Newcastle United 2015-2016: Pushing on? Or more of the same?

Dec 21, 2015
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So on the broadcast yesterday, they said that Rafa had initially planned not to stay if they got relegated, but after the outpouring of support from the fans, he's reconsidering. Since all such men are politicians, does that mean:

- He's going to quit and go to the highest bidder
- He's trying to get a raise out of committing to 1-2 Championship seasons
- He is genuinely touched by how stoked the fans are about the impact he's made on his club and he may be preparing to make an emotional decision?

The third seems unlikely, but I don't know what the news is saying up there. This is a guy who was managing Real Madrid 4 months ago, who's one of the most accomplished coaches in the world by any measure, as any Liverpool fan will remind us. The idea that he'd play for a second-division team, especially after the obvious impact he had in his time at Newcastle (which is great PR towards other interested teams), would seem to strain credulity.
 

Infield Infidel

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So you're telling me there's a chance . . .
"My heart is obviously telling me yes it is a fantastic opportunity, a fantastic atmosphere, everything is so good that my heart is very clear.

"But at the same time you have to use the brain, both things have to go together. We talk with Lee Charnley, and then after we'll see where we are.

"I said I am quite open and I am quite pleased with everything, the staff, everything, now it's just to be sure that we have to do what we have to do to be sure that we can go up if I say here.
"They know, we have been talking. I have the same feeling as the fans, they want a strong team next season to be sure we go up again.

"The way and the ideas will not be difficult to have, to have similar ideas, but we have sit down and make sure of everything."
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/10283524/rafa-benitez-admits-his-heart-is-telling-him-to-stay-at-newcastle-united

When he started I would have put it at 1/100 chance he'd stay if they were relegated. Now I'd say it's 1/10. Still not good but not out of the realm of possibility. Rafa seems like a heartfelt guy who like challenges, and his family is in England and he likes it there. If he wants to stay working and stay in England, his options are stay at Newcastle, see if Van Gaal is out at ManU, or take the summer off and take over a team that sacks its manager in the fall. The only EPL jobs out there, Everton and Watford, he's not taking those. Watford is too small, and Everton, I can't see him doing that to Liverpool fans. But really he could have his pick of jobs on the continent, either a CL/EL job, or move a middling team into Europe.

I told a friend the other day it would be awesome if we could loan him out for a season until we go back up :)

edit: the other thing with Newcastle is if Ashley gives him complete control over transfers. Rafa's not coming back without that, and Ashley could idiotically say no to that caveat
 
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Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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So you're telling me there's a chance . . .

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/10283524/rafa-benitez-admits-his-heart-is-telling-him-to-stay-at-newcastle-united

When he started I would have put it at 1/100 chance he'd stay if they were relegated. Now I'd say it's 1/10. Still not good but not out of the realm of possibility. Rafa seems like a heartfelt guy who like challenges, and his family is in England and he likes it there. If he wants to stay working and stay in England, his options are stay at Newcastle, see if Van Gaal is out at ManU, or take the summer off and take over a team that sacks its manager in the fall. The only EPL jobs out there, Everton and Watford, he's not taking those. Watford is too small, and Everton, I can't see him doing that to Liverpool fans. But really he could have his pick of jobs on the continent, either a CL/EL job, or move a middling team into Europe.

I told a friend the other day it would be awesome if we could loan him out for a season until we go back up :)

edit: the other thing with Newcastle is if Ashley gives him complete control over transfers. Rafa's not coming back without that, and Ashley could idiotically say no to that caveat
The idea of Rafa Benitez at Old Trafford is a hilarious one. That is even less likely to happen than Everton.

I'm not sure that Benitez has a ton of other options, even in Europe. The only job in Spain is Valencia. They seem to prefer keeping Ayestaran, a Benitez protege, on as full time manager and I doubt Benitez would want to steal the job from his old assistant. Italy doesn't have great fits either. Roma and Milan both sacked their managers this year and have interim replacements, but they may also keep those appointments around. Benitez doesn't have the strongest reputation in Italy either given that his time at Inter was pretty disastrous and his spell at Napoli decent but nothing special. Its hard to see him going to the Bundesliga or Ligue 1.
 

Dummy Hoy

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Jul 22, 2006
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Yeah, I don't see Rafa's star being particularly bright right now...he was run out of Madrid, and failed to keep up Newcastle (not an easy task for sure).

And I'd be a bit worried about bouncing right back up if I were a Geordie. Championship is a bear, a lot more difficult than it was 5 years ago. I wouldn't presume such an easy return up.
 

Infield Infidel

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I think the most likely scenario is he takes the summer off and pulls a Klopp, grabing an open job in October or November. Someone somewhere will get the sack.

And yes, bouncing back isn't a given but they'll get 25m pound in parachute pay, which should help a lot. Given we don't know who transfers out yet, Dummy, do you think the odds are worse than 50/50?
 

Blundatola

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And yes, bouncing back isn't a given but they'll get 25m pound in parachute pay, which should help a lot.
It will only help if they spend it wisely, which we all know if far from certain. I'd say Wijnaldum, Townsend, Sissoko, and Janmatt are all definitely gone. Shelvey, too, if they can offload him.
 

