You're on crack if you think it was Ashley's charisma that convinced Benitez to stay. Does Ashley deserve praise for not getting rid of Benitez? No. Just like you wouldn't credit a grown man for not vomiting into a fireplace.
Ok, walk me through this, Ashley has refused to significantly invest in the academy or the training ground for the entirety of his stewardship, Kinnear spoke about it, Charnley has spoken about it, Pardew, Hughton, journalists, ex players. They've all spoken about the facilities needing work. But Benitez saying that the place needs investment isn't an accurate assessment of the situation, it's just a way to get the fans on side?
You few are making out like Benitez couldn't wait to get away from the club and only stuck around for the cash, right? He's a liar, the journalists are liars, the ex-pros are liars, but it's Mike Ashley that's telling it true? Try to be objective for a second and think about what you're saying. Everybody else says X, court-proven-liar and all round arsehole says Y... and you're buying Y? I mean, good lord.
