RAFA RESPONDS TO HIS CRITICAL PUNDITS
RAFA Benitez has hit back at critics such as Richard Keys and Andy Gray.
Since Benitez’s honest words in Portugal two weeks ago, and further comments about Newcastle United’s summer recruitment drive, the Toon boss has come under fire from pundits.
Former Toon striker Shola Ameobi also praised Mike Ashley’s running of the club before the clash with Spurs in his role as a TV pundit.
Speaking after the 2-1 defeat to Spurs, Benitez said: “I have said the squad is a little bit better.
“People need to read my quotes properly.
“We were bringing in players to board - and one supporters can also see very clearly - is the fact the squad lacks depth in key areas.
Yedlin’s late injury automatically throws up a problem for Benitez at right-back and there is not a specialist left-back to cover Paul Dummett if he picks up a problem.
Benitez’s concerns have been perceived as moaning from those commenting about the club who have not done sufficient research. improve the squad overall and it depends on the new additions if they can improve the starters.
“If they can do that we have a better team.
“The problem we have here is all the other teams are improving.
“So we will see where we are.”
Ameobi had commented on Ashley’s running of the club and said: “Credit to him because you look at the likes of Aston Villa and these clubs who are struggling financially.
Indeed, in commenting on what appears to be topical in the football world, pundits like Richard Keys and Andy Gray have not considered all the facts.
The truth is Benitez is three or four injuries away from having real problems at United. “The one thing Ashley has done for Newcastle over the last ten years is stabilise the club where the club is running itself and we have no debt.” Keys had said last week: “I took a lot of stick for offering Benitez advice last week. “I stand by it. It is so tiresome to hear him bleating on. “These are the facts – Mike Ashley is not going to change. “Benitez will get the money the club generates – no more. “Ashley is not going to put it back into the mess he inherited.” They managed to compete against Spurs and emerge with nothing. Newcastle’s big gamble this season will be if they can get through the long hard winter with minimal injuries as well as picking up points against those in the bottom half of the table. Mike Ashley’s latest financial risk is yet to unravel. SALOMON RONDON ................................................................. 7 YOSHINORI MUTO ................................................................ N/A Subs not used: *Subs must play at least 15 minutes to receive a mark.