It was asked of Rafa Benitez earlier this month if he was ‘bulletproof’, the suggestion being that, regardless of results, he would not be sacked.
The Newcastle boss did not really answer, he did not have to. The question was as much a statement – Benitez is bulletproof, and so he should be.
It says everything for his reserves of goodwill inside St James’ Park that, despite a horrendous run of eight defeats in nine matches prior to Saturday’s win at West Ham, the extent of the uprising against the manager was a lone voice behind the dugout demanding he ‘sit down’ as the team slipped to a fourth straight home loss against Everton. The dissenter was quickly shouted down himself.
Rafa Benitez has unwavering support from the fans and club despite losing eight games in nine
Some suggest Benitez is bulletproof at Newcastle, meaning his job is safe whatever the results
There are others, of course, and it is right that tactics and team selection are questioned when debate later rages in the city’s pubs and on social media.
But there is a bigger picture here, and that is what the majority of supporters and observers appreciate.
Yes, Benitez has made mistakes. He should not have dropped goalkeeper Rob Elliot and replaced him with Karl Darlow, a decision which, on reflection, cost them at least two points, if not more. He has persevered with other out-of-form players for too long and changed formation too often.
Newcaslte have struggled so far this season and are hovering above the relegation places
Manager Benitez has made mistakes but is still their best chance of Premier League survival
Newcastle finally ended their dire winless run with a 3-2 victory over West Ham on Saturday
He has also failed to bring the best from last season’s top marksman Dwight Gayle sooner than the scoring run which began in late November. There are doubts among fans over his faith in Mo Diame and Joselu and anger over his mistrust of cult hero Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Defeat, then, is not merely accepted with a shrug of the shoulders and a muttering of ‘In Rafa We Trust’. Questions are asked and answers demanded. But not of his own position, for the problems at Newcastle United run far deeper and wider than the manager.
Rather, he is their best chance of survival, their best chance of a better future under new ownership. In short, he is the best thing about the club.
The Spaniard has demanded to have transfer funds made available to strengthen his squad
But Mike Ashley has not provided the funds that Benitez has needed and deserved this season
Amanda Staveley is in talks to buy the club and has promised money to sign new players
Benitez inherited the mess of Steve McClaren’s reign and, despite finishing that season six games unbeaten, he was unable to keep them in the Premier League. But he stayed and won the Championship title (they went down with Norwich and Aston Villa, currently 15th and eighth in the second tier), a promotion which owed everything to his management of the team and its city. He fixed a broken club.
Mike Ashley failed to grasp the enormity of that achievement and, while Benitez steadied the ship and returned it to the high waters of the top flight, the owner drilled another hole by not affording his manager the summer transfers funds he both needed and deserved.
In his 20 months at the club, Benitez has a net spend of around minus £18million, lower than any of his Newcastle predecessors in the Premier League era.
The Toon faithful want the deal to go ahead and know the future is bright with Benitez
Rather than accept Ashley’s neglect, Benitez has challenged it, in public and in private. Supporters admire the courage of his conviction to do so. McClaren and his staff would be issued with written warnings from the hierarchy if they dared to speak out on transfer policy.
Not Benitez, not when what he is saying makes perfect sense and is backed up by the sight of a squad so desperately short of both quality and quantity.
He can only work with what he has. A ‘short blanket’ he calls it – cover your feet and your head is cold, cover your head and your feet are cold. His team can defend and struggle to score goals, or they can attack and be exposed at the back, evidenced by the 3-2 win at West Ham.
After all the club have come a long way under him, despite the mess of Steve McClaren’s reign
Benitez took Newcastle straight back up after relegation by winning the Championship title
On Wednesday night they host leaders Manchester City. Lose and it will mark their worst run of home results since 1953. There are very few managers who could survive that statistic.
Benitez will, primarily because the terms of Amanda Staveley’s proposed takeover are that he remains in charge and Ashley appreciates the value of the Spaniard’s global appeal. He is, after all, lucky to have him.
But there is also no desire to see Benitez sacked, be that from the terraces, the dressing-room or those observers who follow and report on the club on a daily basis.
Benitez is not the problem. He – coupled with new owners, new ambition and new money – is the solution, and that is why he is bulletproof.
They are one loss away from their worst run of home results since 1953 but Benitez isn’t the issue. He – with new ambition and new money – is the solution, and that’s why he’s bulletproof