Rafael Benítez

[Spargel]

Confidence and attitude are important attributes in sport. Mags should make enough from sales to put together a squad to get promoted. There are no guarantees in that league however.
Benitez is a very good manager, though not quite as good as the hype and hysteria is making out. Other good managers have failed in Championship.
More concerned with what we do. We have players and manager with correct attitude, just need to improve the areas where we are short - right back, another centre back, goals from central midfield and a quality forward.

 

[GBSAFC]

To be fair it was only 7 years ago.

and this time you your wage bill is far more bloated,

Brighton will 'go again', Derby will appoint a new manager and may continue throwing money at it, Mick Mac always has a good season in him at that level, who knows with QPR after a season to consolidate and a preseason for JFH to prepare them.

So far from a foregone conclusion. They'll still be the favourites, mind that can bring its own pressures.

but, but, but..... Rafa.....




... aye Rafa.
Big scalp on big heads

mass hysteria coupled mass denial = mags

 

[The Fish]

Plus Rafa? A bloke that has zero experience of that league I'd see that as a huge question mark if I were a mag.

If it was a random foreign manager who'd done well in the Greek league I'd agree, but Benitez has managed in England and done well. People keep saying how difficult that league is when what they mean is that it's competitive. It's competitive because there's a group of teams who're roughly at the same stage of their progression. Boro, Brighton, Burnley, Cardiff, Derby, Hull, Ipswich, They've all got a decent chance of playoffs at least and they seem to be there or there abouts every season. When a club like Aston Villa, Newcastle or West Ham is thrown into that mix... it changes things dramatically.

And saying north of £10m for Spineless Sissoko is why we think you, as a fanbase, are deluded

Also Townsend has an £8m release clause, he'll never be there next season.

We'll see.

and this time you your wage bill is far more bloated,


but, but, but..... Rafa.....




... aye Rafa.
Big scalp on big heads

mass hysteria coupled mass denial = mags

I don't think that's true. Bear in mind when we last went down we had Owen, Martins, Viduka, Duff, Beye, Coloccini, Jonas, Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Taylor, Nolan, Barton.

 

[GBSAFC]

If it was a random foreign manager who'd done well in the Greek league I'd agree, but Benitez has managed in England and done well. People keep saying how difficult that league is when what they mean is that it's competitive. It's competitive because there's a group of teams who're roughly at the same stage of their progression. Boro, Brighton, Burnley, Cardiff, Derby, Hull, Ipswich, They've all got a decent chance of playoffs at least and they seem to be there or there abouts every season. When a club like Aston Villa, Newcastle or West Ham is thrown into that mix... it changes things dramatically.



We'll see.



I don't think that's true. Bear in mind when we last went down we had Owen, Martins, Viduka, Duff, Beye, Coloccini, Jonas, Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Taylor, Nolan, Barton.

so your saying the wage bill was higher then than now?

one issues that gets overlooked re playes angling for a move back to the PL is that the new telly deal will means greater share of its spoils in terms of wages, hence the chances to get back on that gravy train now is hyper tempting, especially if you have clauses for a cheap sale in your contract

 

[Aerial Threat]

If it was a random foreign manager who'd done well in the Greek league I'd agree, but Benitez has managed in England and done well. People keep saying how difficult that league is when what they mean is that it's competitive. It's competitive because there's a group of teams who're roughly at the same stage of their progression. Boro, Brighton, Burnley, Cardiff, Derby, Hull, Ipswich, They've all got a decent chance of playoffs at least and they seem to be there or there abouts every season. When a club like Aston Villa, Newcastle or West Ham is thrown into that mix... it changes things dramatically.



We'll see.



I don't think that's true. Bear in mind when we last went down we had Owen, Martins, Viduka, Duff, Beye, Coloccini, Jonas, Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Taylor, Nolan, Barton.

I'd just love to know why you think Sissoko is worth more than Khazri.

