We’re approaching the longest day of the year in what is supposedly flaming June with the realism that things should be calm in the domestic football world.
We are, after all, some seven weeks away from things all starting again with our private target of 17th place or above in the premier league being the minimum aim of Mike Ashley’s ambition.
Realistically though, all the ingredients are there for a major storm with the realisation that this is yet another Summer of a gamble with clubs all over the place continuing to break their own transfer spend and Ashley’s Newcastle repeating the theme of crying poverty. A ploy that the majority of us saw through some years ago against a backdrop of a controlled turnover amidst the clutch of diverted revenue streams.
Whilst the media and some fans are continually playing the ‘Rafa Benitez contract situation’ tune, the truth is that there will be no deal as the lies have already done their damage.
Pre-season training starts in a week and a half with so many issues still there to resolve and with the club’s track record of doing their transfer business by youtube or carrier pigeon, then time has virtually run out on most scales.
The club can and would do so much better if run correctly and aside from Ashley’s business gaining off the back of us, you’re still left with so many questions as to why a business bloke would not want to make his club the best it can be in order to prosper himself further instead of allowing a limbo to create disenchantment.
Time is really of the essence in preparing for Rafa’s last season at the club but it has a feeling of firefighting rather than trailblazing with the inevitable storm that follows ahead.