The situation at Newcastle United isn’t an ideal one. The fans have been campaigning against Mike Ashley and doing everything they can to support their Spanish gaffer, Rafa Benitez. Now, it seems the players are joining in, as club captain Jamaal Lascelles has come out and claimed he would make Rafa Benitez “the happiest man here” for what he’s done since being appointed.
Jamaal Lascelles: “I don’t know what is holding the club back. For me, I’d make him the happiest man here.
“Since he has been here – promotion, finishing tenth, everybody loves him, the players love him.”
Wor skipper pic.twitter.com/Rxo08hcGHi
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) 7 August 2018
What Lascelles has said is true. Benitez has done a superb job since coming. When he was appointed, the club were as good as relegated considering the mess that Steve McLaren left them in. However, instead of walking away after relegation like many managers would, the coy Spaniard stuck around and the last two seasons have provided Newcastle United with a 1st place finish in the Championship and a 10th place Premier League finish.
Considering the success of the last 24 months, many fans would have expected that Benitez would be given some more funds to splash in the market, unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case and Mike Ashley has continued to what he’s always done and starve the club of resources. Whilst Lascelles speaking out is a good thing for a lot of fans, some are worried that their vocal captain may have caused more harm than good and will find himself being flogged away on the cheap by Ashley for his comments.
You can read the Magpies’ verdict on Ashley here:
https://twitter.com/trevstanley/status/1026961169976897537
And that is precisely why is our Captain. So proud of you, and all your teammates at @NUFC. We are all stronger than one man.
— Potomac Toon (@PotomacToon) August 7, 2018
Best captain since shearer brilliant leader
— Anthony Edmendsfahey (@edmendsfahey1) August 7, 2018
I think you know the answer to that Jamaal, let's just hope we're rid of that problem soon.
— Geordie Ahmed (@GeordieAhmed) August 7, 2018
That’ll be him booted out for speaking
— Steve McKenna (@SteveMcKenna_) August 7, 2018
Love Jamaal for coming out with that … my concern is that our owner might take exception to it and push him out the door.
— Tony Lister ASHLEY OUT (@tnylister50) 8 August 2018
@Lascelles16 please turn your phone off take the next couple of days off come back Friday morning job done skipper
— Paul Johnson (@trackday0) August 8, 2018
Lascelles is everything that the Geordies look for in a captain and whilst they’re pleased to see him speaking out, they’re worried for his future at the club.
