The road which leads back to the top tier of English football is in no way an easy one. When Newcastle United were relegated from the Premier League last season, it appeared as if they were maimed and marginalised by the event. However, Newcastle are doing their basics right under the tutelage of Rafael Benitez in the Championship to ease their way back to top level football.
Some ramifications for the Toons were important in the January transfer window, including one or two signings of notable figures. Unfortunately, club’s owner Mike Ashley has once again tranquillized any such hopes and has made it clear that he wants to revert back to the policy of signing youngsters and selling them at higher values. In a scenario like this, the manager has an important role to play in order to ensure that his side stays very much in the groove.
Rafael Benitez had a hectic summer transfer window in 2016 in order to resurrect the side and reshape them into a group of players who could perform well in the Championship and earn an entry back into the Premier League. As many as twelve new faces were accounted for at St. James’ Park in the summer of changes. Among them, the likes of Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle, Matz Sels, Ciaran Clark, Mohamed Diame and Daryl Murphy were the big acquisitions. Considering what Mike Ashley underlined recently, a relatively big name is unlikely to arrive at St. James’ Park.
Here, Benitez’s managerial experience come into play. The Magpies went to the pinnacle of the Championship table after their 2-1 win over Brentford and the team is looking quite good. Their two attackers in the shape of Murphy and Gayle are clicking well and the players who are stationed in the rest of the pitch are also getting the job done. The Spaniard will look to rely on the cohesiveness that he has created in the side ever since his reign commenced.
Rafa stayed with the Geordies with a long-term plan and lots of ambitions. The former Real Madrid manager aims to keep the momentum going, and would still be in the market to probably get a couple of loan deals to bring a wide man and a midfielder to ensure that there are no loose ends. He was clever enough to pull stupendous deals in the summer, so never put an economical engineering from him in this transfer window out of the equation. Chances are that he might get a Championship player who knows the division they are employed in, be it on loan or for a nominal figure.
Amidst the chaos of transfer market, the 56-year-old appears to be calm and composed, which is why he is the right man to lift Newcastle United to the Premier League. Benitez understands what it takes to move a side to the next level and the revolution he has been weaving at Newcastle United cannot be denied merely by the dilution of spending freedom.
