Discuss two points about Rafa Benitez's Newcastle

[HughieG]

1) Rafa Benitez has won the most points of all the managers outside the Big 6 in the last 25 Premier League matches

--> More points than pundit favourites Wolves and big spenders Leicester, Everton and West Ham

2) Rafa Benitez is arguably the best pound for pound manager in the Premier League

--> He has had the 2nd lowest money net spend in the Premier League since we were promoted.

[toptoon]

Nowt to discuss - the man is a legend.

[waalsendmick]

That is just 2 of the many many facts that back up what we all (well most of us anyway) already know.

[Zippity]

1) So imagine if we'd actually spent decent money like those teams. Obviously, spending doesn't guarantee you anything-Fulham are a perfect example of that-but you'd back Rafa to make it count.

2) A harder one to prove but, given the relative quality of our squad against what he's achieved, I'd say he probably is.

The main worry is, we all know what we've got and we also know what a lesser manager would 'achieve' with that squad...even the pundits are coming on side...we just need fatso to realise it.

[ashingtoon62]

1) So imagine if we'd actually spent decent money like those teams. Obviously, spending doesn't guarantee you anything-Fulham are a perfect example of that-but you'd back Rafa to make it count.

2) A harder one to prove but, given the relative quality of our squad against what he's achieved, I'd say he probably is.

The main worry is, we all know what we've got and we also know what a lesser manager would 'achieve' with that squad...even the pundits are coming on side...we just need fatso to realise it.

I think Rafa showed his hand (re signing a new contract) after the Leicester game..
He's not asking for the the earth,just a sensible/realistic budget.
So over to fat Cnut now I suppose..If he fu cks this one up,let the sh!t storm begin.
Suppose it all depends on Debenhams,which is a disgrace.How he gets away with it I'll never knah...

[ex_pat_magpie]

I think Rafa showed his hand (re signing a new contract) after the Leicester game..
He's not asking for the the earth,just a sensible/realistic budget.
So over to fat Cnut now I suppose..If he fu cks this one up,let the sh!t storm begin.
Suppose it all depends on Debenhams,which is a disgrace.How he gets away with it I'll never knah...

He won't get away with it for ever. Some time in the near future the bricks will come tumbling down on his head in a big way.

It's happened time and time again to his sort in the past and it's just a pity that so many little people get bruised and damaged by his sort while he's making it. But watch out for the BIG TUMBLE.

[toptoon]

I think this Debenhams business was a big tumble for him. Eventhough it may impact on NUFC I think it’s great that someone who tries to profit on someone else’s difficulties loses millions. Well played Debenhams.

It seems he’s unable to see the potential of the clud in front of him and wants to make quick cash by buying failing companies. How I wish he’d change his view now that he got burnt at Debenhams.

[HughieG]

Discuss these two points then;

1) Rafa Benitez is an overrated manager, who represents a negative brand of football. Most average managers with decent Premier League management experience could've done the same job that he has.

2) When/if he leaves Newcastle, he will not get a "top job" in Europe again; meaning a club in one of the 4-5 major leagues that are that expected to play European football each season.

[ex_pat_magpie]

1) He is an excellent manager who is making the proverbial silk purse out of the pig's ear despite all of the discouragement and lack of both financial and moral support he gets from our illustrious owner.

2) There must be many clubs who would snap up a potential winner like him.

[toptoon]

It could be said of several top managers that they wouldn´t have achieved much success without the financial clout behind them to set up top quality squads with world class players. Rafa has done the job at top level and now, has not only shown the humility to lower himself to manage a club with an owner like ours but, has IMO shown to be an all round superb manager, able to manage at top and lower levels with financial backing, and without it.

I´m finding it hard to find a weakness in him whether it´s man management, handling the press, tactics, looking after the structure of the club, bringing through talent or signing good players. The latter is probably the hardest for any manager but, despite some failings (all mangers make mistakes) he´s done a cracking job in signing good players and, more importantly, improving them over the years at many clubs. He seems to have a highly structured approach to the game and clearly set out to hit 40 points this season, realising what he had to work with and targeting points from certain games, protecting the players for games that we had more chance to get points in and setting, as a number one priority, not to lose to teams of a similar standing to ours and not get humped by the big boys (goal difference).

He clearly loves his job (not in it just for the money) and loves football - I remember him coaching a youth team when between jobs before coming to us. (Which world class manager does that FFS?!)

On top of that, when you realise what a very nice person he is, we could not have better and he is up there with SBR - both legends.