With the recent news that Rafa Benitez has been offered a massive wage of £12M/year to manage Dalian Yifang in the Chinese Super League, Newcastle fans have grown more concerned than ever about losing their manager.
This is the most concrete report of an offer for Benitez. The other substantial links of note were to Chelsea and Roma both of which quieted down just a few day after being reported.
It remains to be seen if the link to Dalian Yifang will linger in the press and cause even more consternation for Newcastle fans.
There could definitely be some truth in the report of the offer to Benitez. The money that Chinese clubs throw around is quite substantial. But that would be the only attraction for coaches and players as the league is vastly inferior to the top leagues of Europe.
Rafa Benitez– tailor made for Newcastle
Looking through the coaching ranks in the Chinese Super League, one can see that Rafa Benitez would provide a massive boost to the league’s reputation. Currently, there are no managers even remotely having the pedigree of Rafa.
The most successful of the current crop is former Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg coach Roger Schmidt who guided Leverkusen to a couple of Champion’s league places in his first two seasons in Germany.
This was before his extreme style of play caught up to him in 2016/17 and a 12th place finish led to his sacking.
We don’t doubt the validity of the offer from Dalian Yifang, but we don’t think this is a job that would tempt Rafa Benitez in the slightest.
78 comments so far
Diddly
Jun 20, 2019 at 12:31 PM
Comment #1Markaccus maybe something in it . It does say access to dressing rooms and other areas restricted week commencing 24. Just another thing to put in the pot
Markaccus
Jun 20, 2019 at 12:35 PM
Comment #2Diddly
It would make sense I suppose. I imagine any new owners would want to look around and get a feel for the place before us commoners started breathing their air 😀
BenbulbenMag
Jun 20, 2019 at 12:38 PM
Comment #3Fingers, toes and other bits crossed that the sale goes through and A$h lie leaves.
Shadow_Shearer
Jun 20, 2019 at 12:46 PM
Comment #4First thing Rafa did when Almiron arrived was assigned him to a personal trainer. Looks like that’s already working for him.
WarrenBartonCentreParting
Jun 20, 2019 at 12:46 PM
Comment #5After a stellar career Rafa certainly does not need the money.. he needs a challenge..
And China isn’t that challenge.
Tony Baloney
Jun 20, 2019 at 12:53 PM
Comment #6Neil: I am not sure if this theory holds water. Pelligrini went there and I think he came back for less money. Rafa should have a chat with him before making a decision.
It seems like a black hole for players’ careers. Hulk. Oscar. Did Cisse go there? Outside of China nobody is interested.
Chancel My MBembaship
Jun 20, 2019 at 12:56 PM
Comment #7What happens if July 1st comes and goes and we’re in exactly the same situation (except we’ll probably be managerless at that point)? Will all of these people saying it’ll all happen on or before July 1st pick a new date? Or will they accept reality at that point?
Note: I said IF July 1st comes and goes, not WHEN. I certainly hope everything magically transforms at our club on or before that date, but I’m more skeptical than ever right now.
Chancel My MBembaship
Jun 20, 2019 at 12:59 PM
Comment #8Cisse played for Shandong Luneng Taishan in China for a couple of seasons. Scored 16 goals in 31 appearances apparently.
chancel be a fine thing
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:03 PM
Comment #9The chronic (the mirror group) are going to be gutted if Ashley leaves. After the initial furore, I would guess their site traffic will be down and with it advertising revenues. I wouldn’t be surprised if the chronic is one of the highest earning locals with the combination of so many fans and the constant shit dealt out to us by Ashley.
https://blog.reputationx.com/what-makes-us-drawn-to-negative-online-content
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:04 PM
Comment #10In this really old article by Ed in 2015 with the headline; This Is Newcastle’s Biggest Challenge In This Transfer Window
My avatar is seriously tripping! It doesn’t show on all the earlier posts yet I remember doing them myself! I k ow for a fact no one has copied my Username or the sort. So what the hell is going on??
