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Joey Barton says Rafa Benitez needs to stop ‘moaning’ and get on with it

7 years ago
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Joey Barton thinks there are major problems at Newcastle and they do need far more investment in the team BUT he also believes that Rafa Benitez should stop ‘moaning’.

The former United midfielder claims that the manager going public with how unhappy he is with the lack of backing to make quality signings, is having a negative impact on those who are currently in the team/squad.

Joey Barton stating ‘It doesn’t inspire confidence because he’s saying they are not good enough’.

On the other hand, he does back Rafa in terms of what he still needs to make Newcastle competitive.

The United boss had made clear he wanted a new first choice experienced goalkeeper and a quality striker.

Despite Joselu arriving, it looks clear that this is a desperate measure just to ensure Rafa didn’t have to play Mitrovic as his first change striker.

Dwight Gayle didn’t look great at Huddersfield and whether that is lack of service, poor form, or struggling with injury/confidence, he never looked like scoring. Barton believes Newcastle need a better first choice striker than the former Palace man and certainly goals are looking a real problem unless Rafa can bring in help.

Barton also wants to see a better player to come in alongside Shelvey but up front it is the main focus.

The Mirror famously stated Charlie Austin had signed in an exclusive to launch themselves as NUFC’s official media partner but Barton thinks he can be the answer.

Austin has had two brief appearances from the bench in Southampton’s opening two games and scored the winner from the penalty spot on Saturday in the 93rd minute against West Ham, having come on in the 80th.

Joey Barton picks out Matt Ritchie for praise and against Huddersfield he was the only player in the opposition half to show anything at all yesterday.

Joey Barton speaking to Talksport:

“They do need some investment. When you come up, you do need investment, but there is also a case that Rafa Benitez needs to get on with it.

“You’ve got what you’ve got. OK, you maybe need to keep it private in terms of (pushing for) can we get bodies in, but he’s getting paid an awful lot of money, so coach what you’ve got in front of you.

“It doesn’t help when the manager is out there moaning, saying he’s not happy with the situation. That definitely festers out on the pitch.

“If you’re a player and you hear the manager moaning about investment it doesn’t inspire confidence because he’s saying they’re not good enough.

“Yes they do need investment and I don’t think Gayle is a confident enough striker at this level. He’s not a striker who will get you goals consistently at this level.

“Without Shelvey in the side, and I know it was a stupid sending off last week, they lack that creative spark.

“To keep them up, if they get someone in alongside Shelvey to look after him and give him a bit of licence to create…

“Is Mitrovic the answer? I don’t think so.

They are also crying out for a goalkeeper. You’d like to see the spine strengthened.

“They definitely need a striker, who’s going to get you 15 or 20 goals. Charlie Austin, maybe? They’ve been linked with him before.  If you go onto the pitch and you think to yourself, ‘he’s in the team, he’s going to get us a goal’ .

“Benitez has historically set up his teams to be defensively very structured, he doesn’t play the most attacking brand of football.

“Matt Ritchie will create stuff because he’s a competent performer, but they need a bit more quality in those positions because you’re going to have to score goals to stay in this league, you can’t draw everyone to death.”

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