Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini came under heavy criticism for both his form and attitude in the second half of last season under interim coach John Carver, and at times Colo didn’t seem to care too much about just how bad Newcastle were playing.
That was during that terrible eight game losing streak towards the end of the season – the first time that’s ever happened to Newcastle in the Premier League.
Fabricio Coloccini – current Newcastle captain
It could have been Carver’s inexperience, poor man-management and lack of leadership from the coach that was passed onto the players, but we have some leaders in the squad who could become good captains at Newcastle.
They include Siem de Jong, Daryl Janmaat, new boy Georginio Wijnaldum and local lad Jack Colback.
Steve McClaren addressed the captain concerns at Miller Park yesterday in Milwaukee after training with the lads:
“Look, I know that’s an issue, and something everybody’s interested in.” “But, for me, not for this moment. I’m not thinking about who’s captain, or going to be captain.”
“At this moment, Coloccini is the captain.” “Each game we play, maybe we’ll have a different captain. I like to do that, especially in pre-season.”
“For the moment, if Coloccini plays, Coloccini is captain.”
It’s unlikely but possible that new signing Wijnaldum, the former PSV captain could get the job this summer, and Daryl Janmaat seems a big favorite with fans.
We also have the former Ajax captain Siem de Jong, who hardly played much at all last year but is fit again.
Here’s a poll to get an idea who fans may want as our new captain – should McClaren decide that’s necessary.
One vote per reader.
Comments welcome.
31 comments so far
Tsunki
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:06 AM
Comment #1What should happen to Mike?
Tsunki
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:07 AM
Comment #2Jesper – Seeing as jeff is taking it easy this morning, and in the interests of furthering your education, it’s ” laissez-faire” another French term we have stolen because it’s sounds better than the dull English equivalent. But I suppose that’s all Ça ne fait rien to you 🙂
Santon03
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:07 AM
Comment #3Is Austin really worth 15m? Good price or not?
If it’s a good price then why no clubs has met the asking price? it’s a bit odd when so many clubs being linked or hunting for his signature and none has signed him yet when clubs like liverpool and west ham paid more for AC.
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:08 AM
Comment #4@beermonkey – i think the club wil always sell its best players under Ashley but reckon hes realised in the modern climate you can make more spending 15m on a player and turning them into 30m players
Wijnaldum and Mitrovic would have huge sell on value if successful whereas Austin for whatever reason is probably towards the top end of what he’ll be worth.
Reckon its why we never buy defenders as theyre sell on value rarely increases much
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:11 AM
Comment #5Captain should be De Jong if fit. Captained Ajax. Seems like a leader, intelligent etc.
Wijnaldum captained PSV too. Both are winners, either would do.
Not sure about a right back captaining the side. Always liked the idea of a captain being in the middle
Tsunki
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:13 AM
Comment #6Time to lift the crown from our tousle-haired talisman. No voice on the pitch, no motivation behind the scenes, the lapdog of the incumbent coach, many bottled derby sickies, the bleating about wanting away until it was pointed out to him how much money he would lose, the list can be written on a bog roll.
mickalfas
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:13 AM
Comment #7Voted for Janmaat,Siem needs to prove his fitness first
Collo’s lack of communication is a major problem,apart from being slow
JDdubai
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:13 AM
Comment #8Janmaat captain for this season – SDJ probably would have been if he had played last year but for me needs to show it on the pitch before becoming captain – same with Gini.
Colo, Sissoko god no. Tiote, Colback not guaranteed to start.
sing in the corner
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:14 AM
Comment #9Sorry…but repost..
I think someone at NUFC should simply walk up to Colo, point out a list of his shirking performances, / disappearances off to South America for extended R&R when he was needed here, remind him of his open desire to be elsewhere…, then actually slap his face and hope he accepts a pay cut in order to leave
Rotonda heights
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:14 AM
Comment #10Never understood why nufc didn’t just cut their losses on colo when they had the chance. He’s on huge wages and clearly just doesn’t want to be here. He’s hitting his mid 30’s so how much would we realistically lose on him now any way. I’d send him one way to san lorenzo now.
As for captain I think it needs to be someone with a bit of charisma. Colback just comes over as very bland and dour and if we really had ambitions would just be a squad player in any case.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:15 AM
Comment #11Not sure who I’d want as captain. I’d prefer to wait and see who else came in. We need a leader in the centre of defence, and if we can get an experienced one in then he may well get my vote. Really though, the captain should be at the club by now for the tour.
