jon,
From my experience of the Ashes when tickets were sold out, we took a third mate down there who got a ticket for £50 outside while we’d paid £80 from the ICC, I’ve tried to buy platinum tonight after a mate said he fancied it as well, they’re not for sale, because of what I said in that post before, I’m going to stick to my original plan and just going to go there on the day, if we can get a ticket cost price or decent then great if not just have a hopefully memorable and sunny day on the pi$$ in Durham 😀
Jail for Ashley
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:14 PM
Comment #108jimiley,
I’m not one to accuse people of being a multiple unless I’ve got very, very good reason, I don;t think you are the Frog, but if anyone was going to step in it could be you!
Toon44
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:19 PM
Comment #109The frog sucks
lesh
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:32 PM
Comment #110droppy in Wallsend
@86
You having a pop? Don’t be daft, I didn’t see anything wrong in what was a good post of yours.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:38 PM
Comment #111Lesh
Cheers, I have watched fight club for many years, not about to join it.
lesh
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:38 PM
Comment #112Jimiley
@105
If Ashley did say something that even implied that BZG weren’t serious, time-wasters or even didn’t have or put up the money, there’d be cause for a big loss of face and he’d be in hot hot water. BZG and its associates could make life very uncomfortable for him.
lesh
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:40 PM
Comment #113droppy in Wallsend
You do right to be a spectator. 🙂
RobLeenio
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:45 PM
Comment #114jimiley “No fakeover..”
Yep, I completely agree, there is no fakeover, just one big, fat, happy, smiling, beautiful, shiny, wonderful and imminent Sheikhover.
I’m pleased you’re finally joining the glass half full brigade, you do make painful reading generally.
😉
RobLeenio
Jun 10, 2019 at 10:52 PM
Comment #115These no comments from NUFC are becoming painful.
Club: “No, we cannot confirm that Rafa Benitez was at the training ground today.”
Everyone: “He was there, he was filmed by a suspiciously positioned Sky Sports camera crew who just happened to be passing on their way to a Crown Green Bowling match at Saltwell Park”
Club: “We cannot confirm that Rafa was filmed”
Everyone: “You don’t need to, we’ve seen it with our own eyes”
Club: “We cannot confirm that everyone has eyes”
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 10, 2019 at 11:01 PM
Comment #116Rob
That made me choke on my cup of tea.
It’s so frighteningly accurate but still funny
RobLeenio
Jun 10, 2019 at 11:07 PM
Comment #117droppy, I think we all need a sense of humour at the moment. I’m a patient kinda guy, but jeez this process is testing me.
I know the club are under an NDA, but they could at least confirm that.
ie “The club are aware of the statements made by the Bin Zayed Group. Under the terms of the NDA offered to all parties who enter discussions over a potential sale of NUFC, we are unable to make any comment on the progress of any particular negotiation.”
This would essentially let us know that something was happening without breaching any obligations. But no, we’re just sat here growing steadily more resentful as time goes by.
Uncertain Toon
Jun 10, 2019 at 11:08 PM
Comment #118I am still uncertain
RobLeenio
Jun 10, 2019 at 11:09 PM
Comment #119*Apologies to those who actually don’t have eyes and are having my inane comments read aloud to them. Insensitive, I know.
RobLeenio
Jun 10, 2019 at 11:11 PM
Comment #120Uncertain Toon, shouldn’t that have been UncerToon? I think you may have missed a trick
😉