The Spaniard appears to have more control at the club than his predecessors.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez during the press conference
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has shared his views on his beloved club during an appearance on talkSPORT this morning (07/10/16).
Newcastle spent big in the summer and managed to keep hold of Rafa Benitez as their manager. They were instantly earmarked as the favourites for the Championship title – but have found life a little tougher than expected in the second tier.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez
That said they are still sitting third in the league, with only Huddersfield Town and Norwich City above them in the league.
Shearer, Newcastle United’s record goalscorer, believes that the most important thing to come from this season at Newcastle is to ensure that Benitez is now in charge of everything at the club when it comes to the playing squad.
“I think what the early games will tell fans is that Newcastle are not going to walk the Championship. It’s a long, hard slog in that league.
Alan Shearer poses during the unveiling
“But I think the big thing that is coming out of Newcastle, if anything, is that Rafa is running the football club. He’s doing it his way, he’s able to bring players in that he wants to bring in not who the chief scout or the owner wants to bring in.
“I think that’s the key thing. If that is going to happen and stay that way then they’ll have a big chance of getting back up.”
In the past Newcastle managers have been thrust upon them players that have failed to make the grade at St James’ Park.
Newcastle’s Alan Shearer celebrates scoring form the penalty spot during the final minutes of his testimonial
Benitez clearly decided he wanted to have the autonomy to thrive at the club and Shearer believes this is the right decision from the board.
Newcastle fans will hope that Shearer is right, and Benitez can lead them back to the top.
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