We’ve noticed that former manager Rafa Benitez has been very quiet these last couple of weeks since the news of the Amanda Staveley led takeover bid for Newcastle United has been moving towards completion.
And not a murmur from the former Newcastle boss?
And that may mean he’s under some non-disclosure agreement to say nothing until the announcement is finally made, which is thought to be before the end of this month – and could even be this coming week.
There’s a report in the Star that Rafa will come back as the Newcastle manager.
But it’s a rather soft report stating only that Rafa is tipped to become the new Newcastle manager after leaving the club for China only last June when he broke the hearts of many Newcastle fans.
However, the only complaint Rafa ever had at Newcastle was with the owner Mike Ashley.
The owner refused to take his advice on football-related issues.
And he didn’t want to invest in the infrastructure of the club, such as the Youth Academy and the Benton Training Center.
Current Managing Director (CEO) Lee Charnley famously questioned how that would help us win games.
I won’t even comment on that statement, which proves how Ashley had no ambitions at all for Newcastle.
Even St. James’ Park needs some investment to bring it back to its pristine condition.
Amanda Staveley is also known to be a massive fan of the former Liverpool manager.
And when she was trying to acquire Newcastle back in late 2017, one condition in her plans was that Rafa would remain the manager.
And we suspect Rafa was informed on what was going on a few weeks back, if not earlier.
Indeed, at the very least, he would have been sounded out about returning to Newcastle for next season, if the takeover bid was successful.
The plan apparently was always to buy Newcastle for next season, and things became a bit complicated once the coronavirus pandemic took hold.
Amanda would then have had to work on his release from the Chinese Super League club Dalian, where he’s been the manager since last July.
And we noticed both players and managers who go there don’t seem to spend a lot of time in China, where some big money can be made.
Rafa may even have had a clause in his contract stating if a Premier League club came after him, he could activate it.
It’s looking like Steve Bruce could even have managed his last game for Newcastle, if the season cannot be completed.
If that’s the case, we should go straight into the summer transfer window for next season.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
71 comments so far
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:04 PM
Comment #1rozehnal
From what ive seen if this is an elaborate scheme its beyond a joke how far theyve gone
Id say its highly likely were being sold if you look at the back drop as to why he needs to sell this time
Or
Its the usual bollix, if so going along with it now gives the slime and his goons a bigger hit once it arrives
Its a no lose stance to take
Lets see him explain this away
See why im going along with it ??
JDdubai
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:05 PM
Comment #2877 people went for Bruce in the vote….
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:06 PM
Comment #3Ed
Rafa is an utter no brainer
He gave us hope, most everyone thinks he should be given the chance denied to him last time
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:08 PM
Comment #4JDdubai
Dont think the new owners will want cabbage heed, he has nowt to offer other than failure
rozehnal
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:10 PM
Comment #5Yeah it does seem too far along for him to be making this up now. I think Jim White confirming on talk sport and the confidence in the way he said it has convinced me somewhat. He knows something
I’m still little sceptical of the Saudi lot being involved in the deal.
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:10 PM
Comment #6Can you imagine him pulling this now ?
It would make the furloughing of staff look like a walk in the park
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:11 PM
Comment #7rozehnal
Honestly dont care who buys us or why
They will want to build the club and not use it as crutch to his crippled tat
simon376
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:13 PM
Comment #8From twitter but does look legit
Jack Chaytor replied
Ahmed Maalik Mohammed Junayd
@AhmedMJunayd
·
31m
????? ????! ????? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ????????? ????? ???????. ???? ?????. #nufc #NUFCTakeover
good news! Newcastle document for sale with the Saudi Public Investment Fund. We announce soon. #nufc#NUFCTakeover
Cant copy pic but link might work
https://twitter.com/AhmedMJunayd/status/1251988843684859904
bill
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:13 PM
Comment #9Whilst I think the team will be improved significantly, I’m also very interested to see the whole strategic plan details.
droppy in Wallsend
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:14 PM
Comment #10Pretty much every player linked so far has some link to Rafa.
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:19 PM
Comment #11bill
Most toon fans dont just want to see them buy players only
Most people want to see kids come through, see them playing in the first team
Nufc-83
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:21 PM
Comment #12Gone too far even the slug couldn’t stop this moving now. Would take something incredible for us not to be the richest club in football within 2 – 3 weeks time.
cheick n bake
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:22 PM
Comment #13Simon.
It’s fake
Nufc-83
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:23 PM
Comment #14Wouldn’t take Rafa with this new regime there is much better out there. He’s a great manager but I want something more dynamic and progressive on the pitch.
JohnJ
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:23 PM
Comment #15Never wanted Rafa to go – was gutted when he left due to a certain person’s blindness – I for one would be well pleased to welcome him and his team back to NUFC and Tyneside. I suspect his family will also be rather pleased also!
Nufc-83
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:23 PM
Comment #16Or Poch
Nufc-83
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:25 PM
Comment #17Need to find the next Klopp or Pep. A team that plays with stupidly high stamina to constantly press the opposition.
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:25 PM
Comment #18Nufc-83
Its a no lose situation
He sells horray
He dont its over for him here
bill
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:27 PM
Comment #19They will need to increase the capacity of SJP; the clamour for tickets will be extraordinary. A glimmer of hope and the fans will be back in droves.
