In the first of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums, starting with how things have progressed for the relegated Magpies this summer. Reports on Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday will follow later today with the rest of the teams in the division covered between now and the start of the season.
"I can’t remember the last time I felt this way about Newcastle”, "It’s the first time I have felt proud to have the manager we do since Sir Bobby Robson”, "I’m so excited for next season that relegation doesn’t even hurt any more”, "It’s still hard to comprehend that he is in charge of our club.”
"Right Rafa son, start building the team for next season.” For a team and supporters who should be licking their wounds after relegation, the mood on Tyneside is strangely euphoric, borne out of the decision of Rafa Benitez to stay and steer the club through the rough waters of the Championship.
"I’m probably one of our more negative fans but even I’m feeling positive about the club at the moment”, "We are actually becoming a more enjoyable club to support again”, "We can look forward to the coming season with a lot of hope and excitement”, "Rafa is class.”
"There’s something special about Benitez, things such as the sheer silence which fills the pub when he speaks or the new found effort and spirit he awoke in an already doomed team”, "He is in control of all football matters which is unprecedented in this regime. That will do for me.”
"The fans have been a major factor in my decision.” Benitez has warmed to the passion of Magpies and they have wholeheartedly embraced their manager in return. They are reassured by the fact that owner Mike Ashley has given him more control over footballing decisions than any predecessor.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea boss "is ruthless at getting rid of players he doesn’t like of want”, "Benitez is taking a massive gamble. It could potentially wreck his reputation if he doesn’t do well in the Championship, all the more reason to respect the man really.”
"There is so much dead wood at our club.” Benitez has wasted little time in rebuilding his squad, with players leaving including defenders Steven Taylor (unattached) and Fabriccio Coloccini (to San Lorenzo in his native Argentina) and striker Papiss Cisse (to Shendong Luneng in China).
Two players have returned to the Premier League, 24-year-old former Town loan winger Andros Townsend (to Crystal Palace) and 25-year-old midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum (to Liverpool).
"The bloke isn’t right in the head.” Midfielder Moussa Sissoko is widely expected to depart, with Magpies greeting the 10 out of 10 the France international gave himself for his performances at Euro 2016 with derision. "Anger with Sissoko is neither harsh nor unreasonable, but every bit deserved.”
"We can’t build success on the spine of the relegated team. It needs a big overhaul and a fresh start”, "I’m hopeful of seeing a competent defence for the first time in about a decade”, "I also look forward to seeing a solid defence for once”, "I’m just looking forward to seeing tactics for a change.”
Benitez has brought in six new arrivals, with the defence being overhauled. Belgium U21 international keeper Matz Sels has arrived from Gent and centre-back Grant Hanley was signed from Blackburn after a series of failed bids. Full-back Jesus Gamez has joined from Atletico Madrid on a two-year deal.
Isaac Hayden has also arrived from Arsenal on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old defender played last season on loan from the Gunners at Hull. With Wijnaldum and Sissoko out of the picture, most Magpies now see central midfield as the area most in need of strengthening.
Further forward, the arrivals of striker Dwight Gayle from Crystal Palace and winger Matt Ritchie from Bournemouth, both on five-year contracts, has been widely welcomed. They are seen as offering pace and a genuine threat coupled with proven experience at Championship level.
At the time of writing, the Magpies have been rotating their squads heavily in their pre-season run-outs. This is the starting XI (below) for their recent 4-0 victory away at Belgian side Lokeren. Ritchie was absent and several players, notably Hayden and Janmaat, played out of their natural positions.
After a raft of substitutions, the team which was playing midway through the second half (below) gave an idea of the strength in depth of the squad as Benitez tried new player combinations. New signings Gayle and Hanley did not feature in what was a routine win.
The Magpies’ previous warm-up fixture was a 2-2 stalemate at Doncaster, when they retrieved a draw after poor defending had given Rovers a two-goal advantage. Prior to this they handsomely beat a Bohemians side featuring former Blue Shane Supple 6-0 at Dalymount Park.
"No one can claim that this season will be a walk in the park. The level of Championship football has improved greatly since we last ventured down there”, "The Championship is an awful lot better now than it was when we last won it.”
Although a small minority of Magpies have discussed the odds of going through the season without losing or emulating Reading’s 106 record points haul for the division, the majority of fans are taking nothing for granted but hoping a swift return to the top flight playing under their saviour.
"I hope we go on a cup run next season. There are not many better cup managers in the world than Benitez”, "Rafa has fallen in love with this enigma of a club. What other club could get a manager of his pedigree? It adds to the allure of the Toon. Great news, we are indeed in a league of our own.”
The busiest Newcastle forum is Newcastle Online and some interesting additional comment can be found on Toon Forum.