George Caulkin of the Times was the first to break the news that Rafa was not returning to Newcastle. He had written an article a few days before the club released its terse statement of Rafa’s departure.
It turned out that George new all of this because he had already done a lengthy interview with the Spanish legend. He published that interview the day before Rafa joined Dalian Yifang and ended all hope of him and Ashley reconciling.
Here are few of his tweets as he really has been accurate in his reporting and he is absolutely correct in the assertions he makes here.
That Mike Ashley interview is desperately and depressingly familiar; the self-pitying, the delusion, the contradictions and the inconsistency. It’s always this way. The club says nothing and it’s terrible and then when the owner does speak it’s actually worse.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) July 27, 2019
Where do you start with it? Benitez took the “soft option” to leave? He didn’t take the soft option to manage Newcastle when they were threatened by relegation, or to stay in the Championship. He left because he was out of contract & didn’t want to stay for more of the same.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) July 27, 2019
“Every time with Rafa it was impossible – there was always another thing, and the next thing and the next thing.” Yes. Good managers don’t just settle. They push for more. They push for excellence. “I’m not a football expert,” Ashley says. No, but he employed one & now he’s gone.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) July 27, 2019
We’ve seen and heard it all before. Each time he talks, he admits to making mistakes while making them all over again. “I probably shouldn’t own a football club,” he says. That’s definitely a concept to get behind.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) July 27, 2019
Mike Ashley has spoken which we all wished he would. However, we needed him to speak long ago. His interview last night was a complete joke and has turned into an utter public relations nightmare for him.
Nobody is buying what he is saying and George makes the excellent point that if Rafa took the “soft option” by going to China, then what was managing Newcastle in the Championship or as an underfunded Premiership club the past two seasons.
Ashley rarely speaks but when he does he just makes it worse. With flippant comments about his money basically being “wallpaper” and flat out falsehoods about putting every penny the club generates back into the club, the fans have grown to understand that this is a man who just cannot be trusted.
The timing of his comments are also so transparent. Basically, he has ruined himself and Sports Direct is in complete shambles. He now needs to turn to another entity to exploit. That is the Newcastle United fans.
It’s like what Michael Chopra tweeted a few days ago.
Mike ashleys own words in 2008.
.”Newcastle’s best asset has been, is and always will be the fans.”
His plan was to exploit you from the start. He bought the club for your loyalty.
Enough is enough. Make a stand. #onegoalashleyout #BoycottArsenal— Michael Chopra (@MichaelChopra) July 25, 2019
Mike Ashley has tried to paint himself as just a naive person who tried to do good but made a few mistakes. However, the painted veil had slipped long ago and nothing was left but the naked truth for all to witness. Mike Ashley is a manipulator and his attempt this time has failed miserably.
This article was originally posted here