Premier League winners and losers: Water is wet, Arsenal lose at Stoke
By Ty Finch
Loser: Mike Ashley
Never trust a man with two first names.
Mike Ashley has long been the biggest source of contention among Newcastle supporters. He makes outlandish, pointless statements and admissions in the press including his regret over buying the club in the first place. Supporters despise his penny-pinching nature in the transfer market as well. Newcastle are one of the biggest clubs in England, yet have been relegated twice under Ashley’s tenure.
He was given a gift in manager Rafa Benitez at the end of the 2016-17 season, and was even luckier that he stayed on after their relegation. This is a gift that he is surely squandering this season.
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Tensions have been high in Newcastle ever since their most recent promotion. Benitez knows that his club are not strong enough in many areas, but Ashley has reportedly not given him much wiggle room in terms of cash. Newcastle have bought six players since promotion, but other newly promoted clubs (Huddersfield and Brighton) both have over 10 new signings. The Magpies lost 1-0 to Huddersfield in week two, with their best and second-most expensive signing scoring the winner. That’s going to sting, as is no wins in two match and 17th place in the league.
Securing a place in the Premier League is more lucrative than ever. Money from the television deal has made even the smallest clubs flush with cash. So far for Mike Ashley, he personally is the one profiting, not his club. This tension between he and Benitez could end up seeing the manager leave the club. Benitez is far and away the best manager Newcastle could hope for. His absence would be detrimental to their campaign, and would be another black mark on Ashley’s tenure, already chock full of them.