 

[Roker Mackem]

Sky saying Benitez talks “at an advanced stage”


Has he actually found his pen!?!?

 

[StevenSAFC]

Linked with Carrick and Agger. If they're the types Rafa thinks will get them out of a tough, scrappy, intense, 46 match league then get him signed I say!

 

[The Fish]

so your saying the wage bill was higher then than now?

one issues that gets overlooked re playes angling for a move back to the PL is that the new telly deal will means greater share of its spoils in terms of wages, hence the chances to get back on that gravy train now is hyper tempting, especially if you have clauses for a cheap sale in your contract

No, just that it's not more bloated. Quite a few of our 1st team won't be on big wages at all. Elliott, Lascelles, Dummett, Colback, Anita, Perez, Aarons. And those that are on big wages will likely be flogged.

I'd just love to know why you think Sissoko is worth more than Khazri.

I'm not sure that he is "worth more than Khazri", I certainly have never said that.

But why I think he'll go for North of £10m? Well;
He's a mainstay of the French international team,
He's still got a decent reputation (undeserved you might argue but it exists none the less),
and finally there are championship players going for £10m to other Championship teams, so £10m isn't what it once was.


Whatever he goes for in the end, it'll be a big profit.

 

[Mackemansj1]

If it was a random foreign manager who'd done well in the Greek league I'd agree, but Benitez has managed in England and done well. People keep saying how difficult that league is when what they mean is that it's competitive. It's competitive because there's a group of teams who're roughly at the same stage of their progression. Boro, Brighton, Burnley, Cardiff, Derby, Hull, Ipswich, They've all got a decent chance of playoffs at least and they seem to be there or there abouts every season. When a club like Aston Villa, Newcastle or West Ham is thrown into that mix... it changes things dramatically.



We'll see.



I don't think that's true. Bear in mind when we last went down we had Owen, Martins, Viduka, Duff, Beye, Coloccini, Jonas, Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Taylor, Nolan, Barton.

For every team that bounces back there others that don't, it's took boro close to a decade to bounce back hull kept most of thier side together and only made the play offs. It's a tough league and teams aren't afraid of coming to places like st James etc anymore.

 

[The Fish]

Linked with Carrick and Agger. If they're the types Rafa thinks will get them out of a tough, scrappy, intense, 46 match league then get him signed I say!

The Agger link is horseshit, a rumour started by a Newcastle fan on twitter for a laugh. He said L'Equipe was running the story and the local journos didn't even bother their arse to check.

 

[Sima]

Linked with Carrick and Agger. If they're the types Rafa thinks will get them out of a tough, scrappy, intense, 46 match league then get him signed I say!

Carrick and Agger would be superb signings for the Championship. Carrick is a possibility (I've heard rumours around this), Agger is highly unlikely

 

[James]

Linked with Carrick and Agger. If they're the types Rafa thinks will get them out of a tough, scrappy, intense, 46 match league then get him signed I say!

Eh? They would be both be fantastic signings at that level.

 

[Mr David]

Media clutching at straws saying this is at at advanced stage for the last few days.

 

[Mackemansj1]

Carrick and Agger will be superb signings for the Championship.

Carrick would aggers been in semi retirement man.

 

[The Fish]

For every team that bounces back there others that don't, it's took boro close to a decade to bounce back hull kept most of thier side together and only made the play offs. It's a tough league and teams aren't afraid of coming to places like st James etc anymore.

It's not often a club with Newcastle or Villa's resources, infrastructure, etc. go down though. Often it's the clubs who were promoted recently. If Bournemouth had been relegated this season instead or ourselves, I'd say they'd struggle more to bounce back.

Whatever your personal view of Newcastle United is, it's still a daunting place for a lot of clubs in the Championship to play. It's one of the biggest stadium's and one of the biggest clubs in that league and will likely be the 1st time some of those players have played in front of a crowd that size.

Media clutching at straws saying this is at at advanced stage for the last few days.

