Fans make it clear Benitez is still man for St James’ job
OVERWHELMING BACKING FOR RAFA IN POLL
NEWCASTLE United fans made it clear they don’t want to see managerial change at St James’ Park, despite the club’s shocking start to the new season.
In a poll consisting of 9,683 votes a whopping 86% of those fans feel Rafa Benitez is still the man for the job.
Let’s be clear, there have been no calls from fans to change manager despite the club’s bad start to the season and such suggestions are more likely coming from those close to managers who sense there could be a vacancy coming up soon.
United fans feel the blame for the club’s rock-bottom position is firmly at the door of the owner Mike Ashley after just £23m was spent on permanent transfers in the summer.
The aftermath of the 1-0 defeat against Brighton has resulted in club sources indicating Benitez is still their man and they also say talk of Brendan Rodgers is not being fuelled from any discussions coming out of the United boardroom.
During the club’s nine-game winless streak the big factor was unrest off the field as the club went up for sale and talk of PCP Capital Partners taking United off Ashley’s hands seemed to affect things on the pitch.
What is not helping the club, in general, this season is the fact Benitez’s contract extension has not been agreed.
Discussions about the Spaniard’s contract have been ongoing but certain factors in those negotiations remain unresolved, such as the amount in the manager’s transfer kitty, improvements to the training ground and the updates at the aacademy.
Benitez has played down the significance of contract talks, insisting it is all about “the next game” in many of his recent press conferences.
The Toon boss is highly likely to say something similar in his weekly media briefing at the training
I don’t think anyone in the stadium can question the manager about anything
Jamaal Lascelles
ground today ahead of the trip to Southampton.
However, he should not even be in that position, should he?
Newcastle sources claim there was more money to spend last summer but work in the transfer market seemed to be influenced by the standstill in talks with Benitez over his contract. Actions speak louder than words in football, though.
The same can be said of the reaction of Benitez’s senior players this week following the defeat against Brighton.
Skipper Jamaal Lascelles insisted players were behind Benitez and said: “I don’t think anyone in the stadium can question the manager about anything.”
Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka added: “I have to say that all of us are behind each other and behind the manager.”
United players must now practise what they preach and it must be reflected in their performance at Southampton.
The same can be said of the club when it comes to January transfers, actions will speak louder than words.
Any pledge to spend in January, however, will be interesting because should Benitez be afforded some new faces the question will then swing back to his own future.
For example, would any player sign a five-year contract – or even a two-year deal – if they don’t know what manager they will be playing for the next season?
The complexities in Newcastle United’s world at the moment are not just down to the manager.
Sadly, disappointing results on the field are just the tip of the iceberg.