People will look back at this period as the Rafa Phenomenon, a time when NUFC fans collectively ran around like headless chickens convincing themselves that he is the New Messiah. After reading this thread and a few others, Fans really need to get a grip on themselves - expectation and hope is one thing, but some of the things written are not those of rational minds.
Why wouldn't you rely on Spanish footballers when at the time they were the best in the World and he had excellent contacts. Your saying it's a negative that he managed to use his contacts in home land to buy cracking players at cheap prices (Reina £6m, Aurelio £2m, Alonso £10m, Torres £20m)? His success was getting the bet out of Gerrard and first turning him into a goal scoring RM to get the best out the team, then moving him inside to strike up the deadliest partnership in England at the time with Torres. Not going into the money thing as it's been done to death on our board with rival fans a million times. No disrespect to Newcastle, but the guy has won more trophies as manager in 15 odd years as Newcastle have as a club, and the ones he won with us and Valencia were at teams that were 3rd best in the league at best, not at teams dominating their league already with all the money to spend like Mourinho/Guardiola. It's funny you say we should have won more under him... why should we? Were we winning titles before and he took over? Were we winning the CL and getting to the later stages on a regular basis just before he came? No...
Being a headless chicken is underrated!! I'm going to jump on the bandwagon of hoping he can turn things around if he ever arrives. Up until then I'm expecting it to be another let down in a continuing saga of let downs.
Regardless of whether Rafa is a better manager than Pardew, Carver or McClaren, one of the benfits his reputation might carry is that he might finally see the club give in to his demands to have the model changed. That won't show whether any of the previous three would have done better if they had been allowed the same control and funding, but if it benefits the club going forward then it can only be a positive. I also think we're all hoping that a change might be just enough to give us the short term boost that sometimes come with a new manager. We're at the stage where we are so desperate to receive some sort of boost that we will latch onto the possibility of one and put our hope in it, simply because we are running out of reasons to hope.
No that's fair enough - especially when you consider we don't actually know if he is even coming. Could be a lot of egg on the club's face if he says no.
That's the problem, with all the hype and expectation over the last couple of days, it will be one massive let down if he cant be persuaded to take the job.
Its simple Rafa is a gold in comparison to mclaren plus his coaching staff are lightyears ahead of the ****e weve got now.
Bringing Rafa in is beyond the expectations of the majority of fans so it's understandable they are excited about it. Also, considering the relentless torrent of misery that this season (and the last several seasons before it to be honest) has inflicted on us, and considering our current league position, it's nice to have some positive news for once and enjoy a feel good factor. That said, he's not signed yet and I am personally reserving my excitement until he says it's a fact that he's the new Newcastle manager!
Ashley could well scupper all of Charnley's skilful negotiations tomorrow when he apparently is flying into the country to discuss the situation. Face it guys, its Mac and Carr for the long haul
I can imagine Benitez wants to meet the guy and see if he thinks he can work with/for him. He'll also probably want to know about the ambitions for the club and how much funding he'll get for the squad. I think Ashley will convince him about money and ambition. Whether it's true or total bullshit though we won't know until much further down the line.
Bang on. Our biggest problem since Robson left has been the management on and off the pitch. If we get rafa in with almost total control of first team affairs then that is a massive step in a positive direction. It is yet to be proved how it would work out but its certainly on the face of it a much better decisions by those in charge than they have managed to make in recent years.
BREAKING: Rafa Benitez is on his way to Newcastle as we speak with talks to be finalised today, says club source. More to follow @MailSport
NUFC UPDATE: Steve McClaren has been sacked & Rafa Benitez will arrive in North-East after lunchtime. More here - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3487396/Rafa-Benitez-heading-Newcastle-finalise-appointment-manager-trip-Premier-League-leaders-Leicester-City-set-match-charge.html …
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guillem Balague ✔@GuillemBalague I am hearing Steve McClaren has been sacked. I hope he gets soon another top job. He deserves it 1:12 PM - 11 Mar 2016