Can someone help me figure this out please!?
I am kinda pissed this is happening as I have been posting since the beginning and wanted to see how far back it was when I first posted and then I realised that my avatar which I did today is not showing on there wtf!!
Toonbean
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:06 PM
Comment #11Just taking it’s time to catch up and populate?
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:09 PM
Comment #12Toonbean- dunno but I think yesterday a bloke that hadn’t posted in ages posted yesterday and Jail or Chicousa or someone mentioned he’d change his avatar to verify it was him and apparently it changed instantly. Yet mine hasn’t in all the articles only some, I don’t get it!?
kev1664
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:09 PM
Comment #13Chancel,
That’ll depend on what goes with it. If we appoint a new manager under Ashley and start selling players etc then it can be assumed Ashley is staying.
If the inactivity tics over it points to the sale still being on.
The date I think in my head based on the statements and timescales hinted at from BZG is 26th June for full completion. A few days after that is 1st July and we’ll probably know one way or the other by then.
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:10 PM
Comment #14Ed or Neil could you please let me know what I’ve done wrong or why this could be happening as I am rather annoyed as it seems like I have had a multiple now when I’ve never had and find that whole multiple thing just really sad tbh.
chancel be a fine thing
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:12 PM
Comment #15Chancel, There is so much that is different with this sale and IMO if there was ever a ‘sale’ to get excited about, it’s this one. Although I have been excited by the others. I believe it’s happened/happening. But if come july Rafa leaves and this ‘sale’ peters out, I don’t think we’ll ever be sold. This time we know a rough price has been agreed (and I suspect Ashley will still have a few fat fingers in some Newcastle pies) so if it falls through that will make my mind up that Ashley does not genuinely want to sell.
Toon_Army
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:15 PM
Comment #16I have some business connections with the Royal Family in Saudi Arabia and have reached out to one of their representatives who knows a few club owners out there. Maybe I can get some info, If I find out anything I will post it only here.
It’s almost bonkers that I am using business connections like this but I can’t take the silence any longer!
RobLeenio
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:18 PM
Comment #17JP, did you ever change your email address that you used to log on? Your avatar is linked to that, so wouldn’t show if you had changed it.
Nice avatar, btw – I’ve climbed that rock, years ago. The Apes are amusing, for sure.
c-dog
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:20 PM
Comment #18Looks like Rafa is already gone
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:22 PM
Comment #19Robleenio- The thing is I’ve been logging in to Ed’s blog for donkey years, since it started. And I am not sure if I changed email during this time. I think so. The funny thing is I never log in with my email only my username where it says Email/username and my password. I can’t understand why it hasn’t updated all my posts. Fuming.
Jib
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:23 PM
Comment #20https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1141607794640084997/xEw8efi0?format=jpg&name=small
The future versus the past
Chancel My MBembaship
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:24 PM
Comment #21People throwing dates out there for when it’s ‘going to happen’ remind me of those mentalists who predict the end of the world. Their predicted date comes and goes and they’re left looking rather foolish.
I know I sound cynical, but I’ve seen too many ITKs over the past few seasons bask in the attention during potential takeovers only for it all to be a load of nonsense. I’m not seeing too much different this time around.
I pray to Tarvu that I’m wrong though!
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:25 PM
Comment #22I used to have a really old email and perhaps i started logging in using that one back then, i can’t remember. But now and for years now I have been logging in my username and password only, never really had to log in using my email so just used my username and password every time that I can remember.
Budge123
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:27 PM
Comment #23Ive always been Sceptical of this takeover – it always seemed too good to be true.
But strangely the more the club edges to the abyss of chaos with no manager no signings etc the more I think it will happen!
I cannt beleive that even Cashley would let the club – his Golden Egg laying Goose – fall apart the way it is about to if nothing comes of this takeover.
So the worse it gets the more I am confident it is about to get a lot better!!
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:28 PM
Comment #24Testing
Captain AmeriMag
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:29 PM
Comment #25Hi Guys ? Long time reader, first time poster.
