The Toon Army here in the Tavern are taking a look at who they want Benitez to dispose of in January, with a handful of additions required.
In world football, there’s always disputes and a clash in personalities when players and managers move from team-to-team. But it’s being understanding and providing the correct guidance that resolves underlying issues within the camp, something that Newcastle United have struggled to do.
The Toon Army currently lie in the relegation zone in a spot of bother with a return to the Championship looming. There’s a whole number of contributions to the mess they find themselves in, from a lack of Premier League quality, arguments within the camp and one of the greediest owners in world football.
But seeing the departure of one man in particular may just be the biggest mistake Rafa Benitez is yet to make. Aleksandr Mitrovic has bags of potential and the eagerness to learn, but during his time on Tyneside, a lack of opportunity has seen him stagnate within their ranks.
You can’t blame the business Rafa Benitez has completed earlier on in his managerial career with the likes of Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Dirk Kuyt all becoming Kop legends.
However, Mitrovic cost the Tyneside club a whopping £13 million which is a massive amount of money to invest in a player for a fringe Premier League side.
Nevertheless, with Benitez looking towards the January transfer window. Here’s a look at TWO reasons as to why selling Aleksandr Mitrovic may just be his biggest mistake.
Potential
Of course, Newcastle thought they’d signed a future star when they purchased him from Belgian side Anderlecht back in 2015.
Yet, this isn’t how it’s turned out to be for the Toon Army with Benitez bizarrely opting to give the ineffective Joselu a place over the Serbian.
During his first couple of seasons with the club he’s managed to produce some important goals, yet hasn’t reaped the rewards of a regular place in the side. Still, at the young age of 23 his national side Serbia use him at the focal point of the attack in what is an impressive national-team, of which he’s rewarded them with a goal almost everytime he plays.
Indeed, with there already being glimmers of a world-class ability displayed in some of his performances, letting him go in January may just cause Newcastle to lose out on a future star.
Displays passion and desire
Indeed, every club goes in search of a player who even through the tough times still shows great desire and passion every-time he puts on the shirt, and this is exactly what Mitrovic displays.
He’s already had a big effect on the Toon Army with many of them loving what he brings to the club, wearing his heart on his sleeve in every minute he plays in the side.
The loud atmosphere that the Newcastle fans provided for him during fixtures at the Sports Direct Arena are often what fires up the Serbian, and at any given point that they’ve gotten behind the striker, he’s rewarded them with goals.
Therefore, it could be a huge mistake seeing the forward go, swapping a man who loved the club for a money-seeking replacement.
Newcastle fans, thoughts?
