After a torrid term Newcastle United find themselves risking a second Premier League relegation in the club’s history, and the Magpies fans here in the Transfer Tavern are worried!
The defeat to Norwich at the weekend, in hindsight, could be the defining moment of Newcastle’s season.
They desperately needed something from that game and the manner in which they walked away with nothing was cruel…
However, they must pick themselves up quickly because if they don’t, they may as well wave goodbye to Premier League football next season.
In terms of the squad itself, the quality is above bottom three status but Newcastle’s defensive frailties have been showcased on a number of times and only Aston Villa have conceded more goals then the Tyne-Siders this season.
Firepower has been limited too, Ayoze Perez and Aleksander Mitrovic are both fine goalscorers but they’ve lacked creativity in behind, with the losses of Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye.
Whether or not they can complete a great escape, here are FIVE players the Magpies need to let go in summer……
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE PLAYERS!
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Fabricio Coloccini
It’s been a season to forget for Collocini, the 34-year-old Argentine has been at the heart of the defensive criticism in the media, and in February he was stripped of his club captaincy, with it being handed to new signing Jonjo Shelvey.
In January 2013, Colloccini handed in a transfer request stating his interest in moving back to home country Argentina for personal reasons and it’s been down hill ever since.
Once fan favourite and heavyweight deterrant, Colloccini has often become a scapegoat for Newcastle’s back line problems and personifies their lack of discipline at the back.
He’s become slow with age and without leadership responsibility, he’s become a liability rather then an asset.
Chancel Mbemba
Mbemba may have only been on the books for this season, but he’s as to blame for Newcastle’s inadequate shape and rear guard woes.
It’s difficult because I like Paul Dummett and who’s young and has bags of potential and Darryl Janmaat has been underwhelming, but doesn’t deserve to be in a team that’s where they are.
Rob Elliot hasn’t had a comforting time in the Geordie sticks but he saves the chances he should and has kept Newcastle in the game at times.
So for me, Mbemba and Colloccini are the culprits and Rafa must seek to conjure a new pairing in the coming window.
Mbemba may be the quicker of the two but he’s so easily drawn out of position and often looks bewildered when there’s an error.
In Newcastle’s 6-1 hammering to Manchester City he was the worst player on the pitch.
Gabriel Obertan
How Gabriel Obertan is still playing for Newcastle United is beyond me. A £3 million deal in August 2011 saw the winger make the move from Manchester United to Tyne-Side.
Obertan has scored just two goals in 71 appearances. That’s absolutely shocking numbers.
In his early days at the club there were glimpses that Obertan could get past players and maybe with a bit of development, he could become an asset for the Magpies.
After playing 23 times in his debut season, Obertan has failed to make over 15 appearances in a Newcastle term since. In fact, he’s made five appearances this season and only started in three of those of which Newcastle failed to win.
Forgetting the Newcastle and French talent love affair, Gabriel Obertan is the perfect example of a club taking a chance on a player when they shouldn’t.
Papiss Cisse
The fact that Papiss Cisse has only made 15 appearances this season with six of those off the bench tells its own tale.
Mitrovic and Perez are the preferred choices in McClaren’s XI which fans scratched their heads about for a while.
But Cisse’s underwhelming impact this season has become clear, and an array of missed chances in the Premier League dented the Senagalese’s status in the Newcastle striking pecking order.
Granted, he scored 11 goals last year but he only missed a handful of Premier League matches.
Cisse too has been with Newcastle for a 5th consecutive year and with the striker turning 31 this year, they should look to offload him for a fair price before his form dips further.
Yoan Gouffran
You may be thinking, did Yoan Gouffran have an injury this year? The answer is no.
Gouffran is in his 4th season at the club and in his second and third for the Magpies season, he played over 30 times; this season he’s played eight with six of those coming off the bench, without finding the net.
The Frenchman turns 30 in two months and I don’t see any reason as to why Newcastle would think about keeping him on for another year.
They’re running the risk of becoming an ageing team and they must offload these soon to be retiree’s for some fresh legs.
Newcastle have a serious overhaul to think about this summer.
Newcastle fans, do you agree? Have your say below!
