There is news in the Shields Gazette that there is a difference of opinion inside the consortium, who should be able to buy Newcastle this week.
And the disagreement is about who the new manager should be, and it’s almost certain that new incoming CEO Amanda Staveley will want Rafa Benitez back as manager.
When the financier tried to buy the clubs in late 2017 and early 2018, she insisted Rafa remain as the Newcastle manager.
But Rafa had enough of owner Mike Ashley last year and left the club in June on a two and a half year contract to manage Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional.
His release clause has been reported to be as much as £20M, but surely he can get out of his contract for less than that if Newcastle came calling, but maybe not.
And there was news we reported last night that Rafa (shown above while at Newcastle) would love to return to head up the new Newcastle United.
We’re sure he would.
He knows the club well from managing Newcastle for three and a half years, and certainly, his ambitions are right in line with those of the new owners.
Then the question becomes – is Rafa Benitez worth up to £20M to Newcastle to come back?
The availability of Mauricio Pochettino, who is out of contract at Tottenham after being fired last November, has changed things.
He’s available for nothing and would make an excellent manager at Newcastle.
Mauricio has said recently he wants to stay in London, but we wonder if his head would be turned if an offer came in from a club like Real Madrid?
WE do think Mauricio is the first choice at the moment for the consortium, and he’s leading our poll as to which manager Newcastle fans want to lead the club.
In truth, we’d be delighted if either manager came in, but I would side towards Rafa because he knows the club, And he seems less of a risk than Pochettino.
But there’s no doubt Mauricio is a sought-after manager at the moment, and other clubs could come in for him this summer.
What do you think?
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41 comments so far
Mund
May 25, 2020 at 10:09 AM
Comment #1Happy takeover week everybody!!!!
#cans
Boy from the Bay
May 25, 2020 at 10:13 AM
Comment #2After Kinnear, Pardew, Carver, McLaren and the like, isn’t it just fantastic we’re now debating the virtues of Rafa, Poch and similar calibre managers?
#CANS (and lots of them!)
The Hit Man & Her
May 25, 2020 at 10:13 AM
Comment #3Whatever the cost might be I dunno but I would edge Benitez over Pochettino. Both are good at player development Benitez’s thing is constructing solid sides first then building forward from there. You get firm but fair man management I would say, and thus is where they differ. Pochettino was sacked with spurs in the bottom half because some of his players were taking command and downing tools. I doubt that would ever happen to Benitez. Maybe Pochettino has learned from his mistakes in the dressing room but I think he’s for the future. This club needs stability first and we know Benitez will do that and with money we can confidently predict being a European contender. So I would take Benitez of the two. Wouldn’t grumble if we got Mauricio though, good grief no – Steve Bruce? Give me a break!
IrishRob
May 25, 2020 at 10:17 AM
Comment #4Probably not!! But they’re loaded and it isnt going to affect us with FFP.
geordietom
May 25, 2020 at 10:18 AM
Comment #53 reposts off me …
Cans …
yep sure is good on them mate , ” The New Statesman ” have made things up mate they should be took to task for doing it …
hibbit …
with you on that mate , slagging us off can we stop whats going on in that part of the world NOPE …
Keep politics out of football imo…
all these Journo’s are doing is going thru their achives digging shit up to chuck at us …
hibbit
May 25, 2020 at 10:18 AM
Comment #6who says Rafa’s buyout is £20m ?????????
onmeedsun
May 25, 2020 at 10:19 AM
Comment #7I will be happy with whatever decision is made by the new owners. Going forward we need good decisions to be made as it’s the litany of poor decisions over decades that has held this club back. I would prefer Poch but only if he’s prepared to live on Tyneside and embrace everything. If not then pay the fee and bring Rafa back. Rafa option is less risky as already accepted by fans and his extra experience will be useful for building the whole club, and we already have the flags! Poch more of a risk, especially as he wont be managing the finished team for at least 2 years, which might not suit him. But if it works out for him he could be with us for 10 years. I would embrace either.
Rotonda heights
May 25, 2020 at 10:19 AM
Comment #8Munster
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Lovem or Hatem
May 25, 2020 at 10:20 AM
Comment #9I still prefer Allegri
geordietom
May 25, 2020 at 10:21 AM
Comment #10its that time again …
i’m confident and staying confident about the takeover happening at our club ..
Boy from the Bay
May 25, 2020 at 10:21 AM
Comment #11Hitman
I agree with all of that.
Going forward, I don’t think we need to make Immediate / radical changes to the playing staff (except for someone to put the ball into the net of course. I’d personally love to see Cavani.
Yes it would be his final big pay day, but who cares anymore – we can afford it!
#Cans – and more cans
The Hit Man & Her
May 25, 2020 at 10:22 AM
Comment #12The new guy would need to be someone who can build an academy never mind inherit one.
