Newcastle are a sorry mess, but it is not Benitez’s fault INSIGHT
IN FIVE years’ time, if Mike Ashley is still owner of Newcastle United, then I’ve no doubt we’ll be listening to him give an interview in which he apologises to Rafa Benitez. He said sorry to just about every other manager he’s employed last week but it seems to me he’s learned nothing from those mistakes. I notice that some are blaming Rafa for being too negative this summer and continually moaning about a lack of investment. Well, I’m not! I’ve got every sympathy for him. Rafa would not have stayed if Ashley hadn’t made promises, that much is obvious. So what happened? Where’s the money? They should — and could — have spent more. My old boss Kevin Keegan used to say ‘buy better’, meaning always improve on what you’ve got. Newcastle simply haven’t done that this summer. Rafa has been handcuffed. Michael Owen is still the record signing — and that was 12 years ago. Ashley said in his TV interview that they couldn’t compete with the likes of Manchester City. Well no one is asking for that — competing with the likes of Bournemouth and Burnley would do. There are problems with recruitment and that won’t be Rafa’s doing. Like Keegan, if he sits down with you then you’re going to sign for him. He’s the first manager in a long time — probably since Sir Bobby Robson — who gets the club, the city and the fans. And now they risk losing him. What a waste. It’s such a shame that it’s come to this and the euphoria of promotion has completely gone. Newcastle will be down there at the bottom this season and will do well to survive — the team isn’t good enough and Rafa can only work with what he’s got. As for West Ham, they’re trying to get things right with owners who support the club, but I just don’t think they are. They’re signing big marquee names, yes, but do they really need those players? Apart from Javier Hernandez, I’m not sure they are good additions. Their recruitment over the past year or so has been awful. I fear it’s going to be a long season for both of them.