Yes, he has a contract. I think he will see it out, take the bonus that comes with it and walk into a big club.
He will give Pouchy’s Dad one last chance and get turned over by him and leave in February when for the umpteenth time Ashley fails to produce the spondoolees to buy a player in the winter window and Pouchy tries to convince us that it’s not prudent to spend this season’s Sky money as there’s a rainy day coming over the horizon.
I think Rafa will be promised lots of money to spend but I don't think the low-balling tactics on fees and wages will change, nor the lethargic approach to getting deals done. Net result will be Rafa won't get the players he wants, won't be able to spend the money and he'll ultimately feel frustrated.
Doesn't seem to be much news on the takeover front. Unless there really is a serious bidder that's probably good news as it will force Ashley to commit to significant transfer spend and mean Rafa will stay put.
Despite the lack of transfer funds, Rafa will shame fat Mike by taking us to seventh in the league in the 2018-19 season.
I think he will stay. Firstly if Ashley is in charge I think he’ll do all he can financially. Benitez should be sensible enough to see it. Secondly I don’t think Ashley will be here, I think we will be taken over. Hopefully they will have the funds. Regardless they will find it for the first window and give Rafa some freedom.
Do you? I was just thinking how unlikely that is. The furore that surrounded the pre-Xmas farce is quite the contrast with the post-survival silence.
I still think it might happen. There are not many PL clubs left where the owners are actively trying to get out and have large amounts of potential. Whatever anyone thinks of our club we have a great fanbase, a cracking ground, a top manager, and a time in living memory of competing at the top end of the league. We can do it again with financial muscle. Anyone can. Man C are proof of that.
City had a little more to offer at a relatively teeny-tiny price. They were gifted the Commonwealth stadium for about a quid, which backed onto acre upon acre of dead, brownfield sites. The ability to extend facilities was unprecedented. SJP would take a fortune just to expand a few thousand. I find it strange NUFC can't attract a buyer, but it really doesn't look like it. We might, if we're lucky, get a Leicester type investor, willing to use their own money to prop up that which we make. Imagine Mike Ashley paying NUFC about £20m for SD advertising rights, and also using Debenhams to pay £10m for the training tops. That's sort of what Leicester get. The Arabs do that for City, but add 0's on the end then throw lawyers at UEFA/FIFA. I actually think Spurs are/will be the next target for serious investment wealth.
