A number of Newcastle United fans were left momentarily panicking after Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope revealed that Rafael Benitez is set to be replaced by former Magpies boss Graeme Souness as a pundit for Sky Sports.
In a cheeky reveal on his personal Twitter account, the reporter revealed that Benitez had been set to appear as a guest on Monday Night Football provided his side picked up a good result against Brighton, but having suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Seagulls his place will be taken by Souness.
Understand Graeme Souness will replace Rafa Benitez… as the analyst in the studio for Sky's Monday Night Football. Benitez had agreed to do show on proviso NUFC got a positive result against Brighton, and that didn't happen.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) October 22, 2018
However, the somewhat misleading introduction to his post had the Toon Army in panic stations on Twitter, with many jesting they had suffered a heart attack after reading the first couple of words.
This is Futbol has gathered some of the supporters’ tweets:
I hope you can live with all those heart attack's you so nicely provided.
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) October 22, 2018
— Damien Lee (@Damolee23) October 22, 2018
Don’t do that again please
— James Sharp (@sharpy262) October 22, 2018
Nearly had a heart attack there
— Shaun Wales (@wales_shaun) October 22, 2018
Read the firsts seven words and blacked out..
— Cass (@PeterCass1981) October 22, 2018
Felt sick for a second there
— Gavin Mcmillan (@Gav_mac22) October 22, 2018
All toon fans , reading this!!
Please don’t do this again Mr Hope. #Sensitivetimes pic.twitter.com/n8lvwHv33N— JonnyA (@JONNYA3009) October 22, 2018
you nearly gave me a heart attack there! graham bloody souness!
— Mobin Hussain (@Mobs_) October 22, 2018
Opinion
Craig Hope nearly had the Toon Army on red alert with that tweet, and the hypothetical situation of Souness taking Benitez’s place in the St James’ Park dugout is hardly something that the supporters could bear thinking about. Still, it is only the Sky Sports studio where he is stepping in for the Spaniard, and that should relieve the fans somewhat. It is interesting to see that Benitez had agreed to take part in such a public broadcast when he is under so much pressure, and the fact it was only on the proviso of a positive result against Brighton is also worth considering. Did he think that victory over the Seagulls would take enough pressure off his shoulders that he would not be probed by the pundits, or was it in fact the club who made the agreement, knowing that another negative defeat would throw more doubts on Tyneside and that Benitez could end up discussing the likes of Mike Ashley, who likes to try and keep his reputation as clean as possible? Only those involved know, but it is a shame Souness is appearing instead of Benitez, for fans would have been fascinated to hear what he had to say.