It did not take too much time after Alan Shearer published his Sunday night article imploring Newcastle United to act like a football club, or members of a species that have language, and communicate; for them to release a statement that absolutely gutted every single person associated with the club – Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley excluded.
Alan Shearer has written another article, again in the Sun about the repercussions of Mike Ashley’s decision to cut loose the heart of Newcastle United.
This is what Alan has written in last night’s new column:
It is a shambles and a travesty. It doesn’t make any sense.
No truer words have ever been written. This is a shambles and a travesty. And it does not make sense.
Alan continues:
He has been brilliant but he has completely lost trust in those he is working for, which is not the first time that has happened at Newcastle under owner Mike Ashley.
Alan is again correct here as Mike Ashley is a wretch. And a man like Rafa Benitez, a genuine and noble being, can spot a wretch and certainly will be wary of the wretch.
However, being a genuine and noble being, Rafa Benitez had affection for Newcastle and its suffering fans. In true heroic fashion, Rafa sought to relieve the suffering of the fans. And the wretch has made everybody suffer for it.
Alan continues:
You will see the propaganda come out from Newcastle in the next few days — we offered him this and that, we said he could have so many millions to spend.
See the previous comment about Mike Ashley being a wretch.
Alan again continues, and if anyone can speak for the fans it is Alan Shearer:
Rafa united the fans and gave them belief, which they had not had for a long time.
He passionately cared for the club and the supporters, but above all, he knew the potential Newcastle carried.
Genuine and noble Rafa Benitez. We had this man as our face for three years. Not many clubs have been so smiled upon. At least we had that.
And hammer meets nail:
Most managers have issues with whoever they have to answer to, but you have to have some sort of rapport with someone at the club that shares your ambition.
All Mike Ashley wants is for Newcastle to survive – that is ultimately what it comes down to.
Rafa is bigger and better than that.
He doesn’t want to be fighting a relegation battle every year, he wants to take a team forward.
This is the crux of the position we are in. The man who owns this club also restricts this club.
Alan finishes his article revealing the emotion that burns the strongest while lurking just beneath the anger it provokes – fear:
Now, you have to fear the worst.
132 comments so far
Shoulders knees
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:33 AM
Comment #41Chicousa
Hopefully 😉
c-dog
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:38 AM
Comment #42Bambams
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:22 AM
Comment #38
I wonder how Charnley feels this morning ?
I’m sure he feels great
He’s a money man not a club man
chicousa
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:40 AM
Comment #43Should knees
There you go, mate. Don’t let the greedy bastid suck all the hope out of us! His time will pass! And the love and respect we have for Rafa will live on and on!
Never let the bastard get ya down!
Tsunki
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:40 AM
Comment #44Football clubs were formed to compete to be the best, that’s why we have leagues, and cups. They are formed to bring the communities that would support them together and give them purpose and pride in their area.
In time, greedy businessmen slowly transformed them from survivalist competitors to viable profitable concerns, with varying success. But most recognised that the big money was still in being successful in the sport, so the supporters still had their purpose.
Ashley had cynically took the business model a step further. While the supporters were asleep he cut out the wasteful investment in competitive as in sport, and rationalised a profit margin, and advertising vehicle. While they were asleep the supporters turned from being loyal proud supporters of their representative side into attendees of large, paid-for social gatherings.
Sorry but that’s where we are. He has to be leveraged out for the club to be what it is supposed to be again.
Genjikai
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:41 AM
Comment #45I hate when the journos say newcastle are happy to not have ambition label it correctly its only ashley who is happy with that.
Newcastle (us) dont seem that happy and havnt since he got here.
Diddly
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:42 AM
Comment #46Think we all knew Rafa was away at the end of his contract. But why yesterday. Why not let it run its course. Can’t understand that.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:42 AM
Comment #47Another day on the rollercoaster.
Used to the ups (becoming rare) and the downs (almost constant) yesterday felt like it left the track and plummeted to the ground.
As fans we don’t have to agree on everything, we just have to be United enough to rid of ourselves of this odious scum bag.
Genjikai
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:47 AM
Comment #48Tbh i hope rafa quit.
And didnt work his notice.
The dick ashley is.
Bambams
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:51 AM
Comment #49C-dog
I have no doubt you are right about what motivates him fella, but at the same time he must realise he is just a puppet for Ash, who just happens to be over in Miami when he tells Charnley to make the call to Sky.
