CRITICS HOME IN ON RAFA
Worst start at St James’ Park
RAFA BENITEZ is being asked difficult new questions on and off the pitch.
The blame game started before a ball had been kicked in the summer when the Newcastle manager took aim at owner Mike Ashley.
Benitez, once immune from criticism, spent a couple of months publicly pressuring the owner to spend. He said he needed better players to compete and maintained games against top sides were “expected” defeats, despite a top-10 finish last season.
But with five defeats and no wins in seven games – added to the fact his team have only scored four times – Benitez is now having the finger pointed at him.
After he became the first Toon boss to lose all four home games at the start of a season he was asked: “Do you worry the players are starting to believe they aren’t good enough because they’ve been told it so many times?”
The manager answered: “No.”
Booed
When asked why, he said: “It is difficult when you are working so hard and you are not getting results. It is difficult to keep confidence high. We need to start winning and it will change.
“There are so many things going against us, it is difficult to manage.”
Fans also booed when Matt Ritchie was subbed. He appeared to ask his boss, “What for?” as he departed, raising the question: Are some players now questioning their boss behind the scenes?
Ashley (inset) attended his second game of the season, raising more questions. Was he intending to broker a truce with the manager or contemplating a change at the top?
Benitez seems safe for now, but any other Tyneside boss over the years would be well into sacking territory with one win in 13 games, dating back to last season.
The club is more valuable with