WLtoon
May 25, 2020 at 10:23 AM
Comment #13Good morning all, hopeful of an announcement this week, i think the whole takeover drama has ran its course now.
Bianconeri, thanks for the info yesterday re the bike. Ive got no intention of doing anywhere near 10k a year mind lol, just enough to keep me in trim will do me.
Geordietom thanks for your reply yesterday re takeover. im still optimistic its gonna happen, just need it announced mate. Thumbs up.
toon22
May 25, 2020 at 10:24 AM
Comment #14The manager is more important than any player
He will make or break a club
Look at Manu after Rudolph left
I’ve read Poch wants to manager RM ,apparently they want the guy too
Rafa is a perfect fit
The Hit Man & Her
May 25, 2020 at 10:26 AM
Comment #15It’s been said before but still relevant – to Benitez it would seem like he just took an extended holiday, the owners changed and he’d be back in with the same setup he left behind to work with again. Only now he’s get the changes Ashley lied through his greedy teeth about. I reckon it would be like this season never happened and we’d see the progress we were all looking forward to a year ago.
Geordie-john
May 25, 2020 at 10:26 AM
Comment #16To me this is a ” NO BRAINER ” £19M for Poch who knows nothing of us Geordies and what makes us tick as well as the shit we have endured under GREEDY FAT COCKney over these dull desperate years or £20M for a bloke that ticks ALL the boxes as well as knowing The new female gaffer very well.
Rafa all the way for me plus he wants to come back ( according to recent stories ) Remember he only left because the fat lad called his bluff knowing he probably had Brucey waiting in the wings with his tongue hanging out ( No disrespect to Brucey the makem )
Don’t jump on the band wagon with this vote as it was probably a SMB that started it. Rafa made the best of a bad situation including making some players better.
RAFA FOR GAFFER !!
Boy from the Bay
May 25, 2020 at 10:26 AM
Comment #17Anybody know when you can apply for season tickets? – there’s going to be a hell of a stampede!
onmeedsun
May 25, 2020 at 10:28 AM
Comment #18About the comments in the new statesman regarding us fans happy to accept an owner complicit in war crimes etc. I am a life member of NUST and have been since day 1, paid my £100 and happy to do so as it’s the one chance for our fans to be united. Trust have requested a written apology. If not forthcoming I hope they take legal action. They can have my season ticket refund cash when I get it. All we have voted on is whether or not we supported the takeover, not whether we were happy our prospective new owners had committed war crimes etc.
the crown princes nashers
May 25, 2020 at 10:28 AM
Comment #19well thats half my tools sorted out, the wife wants more space maybe I should build a much bigger tool shed but think the wife would burn it down 🙂
isnt it amazing that none of these so called top sports reporters questioned when man city, sheff united, man shite with advertising money from the saudis, psg, ect ect how come none of them said a bloody word about that yet with it being newcastle united and they are seeing what damage it will do to there beloved top 6 there runing about like over hyped drug addicts thats just had to many lines of the white stuff, dont forget so called sports experts we will not forget what yous said about us and our club that you can be bloody sure off
WLtoon
May 25, 2020 at 10:30 AM
Comment #20There seems to be a lot of posters under the impression that fans all over the country are going to hate us, that,s not what vibes iv,e picked up, in fact it seems just the opposite.
Apart from the mackems and the odd Villa and Everton fan, we are well liked throughout the country and fans from other clubs are envious,of course ,but are, in general saying its about time we had some success bcos of the support we give the club.
the crown princes nashers
May 25, 2020 at 10:31 AM
Comment #21it has to be rafa and what geordie john said he knows what is what here, cant really call poch a world class manager for the simple reason hes won bugger all, his team flopped big style when they played liverpool, fair enough he had spuds and southampton playing very well but he was sacked for a reason
The Hit Man & Her
May 25, 2020 at 10:32 AM
Comment #22Totally irresponsible for the media to set up a fan base as a piñata for other jealous clubs to have a go at when they get beaten by us.
How they think the fans can control a multi million pound business deal is beyond stupidity. What individual fans can stand regarding their conscience is a matter for them alone. But there’s no way you can blanket accuse a whole section of society for “allowing” a business deal they have absolutely no knowledge of, let’s be fair.
giimps
May 25, 2020 at 10:32 AM
Comment #23Season tickets, we dont even know if there is going to be a season never mind people in the stadium
Gothmog's Pyjamas
May 25, 2020 at 10:33 AM
Comment #24Aaron
@AaronBates91
@talkSPORT
now reporting premier league have yet to even examine the bid and announcement will be well past this week!
Lovem or Hatem
May 25, 2020 at 10:33 AM
Comment #25Regarding the comments in New Statesman – if the people of the UK are willing to accept a Prime Minister who has committed war crimes (Blair) then NUFC can accept an owner who had committed war crimes (MBS).
