Rafa adds another Championship to his CV

[Rosco]

Newcastle relegated. Apparently they are the most expensively assembled squad to get relegated.

Newcastle apologise to fans as they become the most expensively assembled side to be relegated from the Premier League
Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley has apologised to the club's fans after the Magpies were relegated from the Barclays Premier League for the second time in seven years.

Derby rivals Sunderland's 3-0 home victory over Everton on Wednesday evening consigned their neighbours to the Sky Bet Championship once again along with Norwich and Aston Villa, casting doubt on the future of manager Rafael Benitez, who has a release clause in the contract he signed in March.

In a statement directed at the club's fans, Charnley said: "Tonight we are devastated at our relegation from the Premier League, as I know every single person connected to this football club will be.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

He did a good job considering the mess he was handed. If he stays, they'll be up next year.

 

[Holle]

He did a good job considering the mess he was handed. If he stays, they'll be up next year.

A good job? They've just been relegated!

 

[LeTallecWiz]

A good job? They've just been relegated!

It would have been a miracle had he kept them up ...

 

[jon545660]

To be fair, he did slightly improve their form:

Rafa Benitez: P9 W2 D4 L3 W% 22.2
Steve McClaren: P28 W6 D6 L16 W% 21.4

It could be argued that if they'd appointed him a bit earlier, he probably would have kept them up. Maybe.

 

[Aidan O' Neill]

He took over a team in complete disarray who had just lost something like 5 or 6 on the bounce and he's been there for what about 8 or 9 games? I wouldn't say he performed miracles, but he was hired very late in the day. I think if he had taken over in January they'd have had a good shot.

 

[cloggypop]

So predictable

 

[Holle]

It would have been a miracle had he kept them up ...

Yeah, fair enough.

It would have been a miracle if HE kept them up.

 

[Aidan O' Neill]

To be fair, he did slightly improve their form:

Rafa Benitez: P9 W2 D4 L3 W% 22.2
Steve McClaren: P28 W6 D6 L16 W% 21.4

It could be argued that if they'd appointed him a bit earlier, he probably would have kept them up. Maybe.

Win % barely up but points per game up from 0.85 to 1.1 per game.

 

[gkmacca]

The relentless Geordie mythologising keeps churning out the same old nonsense. Apparently Rafa's 'tempted' to stay because of 'the special fans'. Bollocks. If his family weren't rooted in the Wirral there's no way he'd hang around for a second longer. Those 'special' fans will turn on any manager in a second if things don't go as they want. At the moment even those daft twats realise they need someone like him, but if they don't steam roll over the opposition in every game early next season they'll soon be ranting at him. Dalglish got them to a cup final but he's regarded as the anti-christ because the team wasn't 'entertaining' enough. Enjoy entertaining yourselves in the Championship, you bunch of whoppers.

 

[Dirkus_Circus]

 

[localny]

He would be mad to stay.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Rafa just couldn't take the pressure of Relegation.. Big Sam on the other hand...

notBigSam ?@TheBig_Sam
Football on the telly, a can of Dale's Pale Ale in my hand,
and eating orange Matchmakers out of the wife's arse.
Pressure? What pressure?​