Dummy Hoy

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Jul 22, 2006
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I haven't watched enough Newcastle to know (although I wasn't impressed, sorry:(), but I just think as a general rule now the top 6-8 Championship sides aren't far behind the bottom clubs in the Premier League. Three of Derby, Brighton, Hull, and Wednesday are back and they all have good managers and talent. Leeds is a mess but always a sleeping giant- same with Blackburn, Forest, Brum, etc. Cardiff was close. Reading may be good too. Wolves? Shit, Brentford is tough too. And this doesn't account for Norwich who is filled with experienced Championship players who have succeeded at this level. I think Villa is toast.

The bitch about the league is the extra games add up more than you'd think, and the football itself is rougher. I mean, Mick McCarthy's team will injury your best players.

The parachute payment will help, as would getting even 2/3 attendance at St. James, but Newcastle looked bad with overpaid and under-performing players that can drain a wage bill. I'd get some defenders too.

Sorry to come off so negatively. Of course what do I know?
 

teddykgb

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I guess I don't see why he wouldn't take Everton. I understand his relationship with the city is due to Liverpool but it isn't like he wasn't essentially let go there. Is he really not supposed to manage Everton now because of that?

In fact it would probably be a great job for him as that Everton squad is more talented than it showed. I suppose it may not be as talented at the end of the summer but it'd be an enticing job I'd think.

I can't see him managing in the Championship. I don't think he's anything special as a manager but I don't think he's stuck going down with the Geordies
 

Infield Infidel

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Telegraph and Guardian saying Rafa close to agreeing to stay (whatever that means)
Rafa Benitez is set to agree terms to remain as Newcastle United manager, despite their relegation to the Championship, after he was given all the reassurances he wanted from owner Mike Ashley.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/16/rafa-benitez-close-to-agreeing-terms-to-remain-at-relegated-newc/

Rafael Benítez is close to finalising a deal with Newcastle United to remain in charge of the newly relegated club next season after Mike Ashley agreed to his manifesto for change.

Although confirmation could come by the end of the week, the Spaniard’s decision not to exercise the break clause in his three-year contract at St James’ Park is still vulnerable to 11th hour hijacking by another club but that seems increasingly unlikely.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/16/rafel-benitez-newcastle-close-to-stay
 

mc_red25

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May 16, 2016
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I have no doubt that he'll stay at Newcastle simply because of the reception he has received from their fans so far. That is something that seems very important to him. After the treatment he got at the likes of Chelsea and Madrid it would make sense to at least give the Championship one year to see if he can guide them to automatic promotion (which I think he'll have no problem doing).

It seems crazy to think though that Rafa Benitez is now managing in the Championship!
 

Infield Infidel

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Rafa is staying. Unreal. http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/10293825/rafa-benitez-to-stay-on-as-newcastle-manager
Rafa Benitez and Newcastle United have struck a deal to see him remain as manager, according to Sky sources.
A three-year deal is expected to be announced later on Wednesday which will contain written assurances for the Spaniard on full control of player recruitment and budgets set for the summer and winter transfer windows.
....
The Mapgies are now 4/5 from 11/10 to go straight back up and have been cut from 9/2 to 5/2 to win the Championship - the shortest odds the bookmaker has had on a side winning the division.
With the escape clause in his initial contract I thought, there's no way he stays if NUFC goes down. He's basically a local hero at this point.

He's in charge of transfers. Graham Carr is out, he had a good run 09-12 until he signed the ridiculous 8 year extension. He's 71, I'm sure the buyout will ensure a nice retirement. Rafa has at least £20m for new players, plus whatever they bring in from transfers.

Cisse, Janmaat, Tiote and Sissoko are likely out. Saw a rumor that Townsend will get loaned out unless someone triggers his £8m clause, and that Siem de Jong might get loaned, perhaps to Ajax.
 
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Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Its pretty amazing that a man who won La Liga and the Champions League and was managing Real Madrid six months ago now will be managing in the Championship. But good for Rafa and good for Newcastle. I think he'll have Newcastle right back up and then be well poised to establish the club as one of the feistier midtable-to-upper-midtable sides. If he is staying around for a year in the Championship, you have to figure that he sees this as a long-term project. And while his transfer history with Liverpool was a mixed bag, giving him power over transfers has to be a big improvement going forward.
 

cjdmadcow

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Jul 16, 2005
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It's obvious that I love the guy and it probably wouldn't appear on the radar of Newcastle fans, but today just happens to be the 11th anniversary of the Miracle of Istanbul. Coincidence?...I doubt it.

Look after him, you Geordie bastards.
 
Dec 21, 2015
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It's not often you have a good reason, as a non-partisan, to root for the overdog who has structural advantages and is expected to win. You just don't see this kind of loyalty in pro sports very often. Belichick-Kraft, Felix Hernandez... I mean, I'm having trouble just thinking of any comparable examples.
 

Dummy Hoy

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The more I'm thinking, the more positive I am about having Benitez. I still think the Championship will be much harder than last time you were here, but Rafa staying will be a big boost. I think it may take a bit for him to acclimate to the league, but his presence may stop or at least slow some of the flood out (I've heard virtually everyone from Coloccini to Sissoko to Perez are interested in playing at a higher level. And you know people will bid for a guy like Lascelles. Maybe Ashley won't sell on any, but then you'd have some disgruntled players). I think the odds of top 6 are very good.