Ex-Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has expressed worries over manager Rafa Benitez’s public outcry due to the lack of enough financial support from the club in the transfer market.
The controversial star claims the Spaniard is sending the wrong message to his current players, and that confidence can’t be inspired as a result.
The Toons have suffered consecutive defeats since returning to the Premier League, shipping 2 goals against Tottenham, 1 against Huddersfield Town and failing to score on both occasions.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has publicly declared that the Benitez must work on a (limited) budget, while the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager insists he needs more money to strengthen the team.
Barton, however, believes the situation can be properly managed. He told talkSport, “They do need some investment. When you come up, you do need investment, but there is also a case that Benitez needs to get on with it.
“…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.”
Newcastle goalie Rob Elliot also believes the current situation isn’t doing his teammates any good.
The player who spent a majority of the club’s Championship-winning and promotion-earning campaign on the treatment table claims, “With the stories flying around – (we) haven’t got enough, (we) have got enough – I don’t think it’s very fair on the squad.
“They did such a terrific job last year and we’ve brought in some good players. We just wanted it to be about looking forward to the Premier League season, unfortunately it’s not been that.
“I think the lads have done and they’ve done brilliantly, and the new signings look good. I think we just need to gel, get settled and push on for ourselves.”
Benitez has already brought in Florian Lejeune, Jacob Murphy, Javi Manquillo, Mikel Merino and Joselu thus far, but surely needs to add few more if his side are to survive the drop.
Or according to Barton, the manager should get on with his job rather than complain every time he has the chance to talk to the press.
