The only man for the job

AS CRITICS TAKE AIM AT BENITEZ, LEE RYDER SAYS THERE IS NO ONE BETTER TO LEAD BLACK-AND-WHITES OUT OF DANGER

If Benitez walks away from this now Newcastle as a city loses. It is hard to see who would do a better job Lee Ryder

RAFA Benitez goes into the game at Crystal Palace this weekend looking to stop the rot for Newcastle United after picking up just one point from 15 in the Premier League.

It has been argued had it been any other manager at St James’ Park there would be talk of the sack circulating around the city right now

Let’s be honest, though, Benitez is not “any other manager” is he?

Putting aside his pedigree as one of the elite managers in European football and his long list of honours, if evidence was really needed Benitez is capable of turning around a crisis a quick look back to last season should offer all the assurances required after the club’s bad start.

For that alone, in my humble opinion, Benitez IS above criticism.

The Spaniard went nine games without a win last season at one stage and picked up just a solitary point away to West Brom.

However, he turned things around and Newcastle went on to finish 10th in the Premier League.

The fact Benitez’s start to the season matches that of Ruud Gullit in 1999 is irrelevant to the current situation.

For a start, Benitez has not lost the dressing room like Gullit or displayed a clear lack of judgement when it comes to life on Tyneside.

He has not lost a derby after dropping his star men and he is not coming into this season on the back of a shocker like the Dutchman was 19 years ago.

Then there is the theory if Alan Pardew/John Carver/Steve McClaren had picked up just a point from 15 they would be lambasted for it.

Maybe they would but Benitez has proved he is not prepared to clap to the beat of Mike Ashley just to stay in a job.

If Benitez walks away from this now Newcastle as a city loses.

It is hard to see who could do a better job but that will not be the issue.

The issue will be who Newcastle United’s current board would be capable of bringing in to replace Benitez should any doomsday scenario present itself.

After Pardew, Newcastle fans wanted Thomas Tuchel or Rémi Garde - they got Carver then McClaren a few months later. True, Benitez did follow but that was because the Spaniard approached the Magpies first.

The Spaniard leaving at the moment is unthinkable.

We would not only lose a popular manager, Newcastle United would lose the lynchpin holding the club together at the moment. Benitez is prepared to fight for what the fans want and even if he is being palmed off with a limited budget he is not accepting it meekly. There is also another theory out there which was amplified by football genius Dennis Wise not so long ago.

Wise, who made a complete hash of things at St James’ Park as transfer chief, says Benitez is “playing” the fans on Tyneside.

I am assuming he thinks Benitez is pumping out his own propaganda in order to cover up any disappointing on-the-field results.

Unfortunately, that theory might wash with a few Chelsea fans who do not like Benitez but the majority of supporters will not agree with him.

Ahead of the clash at Palace, Benitez and his players do not need a reminder a positive result is crucial and they know there can be no excuses.

What is likely to happen is the away following will be right behind Benitez and the team at Selhurst Park.

Whatever the theories and viewpoints are on Benitez it is amazing what three points on a Saturday afternoon can do to change the mood and fend off the critics.