It’s a nice idea and certainly an option. If he does that then great, he’s a great guy. However as long as he sticks to his word I can’t see how the fans or Rafa can complain. He has never said otherwise and everyone was said they just wanted the club to spend its money. The club is doing that and now it’s lets spend more. If you were sat in his shoes you’d say fair enough but it would annoy you a bit because it would tell you regardless what you do it will never be good enough and they always want more more more. Football clubs are a financial hole. He wants to leave it behind but in the meantime run it responsibly without impacting on his personal. Fans said they were happy with that. Now they want him to take a loss to sell or get held to ransom by the manager and dip into his own pocket yet again. To achieve what exactly? We all know the jump to guaranteed safety is 100m away. We can spend 60-70m this summer after sales and still be only a smidge further forward. We have to realise the world he is operating in with PL football. If the business I operate in becomes more volatile I act accordingly. If extra spend would see the return then yes. If it wouldn’t I’d look at what else needed to be done. You run a business so you know this too. Money is the answer at times but not always. The thing with Rafa is he wants more money. The contract scenario could be because of that, it could be about what they want to pay him, it could be about him wanting the release clause removed, it could be any number of things. It’s amazing fans just take his word on it all despite showing he is a very political manager his whole career. All I know is Rafa not signing a contract does not help NUFC sign players. It doesn’t make players want to sign and it won’t make an owner want to get loose with club or his money knowing he might **** off. I’m surprised people are so ready to allow him to hold the club to ransom. It all seems very selfish to me and he clearly thinks he’s bigger than the club which is sad.
Agreed on all this, but just as Ashley has the right to do what he wants to do then so has Rafa. As long as he honours his current contract, tries his hardest to improve us then I don't see that as holding the club to ransom. Like all ambitious managers he wants to be at a club where the owner is committed to improving the club and I would expect him to move on if that is not the case. They seem to have reached an impasse where Ashley wont commit monies until Rafa commits and Rafa won't sign until he understands how committed Ashley is to the long term development of the club.
Ashley’s ways are one thing, and asking him to depart from the requested and his committed path in terms of spending everything we have is understandable. Rafa is messing with much more though and he knows it. The impact on transfer business is huge. If players see a manager who may not be here, outside of season long loans they may well be put off. I agree you can only ask a manager to honour his contract and give 100%. I don’t think Rafa would do otherwise. I just find it disappointing he is saying “I can see myself here 5-10 years” but then he is holding Ashley to ransom. Ashley has shown him the books and has shown him his commitment to be true to his word. Now Rafa appears to be saying, well it’s not enough and I need more to commit. As you say Ashley won’t be done like that and an impasse ensues. Rafa knows his stock with fans is high, and Ashley will always be hated regardless what he does, so he is abusing the position as far as I can see. He’s a political animal so I expect no less and many managers would do the same (Conte for instance). While he plays those games though I think he is forgetting the damage to the club. I think it just shows how selfish managers are now. Again that is understandable given how they are treat like cattle by owners. As fans we hope the clubs means more to people but then this bares the true reality for all to see.
Its good that you agree with me that the solution is in Ashley's hands. After all he is the owner so has the choice. Don't think the fans would hate him if he showed his commitment to moving the club forward. Trouble is the fans see him only opening the coffers when it looks like his investment may be losing value. He has an opportunity to push on now but I suspect he would rather not risk the outlay and tread water again.
It is but I don’t think he can do what needs to be done. Sacking Rafa would cause mayhem. Really if Rafa actually loved the club he’d cut the ****, sign and allow us to progress. We have to hope Ashley goes soft and pumps money in. I can’t see it but ultimately I’ll hold Rafa responsible for this window if it’s poor because of the contract situation.
If you have any evidence to the contrary feel free to post it. I work on facts not fiction. We’ve all seen the books. I realise they were not what the fantasists were hoping as it completely smashed their whole argument, but it’s time to move forward and start being realistic.
Don't tell me Sports Direct Mike Ashley, the king of zero contract hours and stadium name changes, is worried about pissing our fan base off one tiny bit. The quotes I read from Rafa is less about money but the snail's pace at which we conduct our business.
No Mike wouldn’t about pissing off the fans, he knows they’re half wits in the main anyway. It’s more the impact it has on the squad, our business and the season ahead. Which directly impacts his asset. Hence the ransom bit. Otherwise he’d just bullet the fairweather fatty right now.
With shakira now at Liverpool. This indicates to me that Ritchie will join stoke for 13-15m. And then we sign Townsend for 15-17m. Thoughts chaps????
I think the thoughts will centre around not breaking our transfer record. One of many popular moany sticks to hit Mike Ashley with.
I’m not really fussed about how much money we spend. More what we get in. This transfer would be an upgrade and for a small fee also.
Yes it would mean Kenedy/Townsend on the wings with Murphy/Atsu as options. That’s very good for our level. I think we’d all calm down with a new number 9. A solid 10 would get us quite excited and anything else would be icing.
Holy ****. https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/latest-videos/joselu-jostling-for-position-ahead-of-the-new-season
Like Kyle Walker..... PSYCHE!! Hahahahahahhahahahahhhahahaaaaaaa! Couldn’t help myself, tried to keep a straight post.
