When Newcastle United first unveiled their new home kit on Wednesday, many fans noticed a reference in the advertising that left some a bit puzzled.
The write-up about the new shirt called on Newcastle fans to support “Rafa Benitez’ men” in the new replica home shirt.
It also mentioned how the team were looking to make this season a successful one “under the famous Spaniard”.
This tactic of using Benitez to sell shirts did not sit too well with some fans. They considered this to be a disingenuous ploy as Benitez has less than two weeks remaining on his contract.
Some fans though found comfort in seeing Rafa’s heralded name still being attached to the club. They saw this as a possible sign of a new contract on the horizon.
Well, the advertising write-up was suddenly changed yesterday with the removal of all references to Rafa Benitez.
This move left fans even more bewildered and some in a panic. Many saw this as confirmation that Rafa Benitez was indeed leaving Newcastle.
Here is a comparison of the two different ads for the new home shirt:
Below is a couple of exchanges on Twitter with Newcastle United’s Head of Media and Content Lee Marshall about the original ad for the sale of the new home shirt:
Hi, thanks for flagging this up. The retail website doesn’t fall within the remit of my team and I but I’ll make some enquiries.
— Lee Marshall (@LeeMarshall9) June 19, 2019
It’ll be written by a third party rather than a colleague at the club but I do appreciate what you’re saying. Leave it with me. Thanks again for bringing it to my attention ??
— Lee Marshall (@LeeMarshall9) June 19, 2019
While we are not sure if this is of any significance to Rafa Benitez’ tenure at Newcastle, this tweet exchange does seem to be the origin of the removal of his name from the ads.
While it may have been done to ease some unrest, in true Newcastle fashion it has led to even more confusion and despondency amongst the fanbase.
131 comments so far
beermonkey
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:02 AM
Comment #41ny mag
i find it amusing when he brands people pr
he doesnt read all the posts has no idea of the whole conversation reads part of it and brands people pr
he pegged you as pr because you posted some factual stuff on the accounts if my mem serves me
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:03 AM
Comment #42Maybe beer has no idea who is to blame for the clubs plight
Cant see it as plain as day
Wants everyone else to think it might ,somehow not be MAs fault
Who cares why so long as they dont blame him
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:03 AM
Comment #43Toon22
Before I go to Ashley towers for our big PR giggle can you just give me one example of anyone defending MA I’ll get a nice fat cheque for them.
Must be hard being the only person on the planet that’s not pro MA bless you.
NY Mag
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:04 AM
Comment #44Beer,
You’re probably right….I’m not entirely sure when I was pegged as PR….but it’s clear that there is no going back, I’m clearly persona non grata as far as he is concerned.
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:05 AM
Comment #45NY mag always seems to side with MA
Says everything is legit financially
Ive never met a person who dont think MA is as bent as a nine bob note
beermonkey
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:05 AM
Comment #46toon 22
but you keep telling me its not ashleys fault
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:06 AM
Comment #47Lets go back to discussing how were being sold tomorrow
Or next friday,thats always been popular
Over and over agian
Once the current lie ends the same people will say how next time ..bla..bla..bla
For 12 years and counting
beermonkey
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:07 AM
Comment #48ny mag
toon22 not a fan of facts
Nicky the ball tosser
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:07 AM
Comment #49Those who follow Caulkin’s work in print and other forums know he is a plain dealer and smart. You won’t find anything from him that isn’t well researched and well reasoned, as much as you can when it comes to football and takeovers anyway.
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:07 AM
Comment #50Beer
😉
Its never MAs fault
Funny how your trying to wind me up in a way that defends MA
Popper fuuny
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:08 AM
Comment #51toon22 not a fan of facts
12 years 8 none sales
Care to add any “facts “
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:09 AM
Comment #52Toon22
You said MA and his PR repeat themselves.
You said it’s never MA’s fault
Hiya KBA
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:09 AM
Comment #53Nicky the ball tosser
These people will tell you otherwise
In a way that defends MA
Just like every toon fan ive ever met
NY Mag
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:10 AM
Comment #54toon22,
Against my better judgement,you compel me to respond.
Please give me an example when I have “sided” with mike Ashley?
Btw, the accounts are the defacto financial results of the club (if you have evidence they are not accurate, don’t share that information on here, share it with the relevant authorities)
Tony Baloney
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:10 AM
Comment #55You know what though froggy/toon22 your incessant Hiya KBA and calling people shills takes away from the conversation about what is really happening. We are on your paranoid agenda when we should be talking about what happens when Rafa leaves and who will run things and what are the consequences of our self imposed transfer embargo. I am getting a bit fed up arguing about whether this is all an elaborate smokescreen by Ashley to cover his tracks. That would be bizarre even for him.
Well Frog done, you stole the show again.