Charnley is complicit in all of this, yes he gets his 50 pieces of silver – hopefully not for much longer.
chicousa
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:54 AM
Comment #50Genjikai
Rafa essentially did quit! He refused to bow down to fat Ashley and kiss his feet (accept his terms). He leaves with his self respect and integrity fully intact!
Ron Knee
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:55 AM
Comment #51So who’s going to make the strategic decisions on player in-goings/out-goings? Charmless? Wise? Carr?
c-dog
Jun 25, 2019 at 7:58 AM
Comment #52Bambams
I think he honestly doesn’t give a rats
Club secretary to managing director
That’s massive career progression
And at Newcastle, a prerequisite of obtaining such a role is having a cut throat personality
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:02 AM
Comment #53Anybody else think in the increasingly less likely event that we are sold, MA will take the bulbs out of the floodlights and green from the grass just to make sure he gets his money’s worth?
toon22
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:03 AM
Comment #54Who do you think he will pretend to sell us to next time?
one fine day
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:07 AM
Comment #55droppy
Anybody else think in the increasingly less likely event that we are sold, MA will take the bulbs out of the floodlights and green from the grass just to make sure he gets his money’s worth?
Nothing shocks me anymore .
Can hear it now ..”lee these custard creams are a bit stale …oh and have you heard back from the premier league about my idea of 11am kick offs for all home games?”
Jib
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:08 AM
Comment #56It could be potential new owners that L Blanc has
spoken to – he has worked with Arabs before
He would be a stunning appointment
PSG gave him a 22m euro pay off – after a 3 year
sabbatical he wants to be back in the swim
Optimistic Oryx
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:10 AM
Comment #5712 years of crap from Ashley and most people are only kicking off because Rafa has gone.
Seems people would be happy with Ashley’s continued BS running of the club if Rafa was still here to serve it up.
So basically quite a few dont mind how Ashley runs the club they’re just upset a manager they like left, no wonder Ashley continues to take the piss.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:11 AM
Comment #58Toon22
If somebody answers that question will you stop asking it?
c-dog
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:12 AM
Comment #59L Blanc would need 200m to save the club from relegation next season
lochinvar
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:15 AM
Comment #60Avram Grant – looks a miseable character, no thanks, wouldn’t want to get anymore depressed.
Meanwhile
Aston Villa want six more signings – £170m cash boost to be spent
They have already signed four players this summer – but their transfer spending spree won’t end there in an attempt to secure Premiership status in their first season back in the League.
Bambams
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:18 AM
Comment #61It’s been mentioned before but it is a valid point, the Jos is still with us due to legal restrictions. Other clubs are doing business so let’s continue in the ‘glass half full’ that the takeover is getting closer.
There are a few on Twitter asking for some type of statement from BZG, if there is nothing released I still take this as a positive – only if they release ‘Its over’ will I give up the hope.
That would be the final straw
lochinvar
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:20 AM
Comment #62Jib@56
With a 22m Euro pay off Laurent Blanc could pay for a couple of new players as well.
Would be a legend if he changed his name by deed poll
Laurent Noir et Blanc
Mund
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:23 AM
Comment #63Optimistic Oryx
That was because Rafa was the only shining light we had. We put up with Ashley and his regime for years. From Wise to Kinnear from pardew to the best coach in the league John carver and then finally to round it all off the wolly in the brolly.
When Rafa came which surprised us all he was a beacon of hope a shining light we had never seen before.
So I don’t think it’s about people being content with how Ashley runs the club. It’s just we had Rafa who gave us something to smile about and a little hope.
Bambams
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:26 AM
Comment #64My, my Sky Sports have just done Ash up !
Showed his statement ….Every last penny generated etc…
Then showed our net spend compared to the other teams that had just been promoted.
Maybe their opinion is changing, maybe they feel safer knowing Ash time may be coming to an end !
(Straw clutching I know )
Dubs Left Glove
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:28 AM
Comment #65Seeing more people on Twitter believing that BZG didn’t want Rafa as manager and want their own man in. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ashley got wind of this and thought let me break the news, complete disrespect to Rafa and a parting shot the fans maybe?
c-dog
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:29 AM
Comment #66Denis Wise leading negotiations with BZG
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:29 AM
Comment #67Bambams
I saw that too. It’s a slight change from them but it was still a little bit powder puff.
