Rafa Benitez was not my ideal Newcastle United manager.

Having been in matches since the 1970s, Kevin Keegan and then Sir Bobby Robson are the two who stand out.

As for Rafa Benitez and Newcastle United, we never really got to see what he could be capable of.

Accepting a three-year indefinite contract, moving from Real Madrid management to Newcastle United in the league in a few short months, the Spaniard was up for a long-term project.

In the first year, Newcastle United became champions again.

Second year, minimal investment in the transfer market but stabilized tenth in the Premier League.

Year three Mike Ashley turned down any net spending on players in the summer of 2018, in fact insisting that a profit of £ 20million + had to be made. Although he has to rely on loan deals and discounted purchases, once again comfortably in the middle of the thirteenth table.

Scratch the surface though and things were changing and improving under Rafa Benitez in the final months of his time at St James Park, in terms of results AND style of play.

The last 28 PL games of 2018/19 under Rafa have seen Newcastle with the eighth best form in the Premier League.

However, it was when he was finally cleared to sign a relatively ambitious signing with Miguel Almiron that things really got off the ground.

Signed on Jan.31, 2019, Almiron only managed nine PL starts that season due to injury, but that was enough to help Rafa Benitez play in a much different and more offensive way in most areas. remaining matches.

Indeed, this is the Premier League form of the last 16 games of this 2018/19 Premier League season:

As you can see, fifth most points – 27 out of 16 games, but also fifth most goals scored – 26 in 16.

Fast forward less than two years and that’s the mess we now see under Steve Bruce.

Only two wins in the last eighteen games (in all competitions) and twelve defeats, here are the last ten Premier League clubs in terms of training in their last 16 PL games below:

Burnley won 5 draw 5 lost 6 GP 14 GA 18 points 20

Liverpool won 5 draw 3 lost 8 GF 18 GA 18 points 18

Fulham won 3 draw 9 lost 4 BP 10 GA 11 points 18

Wolves Won 4 Draw 6 Lost 6 BP 17 GA 21 Points 18

Crystal Palace Won 4 Draw 5 Lost 7 FB 12 GA 29 Points 17

Brighton Won 3 Draw 7 Lost 6 GP 12 GA 17 Points 16

Sheffield United won 4 draw 1 lost 11 GF 11 AG 24 points 13

Southampton won 3 draw 4 lost 9 BP 12 GA 26 points 13

West Brom Won 2 Draw 6 Lost 8 BP 11 GA 31 Points 12

Newcastle United Won 2 Draw 4 Lost 10 BP 13 GA 28 Points 10

An absolute waste, despite having enjoyed a net investment of over £ 100million in Newcastle United squad during his first three transfer windows.

This is what you get with Steve Bruce.

What we would have achieved with a well supported Rafa Benitez… who knows.