BENITEZ IN KEY TALKS AFTER VITAL VICTORY
It was a big day at St James’s Park – on and off the pitch.
Yes, the three points Newcastle United took from Cardiff City were significant.
But what happened long after the final whistle at an empty stadium was arguably more significant.
Ashley, flanked by associates Justin Barnes and Keith Bishop, met Rafa Benitez in his office for informal talks after a 3-0 win which saw the club climb out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.
The transfer window is at the top of Benitez’s agenda with 11 days left before it closes.
Benitez has kept a lid on his frustrations by refusing to speak about the transfer window.
But they have been simmering away since he said he was “worried” after the Boxing Day defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Sources close to Ashley indicated months ago that there would be money available to Benitez if Ashley was still owner when the window opened.
Ashley is still owner, but not a penny has been spent. Yet.
Benitez doesn’t have a budget of his own. United’s manager – who submitted lists of potential targets last month – has had to put what has been described as a “business case” forward for signings.
Ashley’s preference, it seems, is again for younger players with a re-sale value.
Benitez is more fixated on ability than age.
Will Ashley, having seen his decision to cut off funds in the summer imperil the club, now let Benitez take back control of transfers?
Benitez, forced to sell to buy in the summer after refusing to sign a new contract, wants a No 10, a winger and a left-back to strengthen a squad which has been found wanting up to now.
Newcastle, however, weren’t found wanting against a poor Cardiff team.
And it was an astute Benitez signing who made the difference on a bitterly cold afternoon.
Fabian Schar was signed for just over £3million last summer. Ashley saw for himself what good business that deal was against Cardiff.
Schar, a technically-gifted defender, took the ball just inside the visitors’ half with 24 minutes on the clock.
Schar looked up – and started running with the ball. He wasn’t challenged or stopped, and the 27-yearold didn’t stop running until he reached the box, where he rolled the ball past Neil Etheridge with his weaker left foot.
Newcastle’s second goal came from a set-piece. A Matt Ritchie corner was flicked on by Jamaal Lascelles towards Schar, who poked it past Etheridge for his second of the afternoon.
Ayoze Perez netted a third from close range after Salomon Rondon delivered a low cross to complete the scoring.