There are clubs all over the world where mass changes are expected this summer, but none are going under the same potential upheaval that is going on at Newcastle United. The future of the club’s ownership, manager and a large number of players is up in the air but most important is keeping Benitez at St James Park beyond the end of his contract.
The Spanish gaffer is one of those managers who the Geordies took in as one of their own almost immediately. The Magpies wouldn’t have anyone else at the helm at St James Park if they could handpick any manager on the planet, and losing him would hurt a hell of a lot more than losing any of their current players in what is largely a meagre and overperforming squad.
The reason that the North East club are all overperforming is because of how incredible Rafa has been when it comes to inspiring the crop of players and getting results through his tactical brilliance. However, he may not be at the club if Mike Ashley fails to tie him down to a new contract before the potential takeover of Sheikh Khaled, and if Ashley is to bow out this summer he will need to give the fans the gift of a Rafa extension before he leaves.
Without Rafa Benitez in charge, there is a very strong argument to suggest that the Magpies would have fallen to relegation in either this season just gone or the campaign before. As it happened, the Toon Army found themselves celebrating back-to-back mid-table finishes in 10th and 13th and now have the foundations to build and push for a European spot if the Sheikh takes over and throws money at the squad.
If Benitez is to leave then it’s hard to see anywhere he can go where he’ll be as loved as he is at Newcastle with the fan base giving him every chance and second chance he needs. Equally, the Magpies won’t be able to get anyone in who can do the same job that Rafa has done and put up with the constant pressure of the club and the on-going takeover stuff, so regardless of what goes on over the next few weeks tying down Benitez is an absolute must.
Newcastle fans, what do you think the future holds for Rafa Benitez? Comment below!
