Pulling this from last season's thread
The more I'm thinking, the more positive I am about having Benitez. I still think the Championship will be much harder than last time you were here, but Rafa staying will be a big boost. I think it may take a bit for him to acclimate to the league, but his presence may stop or at least slow some of the flood out (I've heard virtually everyone from Coloccini to Sissoko to Perez are interested in playing at a higher level. And you know people will bid for a guy like Lascelles. Maybe Ashley won't sell on any, but then you'd have some disgruntled players). I think the odds of top 6 are very good.
Oddsmakers have them at 4/5 to go up so ideally we can avoid the playoffs, but the fixture list will be tighter and everyone will want the scalp. And then if they keep Mitrovic, he's prone to hotheadedness and teams are going to try to get in his head and get him tossed. It would be nice if they could get a veteran forward so Mitro can come off the bench, at least on the road.
Keeping Rafa is the most positive thing that's happened since I started following NUFC maybe 15 years ago. I still can't believe he's staying. They spent a week and a half on his contract, and he and his lawyers made sure his contract states he has full control and doesn't have to sell anyone solely because Ashley wants to sell. He can sell and keep as he chooses. If a player wants out, I mean, there's little Rafa can do other than try to convince the player to stay, but if he wants the player and the player wants to stay he doesn't have to sell. He can also build in his own scouting staff, including some who were at Liverpool when he was there
The nice thing is contract wise, a lot of guys like Wijnaldum, Janmaat, Mbemba, Lascelles and Mitrovic are signed into 2020, so they should fetch a decent number if they are sold. The only player of note out of contract is Taylor. The bad thing is no one had a relegation clause so they are on EPL-level wages, so some players are bound to be sold. Edit- Another thing: players may be loaned to EPL clubs to save wages but also be available to come back if they are promoted.
I really do not want to lose Lascelles. He's a leader in the making. He really showed the difference between McClaren and Benitez. Lascelles only played 4 league matches before January. After that McClaren played him more but at both CB and FB. Rafa comes in, sticks him at CB, almost every match, and he held down the spot with aplomb. McClaren was really wedded to the veterans too much.