At least they’re starting to point out that even Cardiff, Huddersfield and Stoke have comfortably put spent us.
Now if they could ramp that up a bit it would be lovely.
c-dog
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:30 AM
Comment #68Wise and Carr are probably still hired in some sort of consultancy basis
c-dog
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:30 AM
Comment #69Nobody wants Joselu
Why he’s still here
Boom Sheikh-Sheikh-Sheikh the Toon
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:31 AM
Comment #70Chicousa
For.the longest time I’ve been reading your name as “chick-oo-sa”
Tinman
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:31 AM
Comment #71This can go two ways.
We get sold and have Mourinho.
We don’t and we have Allardyce.
If it is the latter I am completely done until Ashley is gone. Sick of it
The mighty wyn
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:34 AM
Comment #72Bambams. I noticed that subtle change with SSN last night. They showed ant and secs tweet saying get out of our club. Don’t think they have gone anywhere near that before. Maybe just maybe they’ve got wind that he’s going and they don’t have to kiss butt any more
The overrated Frenchman
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:44 AM
Comment #73Diddly- the timing of the announcement makes sense from the club’s point of view I think. By the weekend it must have become clear that Rafa wasn’t going to renew his contract so they need a new manager ASAP. By making the statement on Monday it advertises the job to the world, and deflects potential criticism that they’ve gone behind his back to find someone. Whether they can get someone in a week before training starts is problematical but not impossible. Leaving it till next Monday to play out would have been wasting a week of precious time.
Captain AmeriMag
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:52 AM
Comment #74Why then did it change from “one last attempt” to get Rafa to sign to “nah let’s not bother talking to him and announce he’s off” overnight? Doesn’t make any sense. Something is afoot I tell you!! Something positive and life changing for us all and until I read a BZG statement telling me otherwise I will keep believing it
Jib
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:54 AM
Comment #75There will be a few in management have seen
our matches broadcast – seen the Rafa adoration
and thought “I wouldn’t mind a bit of that”
The overrated Frenchman
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:59 AM
Comment #76It changed because “one last attempt” presumably failed – that was last week according to some sources. It obviously didn’t happen overnight, but it reached a tipping point.
Sheikh-en but not stirred
Jun 25, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Comment #77If Jabba doesn’t sell and he brings in a yes man (we know he will) then that person will have a rough ride the moment they walk through the door!
That is a disaster in the making! The season will spiral out of control before it’s even started!
We have a very nervous week or 2 ahead and it will make or break our club!
The Biggest worry is… Jabba doesn’t care!!
hibbit
Jun 25, 2019 at 9:03 AM
Comment #78god help any manage that comes in and gets off to a bad start !!!!!!
Nedders
Jun 25, 2019 at 9:03 AM
Comment #79#74 – I don’t think the club had any idea it was going to happen. The comment itself, with no name attached (previously Lee Charnley has specifically put his name to it), seems to have originated from Ashley. There’s no attempt to even disguise it, the vernacular is identical to the words he used on the Sky Sports interview about not wanting or being able to compete.
Something is surely still going on. Sky’s changed stance, the fact Joselu hasn’t gone officially, the timing of the message with ST renewals on the table, the comment from respected BBC journalist Saj Choudhury (sp?), no denial or comment from SJP still re: takeover, no outburst from the UAE, etc., etc.
Let’s be honest – if this all turns out to just be Ashley being, well, Ashley, then it’ll break the back of most fans. Cannot imagine anywhere near 40k turning up, and beside if we’re faffing around with people like Anthony Hudson or similar, player recruitment will be dire and there’ll be little to no reason to keep supporting the club.
JohnJ
Jun 25, 2019 at 9:04 AM
Comment #80Repost from earlier.
I mentioned a couple of days ago that I thought it was a game of poker for Ashley and for him it was a case of who blinked first.
In my mind there was no doubt at all about who that would be as I was 100% sure it would not be Rafa! Well Ashley blinked first by arranging the post, maybe he even dictated it!
Rafa has asked for certain things that Ashley was not prepared to meet and I believe Rafa was prepared let it run until Sunday 30th June. Ashley blinked first.
You would have thought to retain the services one of the best managers in the EPL & the world Ashley would have tried a line of reasonable negotiation……(there’s been enough time) But no not Ashley! I think Rafa would have been prepared to wait on certain aspects of his requirements such the training ground stuff but no not Ashley!
You’ve lost out big time this time Ashley!!!