All we can all do is speculate on everything that is not officially rubber stamped as a truth.
We can all perceive anyone or anything to be good bad or indifferent, depending on the scenario at hand.

This particular too and fro and teet for tat over Rafa verses Ashley seems to have (as I see it) mass opinion stacked in Rafa's favour...no matter what, because the dislike/hate for Ashley goes way beyond allowing him much, if any, leeway.

We all have to look at the bigger picture regardless of whether we love or hate a certain individual because ultimately the end product we all agree on is being fans/supporters of Newcastle United football club.

No matter how it's perceived in terms of history against 11 years tenure of Ashley...it's 11 years of his life he's put into this club in terms of running it directly... or indirectly, through aides.

Ultimately he has to ensure that trust does not get misplaced on one individual.
We also should understand that one individual, whether it's a top player or top manager or top tea lady...are all employees doing a job they are paid to do and are expected to do that job to the best of their ability in terms of what they were employed to do...under the constraints and rules of the business they work in.

Rafa is one man and he did not come to this club with dark glasses and a white stick with a specially trained guide dog to ensure he walked the walk.
He came with his eyes and ears wide open and finely tuned, like his business/management/coaching brain.

His Lawyer dotted all the i's and crossed all the T's on his contract, in which he took a considerable time to sign...so he knew what he was getting and also knew he was in control of his contractual set out.