Rafa MUST stay & go one better than King Kev
Richard Edwards
TOON’S top asset Rafa Benitez has got to be locked into a long-term deal at Newcastle by a new owner.
That’s the view of former club favourite Warren Barton who was part of the Kevin Keegan side that came within a whisker of winning the title in 1995/96.
Back then the Toon were English football’s great entertainers.
But there has been precious little for the Geordie nation to get excited about in recent seasons, despite the best efforts of Benitez.
Now, with Mike Ashley finally y looking as though he could d sell the club, Barton (right) is optimistic that the future could be far brighter.
Given the miracles performed by Benitez on a relative shoestring, former
England full-back Barton can’t wait to see what the e
Spaniard can produce given en proper financial backing.
Barton said: “Look at the training ground, look at the academy, look at the ground – you know that even in a lower division you’re still going to get 52,000 coming through the gates every week.
“Add the Tv-rights cash and throw in a very experienced, knowledgeable and flexible coach – you can see the potential. Rafa proved last season what an asset he is.
“He got a team of very average players into a mid-table position.
“He hasn’t had any money but they’re still in a respectable position at the moment.
“It wouldn’t take a lot to push that team further up the league.
“If Rafa is given some money and some real backing then Newcastle can be very competitive.” It’s a long time since that was the case. The club haven’t qualified for the Champions League since 2002/03 and still haven’t won a major domestic trophy since the FA Cup in 1955.
Whoever does finally deliver silverware will earn themselves the highest place in Newcastle United folklore. And Barton sees no reason why Benitez can’t be that man.
“This is a huge club and the people here are so passionate about their football – if you’ve got some money then why wouldn’t you buy it?
“It’s now over 20 years since we nearly won the league, which just shows how long these fans have had to wait for some success. ““I think Rafa has a real af affinity with Newcastle.
“Because he coached at Liverpool on Merseyside, he sees a lot of similarities – the Newcastle fans are v very, very similar. They lov love their club through thick and thin, and he respects that.
“He obviously has an affinity with the Premier League and loves coaching. He’s not a manager who likes to wheel and deal and get players in and players out.
“He likes to work with what he has got, and if he can add some quality – maybe six or seven new players of top, top quality then it could be exciting times for Newcastle.
“If Rafa can have such an influence on the players he’s got then just imagine what he could do with some really quality additions.
“He enjoys the environment in the North East but hasn’t enjoyed the uncertainty.
“He gets the area, he gets the fans. It’s absolutely crucial he stays. Then it could be a new era for the club.”