From the list offered, Colback or De Jong, although Colback should be having to scrap for a starting spot if we are after top 8 and De Jong has fitness issues, so there is a possibility neither would be regulars.
Tsunki
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:15 AM
Comment #12Jay photo – yes for me the captain should be the sentinel in the middle of the park, all eyes on him, his eyes on all. having Roy of the Rovers CF and goalie captains is all very nice but you need someone who is interested in all aspects of play to call the shots.
LewSpi v2.0
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:15 AM
Comment #13Disappointed that there’s no Mike Williamson option, Ed.
Tsunki
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:16 AM
Comment #14So that’s why Willo should be captain, due to his sensible haircut and good posture.
😀
smoke beer, drink tabs
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:17 AM
Comment #15Colback all day long. Geordie lad, here for the right reasons, not using us as a stepping stone, sets a good example how we should play. Could be captain for the next 7 or 8 years
Jib
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:17 AM
Comment #16Tsunki
You have just described Colo
Ha ha ha
LewSpi v2.0
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:18 AM
Comment #17I jest, I completely agree with JayPhoto. Middle of the park, influence everybody.
Siem my preferred choice as he’s been here a year, injury problems the only concern.
Jib
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:20 AM
Comment #18Tsunki
Seeing as how you are on a French “thing” this morning , I have another of my faux pas to add to your growing list.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:21 AM
Comment #19Rotonda@10,
Simples. It would have cost 5-10M to replace him, where as Joey Barton didn’t need replacing as we had a glut of MF at the time.
beermonkey
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:21 AM
Comment #20jayphoto
its not the selling that causes us problems its not replacing for 2 seasons then buying a player not good enough but cheap
only time will tell if we have changed this
but the team has been missing the quality that 15mill players buy its no surprise we have been down the bottom of the league when we have filled the squad with substandard 5 mill players
although its taking it time I am more than happy with the backroom staff its a real step forward
more than happy with the players linked with gini mitrovic the deals seem to be taking time but when they have cl teams wanting them I spose they take more convincing
not happy with townsend
Our Toon
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:21 AM
Comment #21The most logical choice would he SDJ, a real leader at previous clubs. Not fussed with his injury record, if he doesn’t play much we will always have a vice captain.
Colback isn’t good enough to start never mind about captain
toon kk
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Comment #22I see most are voting for Janmaat, is is because he was one of our best player’s last season? That doesn’t make him a leader.
I agree with LG@11 but out of candidates would probably have to pick De jong.
Our Toon
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:28 AM
Comment #23Do other teams see Charlie Austin as a Darren Bent type of striker? Someone who does well for lower league or piss poor teams?
You’d think 15m for an English player (hot commodity due to HG quota) would have been in much demand. Says alot that he’s still at QPR
sing in the corner
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:29 AM
Comment #24The choice for me is Janmaat. He’s got decent vision of the game, reasonably adaptable as seen when he had to shore up CH comes across as a bit more up-and at em than anyone else so could be a leader / inspirational. Don’t know about SDJ yet – he’s hardly set foot on the pitch so need to see more of him in our environment. The fact that the debate is so open illustrates that we are missing a grab the game by the scruff of the neck type of individual
Our Toon
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:29 AM
Comment #25Toon KK
Wasn’t willo voted as best player the season before? Imagine of we’d chosen captains based on who played the best….ahaha oh dear
Our Toon
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:32 AM
Comment #26Sitc
You may not know much about SDJ bits he’s captained teams from youth levels all the way up to senior level….A natural leader both on and off the pitch. Janmaat is a good player whose adaptable but hasn’t been a leader throughout his career
toon kk
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:33 AM
Comment #27How well would Austin look at a top club? Or did he just stand out among a poor qpr? He scored goals which is something we need though.
Ron Knee
Jul 14, 2015 at 9:33 AM
Comment #28Janmaat got my vote. Ideally, SDJ would be captain for me, but his fitness problems rule him out.
will die for the toon army
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:10 AM
Comment #29Jack Colback
DicBDownUnder
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:21 AM
Comment #30Jack Colback, not the best player, but homegrown, knows what it means to wear the black and white stripes and he wouldn’t have any trouble giving a rallying speech when needed, especially on derby day!
ToonRich
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:27 AM
Comment #31What makes Janmaat such a popular choice???
I voted Wijnaldum…he’s a born leader, a pure athlete which in turn should be a great role model and motivator for his team mates. We can really say that about many of our other players!!
Jack/De Jong would be my choice of vices!