Now I have no information but hopefully my (so far) unbreakable takeover optimism can help get us over the finish line before we all go insane.
Two words: It’s Happening!!
Like everyone here I’ve thought about nothing else for the past few weeks and the only plausible explanation I can come up with is – It’s a done deal.
No way a reputable UAE big business like BZG would put themselves out there with the only two official statements of the whole process without being 100% legit.
And no way Rafa would maintain a dignified silence all this time unless he is in the know and has been since the beginning.
I keep thinking back to last season and after the away win at Leicester he was chatting on pitch to Carragher et al and his whole demeanor was much happier. At the time I assumed there must have been positive discussions with Ashlie / Charnlie about the future but I’ve convinced myself now it’s because he was discussing a much brighter future with Kidwai & Khaled ?
I’ve had a season ticket for 15 years and I’ve never been more excited to be a Newcastle fan.
Good times are coming back boys, Captain AmeriMag says – Let’s enjoy them together ?
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:31 PM
Comment #26Testing again
RobLeenio
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:31 PM
Comment #27JP, the gravatar account is linked to your email but you can actually log back in to your gravatar account and add a second email address to that account and use the same image for both. If you add your old email address, your old posts should switch over too.
It was noted that Jail for Ashley’s old posts didn’t have his avatar showing yesterday, to the brief hilarity of the blog (it was quite funny) but it was obvious it was only because he’d switched his email address at some point, something he’s confirmed since.
Captain AmeriMag
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:32 PM
Comment #28*All the question marks were supposed to be smily faces!!
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:34 PM
Comment #29Just logged in using my email and my password, then logged in using my username and my password, both times my avatar shows here.
Maybe way back then I did have an older email address and that’s why those older posts aren’t being updated? Dunno. Tried different older emails that I think I had but couldn’t log in with them now, so really puzzled as to what’s happened.
WLtoon
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:34 PM
Comment #30c-dog
what makes you think Rafa has already gone ?
kev1664
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:34 PM
Comment #31Chancel,
Thing is from BZG’s first statement they said it would be difficult, but they were trying to do it before the end of Rafa’s contract. That ends June 30th.
So if nothing happens by then or shortly after that date we can assume the takeover fallen through.
Jib
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:34 PM
Comment #32Warner fancies a double century
Diddly
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:34 PM
Comment #33That avatar took some doing for a non computer literate person. Must be getting old.
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:35 PM
Comment #34Rob- ahh okay. Though I can’t remember my old email address exactly , it’s been a very long time ago 🙁
Jib
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:37 PM
Comment #35Warner tried too hard
JP...from The Rock
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:38 PM
Comment #36Rob- Also why does it sometimes say at the top of the blogs page; Howdy JP…from The Rock, and other times just a picture of my avatar? Confusing.
Patoon
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:40 PM
Comment #37JP from the rock, dont post on here much now, used to do a bit but ashleys presence at nufc at sucked the life outa the club and made the blog very negative at times, i read every day without fail with the hope of 1 day seeing that a new owner has finally bought the club, how do u look up ur old posts? And wot the hell is this avatar craic? I reckon ive been posting since 2010 or 2011 but would love 2 c my old posts
RobLeenio
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:41 PM
Comment #38kev “Thing is from BZG’s first statement they said it would be difficult, but they were trying to do it before the end of Rafa’s contract”
Sorry, kev – they didn’t say that, no mention of Rafa’s contract at all. They said that the paperwork was with the FA and they were doing everything to make it happen as quickly as possible, but no mention of Rafa or his contract.
IconicNumber9
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:43 PM
Comment #39Budge123 @ #23 you’ve hit the nail on the head there. The more the club edges to the abyss the more confident we should be.
RobLeenio
Jun 20, 2019 at 1:44 PM
Comment #40JP, I dunno mate – I get Howdy, RobLeenio, not sure I would have noticed just the avatar. I’ll keep an eye out for that.