Mags promised the best team

I FOUND it particularly disappointing that Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez

chose the recent League Cup match against Nottingham Forest to make a “summer sale” of his potential rejects.

For cup competitions the Magpie faithful were promised the best team possible. Is Mike Ashley continuing to wave his wand with a mandate to the manager to select a second string team to potentially protect its position in the Premiership?

Over 27,000 of the Toon Army paid good money to watch a team of “no hopers” go down like lambs to the slaughter.

No doubt there will also be a weakened team for the FA Cup, where the Magpies last success in the 1950s is a million miles away.

If Rafa is in charge of all football matters – and now I cannot help but wonder – he must dig out Ashley from his ivory tower at Sports Direct, and have face-to-face meetings.

The chairmen of all clubs have regular discussions with their managers, but not Ashley.

On the rare occasions he has come to St James’ Park he hasn’t even met Rafa as far as I know.

Season tickets were bought