I think we will get him but at the last minute and for the amount Feyonoord (**** it, can't spell it) stated they wanted right at the beginning -Lejeune transfer MKII
As I've said many times, we've spent some money over the last 2 years. 104m. I know the argument is that we needed a full squad when we went down but regardless, we've not spent that 104m all that wisely in my opinion. Some of that given the structure and what Rafa himself has said about the control Ashley has afforded him, means he has to be culpable somewhere along the line. I don't think there is much doubt that Charnley is not up to the job. The cynic obviously sees the disconnect he creates between the owner and the managers wishes as deliberate. I am not convinced I have to say. He was able to get the job done in the Championship regardless of money wasted. That tells me Mike isn't the issue, he is allowing them to do their jobs and giving the clubs money to do so. However doing deals at Championship level and PL are a different ball game. The agents get more greedy, the players get more greedy and temperamental, and it is a very competitive market. He is out of his depth and Ashley/Rafa (who people have to remember employed him/accepted him wouldn't have known that until this season. That means Ashley if he is staying would have to take the difficult decision come the summer to fire a long serving loyal club official as that piece of the jigsaw is undoubtedly missing. Its no different to Dwight Gayle being good enough in the Championship, but not quite good enough for the PL. Once you find that out you have to do something about it. Regardless how long Charnley has been at the club in various guises, he took on this role and when you are proved incompetent, you get fired. I think you are probably right too. If Charnley tries to engage help now it only further seals his fate in Ashley's eyes "what so you're now saying you can't do the job on your own?" With sales I don't think we can find a taker for Colback and he is happy to sit on the money. I don't think Rafa will sell Mitrovic and Saivet unless he has replacements. Its not just up to Charnley. Rafa made that clear in the presser with his comments on Mitrovic. It was very much "I won't be". He carries a lot of clout at the club clearly, probably because Mike knows Charnley isn't capable. Mike knows he doesn't know football, he is quite candid about that. Its why he has brought in such an experienced football man in Rafa. We have to remember he has had to outlay plenty of the clubs money to do so.
I see. So your assertion Rafa didn't choose to spend the 104m how he has over two years? Despite Rafa saying that is how it works? I remember the glee from Rafa when he was allowed to outlay what he wanted on Murphy. How happy he was when Manquillo joined up with them in Ireland. Rafa had a budget, he decided he needed the numbers rather than going for quality. Hence players like Manquillo. I still don't get that signing and getting rid of Anita to be honest, it makes absolutely no sense. Rafa bought him once at Liverpool, he was ****. He then buys him again after being **** down the road. But hey its Mike's fault... I do have sympathy with Rafa though. The cheap signings like Leiva, Cabellero, Abraham slipped through the net. Gouff turned down his one year offer. However if we get another one or two this window we will be similar to most clubs. Hopefully Charnley gets his finger out and uses the money Mike has given him on the targets Rafa has selected. I still think Rafa should have risked a smaller squad with more quality. Could he have got away with 4 in the summer and spent a more of his budget to secure the quality? Probably. Some managers like numbers, some like quality. You can only have both with a bottomless pot. Maybe something for Rafa to learn from.
Im not feeding your fishing delusions anymore until you can accept you are actually Fredor. Its the only way to move forward! And to think I campaigned for his return, and he was here all along!
I must be one of the few who think Rafa's spending has been woeful. It was the same at Liverpool where he bought a lot of dross with the odd diamond. Merino will turn out ok and I think Murphy will, however I expect to see more Spanish B raters in our squad in near future.
The guys he has spent some decent money like Murphy and Merino have been good buys. I think Ritchie was a good buy too. I wish he would concentrate more on quality than unnecessary quantity. His record does suggest he has a very poor hit ratio unfortunately. All managers buy duds but his ratio is certainly a little lower than the top managers. I think he'd work well with DOF as he seems a really good coach. Again the managerial side of things he can be quite confusing at times. He does seem to have a happy knack of winning though so tactically, although not pretty, he seems to know how to do it when it matters. If the club can sort it so we have quality in all the key roles, it can work. The problem is Rafa is a very stubborn character. So him taking players off a DOF would have to be someone he trusts and really gets on with as I think he likes to have control of transfers.
The odds of getting someone this late in the window has to be pretty low. You either spend desperate amounts or sign nobody, and we just don't have the money to chuck desperate amounts around. Even players with 6 months on their contract, which used to be snapped up with a derisory million or 500k bid, are going for billions these days. I tend to think of the window like this: 1st-15th: Good, well planned, scouted and executed business. 15th-25th: Slightly panicked, potentially bad business with little due diligence. 25th-31st: Desperate business, silly money with no due diligence
I had the same impression, until I looked at his record and it actually seemed very good. I think in my mind I credited him with some of Houlliers buys!
I’d even take Barnetta right now if he can be dug out from under the floor boards of that Jesmond hotel
No Jorgensen? Might be a bullet dodged but I would have trusted Rafa's judgement on his suitability over any of ours. At least Jonjomort will be happy. According to Caulkin NUFC are going to consider other targets. On the 28th January. Honestly - it took them a full week mull it over and add £1m to the initial offer for Jorgensen.
It’s all a play by the fat man and Penfold to make it look as though we are serious about a signing. Rafa has just upped the stakes by apparently hinting he would consider extending his contract IF the club backed him in this window....