Phil K
May 25, 2020 at 10:34 AM
Comment #26Geordie Tom – yes, the New Statesman – written by middle class Guardianistas.
Didn’t you disagree when I made this very point about Independent and Guardian ?
Because they claim NOT to be Tory, maybe ? – They’re more violently anti-working class (especially further north you go) than the Tory rags.
the crown princes nashers
May 25, 2020 at 10:34 AM
Comment #27its like you said but id go beyond jealousy myself more like sheer hatred but I seem to love that even more 🙂 the thing is here with all these reporters sooner or later they will have to come to st james park and along with the fans who have had a go at us and our club and just see what they do then
The Hit Man & Her
May 25, 2020 at 10:34 AM
Comment #28WLToon, up to now we seem to be ok with other fans, but of course we have carried little threat for years. We seem to be “liked” more from the view of a bit of a pathetic spectacle and a cautionary tale point of view. I reckon overnight we would see that change with new owners and intent.
simon376
May 25, 2020 at 10:35 AM
Comment #29If Rafa does have a buyout clause, surely after what has happened, Force Majure (or however you spell it) would come into play and he could leave cost free, though I would think only right to make some kind of donation
Rotonda heights
May 25, 2020 at 10:42 AM
Comment #30As jail says it’s win, win, if it’s Poch or Rafa. Just feel Rafa has unfinished business here. He stayed with us in the champo and obviously saw us as a long term proyecto. Rafa got us, ie the community, the charities, the local tournaments he set up etc. I think he had possibly been planning something with Amanda for a long time but couldn’t ever envisage the day when Ashley would leave. Ashley always seemed to chop off Rafa’s desired modest incremental improvements and ambitions at the knees just when a brighter future was dawning.
For sure Poch may seem the sexier more exciting choice and would certainly bring a lot, but the experience of someone like Rafa in a huge transitional phase could be invaluable. Rafa’s been at top top clubs and has a wide ranging and holistic blueprint from top to bottom and would implement a root and branch approach to the club.
The Hit Man & Her
May 25, 2020 at 10:43 AM
Comment #31Arsenal’s invincibles were built on one of the best defensive units and solid midfield I’ve seen in my lifetime and this meant going forward there was absolutely no trepidation or fear of losing the ball because they knew nothing would go wrong behind them. Consequently they were a joy to watch let’s face it. If that’s the kind of manager we get who wants to set up a team like that no problems from me 🙂
Lovem or Hatem
May 25, 2020 at 10:44 AM
Comment #32The Premier League needs to give a decision this week.
Lovem or Hatem
May 25, 2020 at 10:45 AM
Comment #33@ Tsunki
I think Allegri fits that bill – he would build a solid defence and an effective attack
Munster Mag
May 25, 2020 at 10:50 AM
Comment #34In short, no I dont think its worth 20m to bring Rafa back when you have quality like Allegri and Poch available immediately, with no compensation attached.
There are loads of positives with Rafa outlined above and he would fit us so well given the love of the fanbase for him etc, but I dont see why people are saying that he knows how to build a club from top to bottom – any more than any other manager does?
He is not associated with youth development in general through his career – certainly its not a stand out attribute.
If we let Rafa “build the club” , it will almost certainly be based on his conservative football culture , and then we might need to change that in a few years. If he then became a DOF, he would want a coach in his image.
I’d prefer a Dortmund/Ajax/Liverpool and more modern approach.
All that said…..he kinds feels right for us…but so could Poch
Confused.com !
OliveRoll
May 25, 2020 at 10:51 AM
Comment #35Need the announcement ASAP, the waiting is almost unbearable. Rafa as we need a full club overhaul. Also.to piss that cnut R Keys off. Roll on the cans
TyneMouth
May 25, 2020 at 10:53 AM
Comment #36Twenty Million Pounds, is a lot of money, but in reality Joelinton cost twice that, £40m!
Just sayin’…
WLtoon
May 25, 2020 at 10:54 AM
Comment #37Hit Man
You make a decent point, time will tell i guess. I do remember we were many fans 2nd favourite team under KK, and were,nt hated when Sir Bobby was here.
It will be different this time round bcos of the money we can boast and the MBS issue.
Munster Mag
May 25, 2020 at 10:56 AM
Comment #38Rotunda, thanks for the dog links.
We have him in a night routine etc but he wakes us every night and my daughter cannot stop going down to him, and then she gets me to take over, so Im out in the garden with him at 4/5am most mornings.
I’m bolloxed and beginning to feel the pain big time, its like being a new dad again, in my early 50s!!
He is nipping my young fella aswell and has him running scared! 🙂 He doesnt do it to me at all, and only a little to wife and daughter.
Hard going but will keep at it.
Jib
May 25, 2020 at 1:24 PM
Comment #39https://www.skynewsarabia.com/livestream-????-???????
Jib
May 25, 2020 at 1:25 PM
Comment #40https://www.skynewsarabia.com/livestream