RAFA IS PLAYING POLITICS AT TOON

RAFA BENITEZ is an excellent tactician but also a consummate politician. He has zoned in on the antipathy around Mike Ashley’s stewardship of Newcastle and utilised it, so that everything is now the owner’s fault — even the football Benitez chooses to play. ‘You have to drive the car you have,’ he said after enjoying 19 per cent of the ball, at home to Chelsea, pointing the finger at his lack of resources again. Yet as many Newcastle players would get in Brighton’s team as Brighton players would make Newcastle’s side; and Brighton did not play negatively against Manchester United last week. Yes, Ashley should see the potential in Newcastle and give Benitez (left) more support, but the choices are not a transfer market plunge or utter negativity. There is middle ground. Newcastle could play better football than this — they certainly did against Tottenham on the first weekend of the season — and Benitez is getting away with one.