Magpies must hold on to Benitez
RAFA BENITEZ has successfully negotiated the demands of the Championship. Now he must be given the money to get Newcastle United ready for the Premier League.
That is the view of former Magpies skipper John Anderson, who’s watched every game of their promotion campaign in his role as a radio analyst.
It has not always been spectacular, but they have got the job done. Now Benitez will drive a hard bargain with owner Mike Ashley over the transfer budget.
But, above all, Anderson insists: “Rafa must be in charge. If not, it will be one step forward and two back.
“It’s so important that he stays. He is held in such affection by the fans and that was why he stayed after relegation.
“He has reunited the club and the supporters. We now have a manager who is used to being successful. He’s not used to being at the wrong end of the table.
“He sees the players every day, so he will know the positions that need strengthening. I would expect he would bring in at least half-a-dozen who are better than what he has.
“Rafa will want to bring European football back to St James’ and the supporters would love that. But it will take time.
“For me, mid-table would be a good start. You want to be in that section from West Brom in eighth down to about 14th.
“With the right players, Newcastle can do that.”
While it is an excellent achievement to seal promotion with two games to spare, this current team struggles in comparison with other promotion-winning Newcastle sides.
Anderson says: “The Championship is a dogfight. I haven’t seen too many quality sides. Fulham beat Newcastle twice and were the best I’ve seen by a long way.
“It’s an attritional league, and has not been overly enjoyable.
“And I don’t buy the idea that the Championship has got harder from previous years like 1984, 1993 or 2010.
“There is no comparison with this team and the one of 2010 with Barton, Nolan and Coloccini. That was a far superior side.
“That’s why everyone knows this current squad needs strengthening.”