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:10 AM
Comment #56droppy in Wallsend
Its never MAs fault
Or you might like 8 sale lies in a row
It took a lot longer that iver posted by far
Maybe a new record
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:11 AM
Comment #57NY Mag
Undisclosed Payments
Its in hand
😉
Online Guy
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:12 AM
Comment #58Looks like Sir John Hall has sold all our souls to the Devil .
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:13 AM
Comment #59Tony Baloney
Yes tony my love of MA has caused me to point out every negative thing i could find for near a year now
Online Guy
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:14 AM
Comment #60Robleenio
I was just looking through one of my current Radio log books on my desk and noticed this scribbled on back,
Site:nufcblog.com intext:”Jib”
Or any blog name you want to look back on in the quote signs .
No offence Jib ..was short and just an example .
Think that’s it Rob but not sure if the word intext is bolted on to com.
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:14 AM
Comment #61Online Guy
LOL
OLG
Remember when we wee sold all those times ?
You think all of that bollix helped MA and his PR ?
Over and over again
Singinginthecorner
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:14 AM
Comment #62Toon22 I get what you saying but how does it help just saying it
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:15 AM
Comment #63You think the current sale lie might be legit this time ?
Just like all those other times ?
Its just not funny
NY Mag
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:16 AM
Comment #64toon22,
I don’t understand – we’ve been dancing around for almost a year now, why can’t you just talk to me on the level? (What are you scared of)
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:16 AM
Comment #65Singinginthecorner
This is read globally
The PR post here as its one place they can get their message across without the treatment KBA got on twitter..LOL
Im here to make sure they dont get a free ride
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:17 AM
Comment #66NY Mag
I think your PR
Im here to point out the PR,you want me to help you make your job easier ?
😉
Online Guy
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:17 AM
Comment #67ROB
Notice the colon after the word intext: and also after the word… site:
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:18 AM
Comment #68If MA thinks its important to pay people to post here its important to me to make sure they dont get away with the utter bollix they have for so long now
Over and over again
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:19 AM
Comment #69Toon22
A new record for defending MA for you or calling everyone PR, for me the most disruptive poster on this blog is you.
A good PR would want to sow seeds of doubt or paranoia into a group to prevent the coming to the same conclusion and acting as a whole and being more effective. Also moving goalposts to try to make information fit their agenda, which would involve deflection or outright refusal to answer direct questions, sound familiar.
Hiya KBA
NY Mag
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:19 AM
Comment #70toon22,
You seriously think I work for KBA or MASH in some way?
Tony Baloney
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:20 AM
Comment #71You seriously think NY Mag is on here as a planted Mike Ashley PR shill?
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:20 AM
Comment #72Online Guy
The colon is also called the large intestine. The ileum (last part of the small intestine) connects to the cecum (first part of the colon) in the lower right abdomen. … The sigmoid colon is a short curving of the colon, just before the rectum. The colon removes water, salt, and some nutrients forming stool
lesh
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:21 AM
Comment #73Toon22
Take a word from the wise…… There are folk who post on here who are pro-Ashley apologists, there are troublemakers, mackems and the certifiably insane but there are a damned sight more who are true supporters of Newcastle United and despise Ashley.
In focusing your bile on the likes of Essex, Beermonkey, NY Mag and others who’s tents are pitched in the anti Ashley camp, you’re not helping your cause and risk losing your shrinking support.
one fine day
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:21 AM
Comment #74For a club about to be sold isn’t it a bit strange they are tweeting out new appointments ?
and shola being brought in has me questioning what is going on …he is as much am Ashley apologist as Beardsley was .
Clearly this wasn’t done with rafas blessing.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:22 AM
Comment #75Right I really am off this time.
beermonkey
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:23 AM
Comment #76toon22
are you paid pr
are you paid by kba to disrupt and destroy and and all conversion concerning the club
or worse are your true colours red and white
lesh
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:25 AM
Comment #77Ed
The error in referring to Rafa in the shirt ad can be put down to nothing more than sloppy management. There’s clearly no system in place that ensures errors like that don’t get passed by, and that’s down to a business that’s run on the cheap. Another of Ashley’s successes,at the club.
beermonkey
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:25 AM
Comment #78toon22
out of respect for your boss could you please end your posts with
its never mr ashleys fault
NY Mag
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:28 AM
Comment #79toon22,
The only thing I have ever tried to do, is have an open debate with you (kinda what this blog was made for). You’ve called me a shill and a PR plant without any evidence whatsoever.
It’s time to put up or shut up – give the blog the evidence of what you accuse me of….or apologize to me and we’ll move on.
lesh
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:30 AM
Comment #80Elmanio
Sorry but I must question your assertion that the sale is a done deal. It can only be done when everything’s agreed and signed off and monies paid. It appears you’re saying that things like merchandising for example are still to be agreed and that is exactly where the moving goal posts come in.
There may be an agreement in principle but that means nothing until everything’s agreed and signed.