Aye, nothing will have changed, and even if it had they wouldn't be in the know yet... but click this link anyway!

 

[Jardin]

It's not often a club with Newcastle or Villa's resources, infrastructure, etc. go down though. Often it's the clubs who were promoted recently. If Bournemouth had been relegated this season instead or ourselves, I'd say they'd struggle more to bounce back.

Whatever your personal view of Newcastle United is, it's still a daunting place for a lot of clubs in the Championship to play. It's one of the biggest stadium's and one of the biggest clubs in that league and will likely be the 1st time some of those players have played in front of a crowd that size.


Aye, nothing will have changed, and even if it had they wouldn't be in the know yet... but click this link anyway!

Everyone will raise their game against you as you will be regarded as the scalp in the division. It will lead to a lot of high intensity games - something this year's squad would struggle with over 46 games.

 

[Mr David]

It's not often a club with Newcastle or Villa's resources, infrastructure, etc. go down though. Often it's the clubs who were promoted recently. If Bournemouth had been relegated this season instead or ourselves, I'd say they'd struggle more to bounce back.

Whatever your personal view of Newcastle United is, it's still a daunting place for a lot of clubs in the Championship to play. It's one of the biggest stadium's and one of the biggest clubs in that league and will likely be the 1st time some of those players have played in front of a crowd that size.


Aye, nothing will have changed, and even if it had they wouldn't be in the know yet... but click this link anyway!

Clickbait is all newspapers go for now it is embarrassing.

 

[Mackemansj1]

It's not often a club with Newcastle or Villa's resources, infrastructure, etc. go down though. Often it's the clubs who were promoted recently. If Bournemouth had been relegated this season instead or ourselves, I'd say they'd struggle more to bounce back.

Whatever your personal view of Newcastle United is, it's still a daunting place for a lot of clubs in the Championship to play. It's one of the biggest stadium's and one of the biggest clubs in that league and will likely be the 1st time some of those players have played in front of a crowd that size.


Aye, nothing will have changed, and even if it had they wouldn't be in the know yet... but click this link anyway!

It isn't it really isn't, football has been flipped on its head since fergie left man Utd the fear factor of smaller teams going to bigger ones has all but gone out the window. Teams believe they can go anywhere and win now a day. Being well run means little tbh boro say they have zero debt and own everything yet it's took them ages to get back.

I just don't think it will be the nailed on bounce back I keep hearing mags say it will be, I was dreading going down even though we historically we bounce back this time it felt different.

 

[lurker]

My source reckons the talks have reached an 'advanced stage'

 

[CARLOS CLASS]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the same kind of changing of the guard we saw last time. The worst offenders will likely be off as long as the figures we're offered match Ashley's minimum valuation. There's talk that we won't accept a loss on Wijnaldum, but I cannot believe that's the case. c£15m on a goal scoring midfielder isn't too much, but his gutless performances will put a few people off certainly at that price.

There's quotes of c£10m for Janmaat?? That's madness, we'd be lucky to get £7m! I'm expecting Sissoko to go for North of £10m, ditto Wijnaldum, just shy of £10m for Krul, £5-7m for Janmaat, <£5m for Cisse & the same for Tiote. We might offload players like Riviere and Gouffran, but it'll be for buttons. If Townsend's camp U-turns and he goes it'll be for £8m

c£50-60m from player sales to be reinvested and a spine of Elliot/Darlow, Lascelles/Mbemba/Dummett/Colo, Haidara, Colback/Anita/Shelvey, Townsend/Aarons, de Jong/Perez/Mitrovic/Perez. That spine has weaknesses that needs addressing (FBs, CM, depth on the flank) but with the money we get from sales we should be canny.

Plus Rafa? That's why we're confident of bouncing straight back up.

Townsend will be gone, once he gets with the England squad and the tapping up starts. Plus he has a buyout clause, with the inflation we will see due to the new TV deal that clause will be matched by a few clubs