NY Mag
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:29 PM
Comment #20Toon22,
It’s really interesting to see you fully immersed in this…..what changed your mind?
Shadow_Shearer
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:31 PM
Comment #21I would rather see maxi allegri coming in, but if the job is given to rafa I’d still be happy with him
simon376
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:32 PM
Comment #22Cheick
Not surprised, is Twitter after all
one fine day
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:32 PM
Comment #23Missed a day and it take so work to catch up these days
Great to see.
Jail and op (Rafa forever)
Yes on blackley and brownlie
Carlton was correct he was a big Huddersfield fan too.
And I do recall him offering to meet someone to discuss his love of “Mikey ” as he called him and why we should be thankful to him.
He did describe his match day attire as a yellow,red and green north face 🙂
So yes somewhere between a rare parrot and jack sparrows rent boy .great days on the blog back then
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:33 PM
Comment #24“We hope this is a move where the Saudis will start to improve their terrible human rights record – it’s shocking, for sure.”
Yes, it’s shocking for sure.
Are we going to churn out one embarrassing lame excuse after another?
This is nothing to do with putting petrol in our car. Or trying to right every wrong in the world. It’s impossible to be 100% ethical in everything we do. It’s a ridiculous standard to set.
It’s when these things come close to home, when they come knocking on our door, that we need to address them.
And it’s no good looking for the spelk in our accuser’s eye.
Or judging by the standards of the tyrants the Queen meets or that HM governments court.
Trying to influence these murderers by welcoming them with open arms is a curious plan indeed.
If we’re happy to roll out the red carpet for an Arab mafia, it begs the question “who would we reject?”
The amount of grief Ashley got on here for unethical practices is nobody’s business. This rotten bunch makes Ashley look like a cuddly teddy bear.
Are we prepared to turn a blind eye to executioners? To try to pretend that the PIF is not the investment vehicle of MBS? How good are we at kidding ourselves for no other reason than we don’t want to spoil the party? If only we could make that problem go away, how good would it be?
This is a simple matter. Do we want human rights abusers owning our club? What do our own consciences say? Deep down?
OneAlanShearer
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:33 PM
Comment #25Simon376 – lots saying its fake. I think it’ll happen but its anout being patient right now.
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:35 PM
Comment #26NY Mag
Im not sure
The whole pandemic
The obvious trouble hes in
The documents, yes a bit shakey
But it seems to me a no lose stance given the media coverage
He dont sell he is in a worse place than he has ever known, probably cant imagine
Going along with it is fun and makes that hit, if he dont sell, much worse
Lets see his PR dig him out the of hole this time
simon376
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:35 PM
Comment #27I know the football could be a bit negative, but do think Rafa is the man to start moving things forward. After 3 to 5 years sure he will end up being DoF
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:36 PM
Comment #28This takeover and the way it is being greeted by jubilant fans is the biggest embarrassment in the club’s history. It’s enough to make Marcelino blush.
one fine day
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:37 PM
Comment #29Rafa I think would be my safe pair of hands to takes us through the transition .
As the club grows he can then appoint the right younger coach and move to a Dof role himself
I always think of sliding doors where sir Bobby was intending that and was wanting to bring in a young coach who was his translator at sporting Lisbon before freddy shepherd stepped in .
simon376
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:38 PM
Comment #30OneAlan
Totally agree with you, think it’s going to happen just have to hold on and wait with excitement
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:38 PM
Comment #31He will have to say why hes not selling
The only reason will be greed
Its going to go down like a lead balloon
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:40 PM
Comment #32BaB
People just want the football back
Its been gone for 13 years
there being no footy about for months just amplifys it
So long as hes gone people simply dont care who replaces him
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:42 PM
Comment #33Rafa left. Rafa’s history. Steve Bruce deserves more respect.
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:42 PM
Comment #34Imagine him not selling now
Think about it
No club statement
Nothing but a landslide of negative news
Just when he needs his shops selling stuff
What a shame
toon22
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:43 PM
Comment #35BaB
Nobody cares about the jealous mackem wums opinions
Enjoy yer cheezy chips
Loved this years Netfix car crash series, keep it up
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:45 PM
Comment #36Toon22, It’s perfect. Except for the elephant in the room. I’m not prepared to ignore it. I’m not prepared to defend it. The embarrassing lame excuses are too much for me to utter.
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:46 PM
Comment #37I would happily drive the Saudis down the A19 even if it meant we swapped places with the Makems.
coming home
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:47 PM
Comment #38Bradford and Bingley
Yu not so clean yusels
Shadow_Shearer
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:47 PM
Comment #39Do any of yous remember what happened when mourinho became chelsea manager?
Abromavic had newly taken over the club, they did great under mourinhos first spell but he was a defensive minded manager, which made problems for chelsea later on when they tried to replace him, especially with a more attack minded manager.
Mourinho set a very strong foundation of his philosophy, and u have to worry the same can happen if Benitez comes back in. Let’s say Benitez comes in and builds for 5 years, then a new manager with attacking style comes, it’s going to be very difficult for the attack manager to change the system at the club. Maybe we should start off with a top attacking minded manager.
droppy in Wallsend
Apr 19, 2020 at 11:49 PM
Comment #40Toon22
I like this side of you.
Do you think those with the outrage at the nasty bad Saudis will leave with their hero?