Kind words from Pep. Apparently we didn't need him at the time . I mean we were good but I'd still have taken him! If only we'd known the manager he would become, it might have been handy to have that link. http://www.skysports.com/football/n...a-wanted-to-join-newcastle-under-bobby-robson
True, I could have seen him coming back to NUFC to manage us... with a net budget of £17.91M (Ref Transfer Market) in the summer transfer window and no-one purchased in the winter transfer window. Yes, could see that happening...
It's amazing the legacy one man could leave across the area, country, continent and the world. I genuinely feel that ex-players under him who have gone into management like Pep and Jose would consider the managers job at this club under a different, ambitious owner purely down to SBR. Every thing is here to really push the envelope bar the owner.
We traded SBR for Souness. Think on that for a minute. We fully earned and deserved the Mike Ashley sentence for that.
But that's probably a life sentence? Is there a plea bargain we can take to get it cut short? @Albert's Chip Shop wax that ass and get on the phone to Fenwick's mate!
I was thinking more we could have borrowed some players off them. It could be worse, we could be turning profit like loads of the other PL clubs
We need a country to buy us to compete in reality though. Ashley has done a really good job over the last three years.
This much is true, could be out of the frying pan and into the fire unless its an extraordinary takeover. Just don't see MA being competitive at the top which is what Rafa wants and MA has admitted this himself so me thinks Rafa will see out his contract and walk.
Rafa will be realistic because I think he said as much last year. If Ashley gives him £40m plus player sales this summer then I think he'll be happy that he can take the club to the next level. That will still be nowhere near the top of the league however and he'll know this, but Rafa will be looking to build it year on year. I think he'll sign a new deal soon enough.
I think both are doing their level best. I don’t think even with the funds of the top clubs Rafa could compete. Quite simply there are better managers out there. However he could take us pretty far. Mike won’t give money to the club and the club can’t generate enough to compete. Therefore the best we can hope, and has tended to happen, is Ashley will allow us to spend every penny we can generate. Be that on transfers or the other expenses.
He didn't for the 2 or 3 years leading up to McLaren getting £80m to piss up the wall and it's a return to that approach that has people concerned. Only loaning players in January is indicative that he may have, but, ultimately, I think Rafa will get a decent wedge to spend because it's the only option to keep us in the premier league and sell the club.
I don’t think the club has turned loads of massive profits in the time he has been here. Our spend seems to reflect our ability to trade well. When we do we spend, when we don’t we don’t generate enough money.
Pep is one of those coaches who one day I could genuinely see taking a challenge on that means he is not at a currently 'big' spending club. Here is hoping he is trying to line himself up as Rafa's successor!
There are not many like Bobby in terms of influence. Some great tactical minds have worked under him. It’s like Bielsa and his influence on Pochettino, Gallardo, Simeone, Martino, Guardiola, Sampaoli, Berizzo. There is no parallel in the modern game for Bielsa. A truly great coach and teacher.
