Business as usual for Benitez – at least for the time being
NO SIGN BOSS WILL WALK DESPITE HIS UNHAPPY DEADLINE DAY
RAFA Benitez will ask for nothing but focus from his players when they return to work on Monday. After an underwhelming end to the transfer window, a breather for the firstteam staff and players was required as Newcastle United failed to get what they needed in the last throes of the summer trading period. Just five days after a moraleboosting victory over West Ham United, suddenly the momentum in the city had gone again. Having salvaged that momentum two or three times already since promotion, Benitez had lifted the place again with an encouraging performance against the Hammers which had the hallmark of a team the fans want to watch. There was full commitment throughout from those in blackand-white and plenty of attacking intent. As the fans bounced to Aleksandar Mitrovic’s adopted anthem of Freed from Desire and went off into a balmy August night to celebrate with a few beers, surely the tone was then set for the club to kick on in the final few days of the window?
That was certainly what Benitez wanted and what he asked for and, while there have been claims of there being no money to spend, a clutch of late-window sales with cash coming in for Siem de Jong, Emmanuel Riviere and Grant Hanley should have allowed the manager to at least sign somebody on deadline day.
Throw in the fact those exits, along with Tim Krul and Achraf Lazaar, have cleared around £200,000 per month from the wage bill and there should be no reason why there was not even a hint of bringing in more players on loan.
Let’s face it, the possibility of bringing in Southampton reserve team left-back Matt Targett was never going to capture anybody’s imagination, but at least it would
have meant Benitez would not have to battle on without a fit left-back until November!
You do wonder how a Premier League outfit could ever find themselves in such a position where they must battle on without at least one recognised professional in a certain position.
Yet when Benitez returns to work on Monday it will be something on his “to do list” he has to manage, even if he flagged up his concerns over the lack of depth in his squad months ago.
The Spaniard was not at the training ground yesterday because he was seeing medics over a previous issue and it was the first time he could get it sorted after the transfer window.
As the dust settled after the window shut many speculated “Rafa will walk now” but it is not that straightforward. Both parties are bound by an escape clause and even then Benitez may decide to wait for the right opportunity. For now, he continues with the job but, like any manager at any football club, he can always be approached. The truth is, he likes a lot of things about Newcastle – the fans, the city and the vibe. He is also close to his family who still live in the UK. As disappointing as the window was, Benitez will continue with the job for now. Newcastle are preparing for their 125-year anniversary, but if the club is fighting to stay above the relegation zone few will feel like celebrating. All of that negativity could have been easily avoided if Benitez had been able to get on with his job.
Many speculated ‘Rafa will walk’ but it’s not that straightforward. Both parties are bound by an escape clause