Rafa Benitez has been told he can keep any players he wants at Newcastle for next season, but maybe some of the players he wants will want to leave for pastures anew.
But Rafa today has made it clear he only wants players with passion, commitment and quality to stay at the club for next season, so if the likes of Gini Wijnaldum and Moussa Sissoko whine on about wanting to leave we think Rafa could let them move on.
Rafa Benitez – could take hard-line with Wijnaldum and Sissoko
Gini hasn’t even been able to think about whether he wants to stay because he says he’s been in such distress about the relegation.
One thing that turned out to be very successful the last time we took the drop back in 2009, was when those that didn’t want to stay and fight for Newcastle in the less glamorous Championship were allowed to leave.
The same thing could happen this season, but we may not know who leaves until late August, so we may get Wijnaldum and Sissoko hedging their bet so to speak about whether they really want to leave the club or not.
Rafa has spoken to the Chronicle today:
“I have been asked about players wanting to leave. But I have had more players telling me they want to stay. That is positive.”
“So we will deal with them and the main thing is we need players with passion, commitment and quality to make a difference in the Championship.”
“Everybody wants to do well. My daily relationship with Lee Charnley is good and that is the main thing.”
Whether Moussa Sissoko and Gini Wijnaldum will remain is not clear but Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ayoze Perez, Vurnon Anita, Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles have all said they want to stay at Newcastle with the Rafa revolution starting at the club.
If Gini and Moussa leave and Rafa brings in a couple of good replacements we don’t think it will hit the team much at all.
Rafa could also take a hard-line with Wijnaldum and Sissoko and tell them they have a contract to honor at Newcastle and therefore must stay.
But that can misfire if they became a pain in the dressing room, since the team spirit has to be very high if we are to be successful next season.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jun 2, 2016 at 8:41 AM
Comment #1On squad changes for next season…. While i font think we need whole sale change, i still think a few of the usual suspects do need to go. Cisse has done nothing for ages, and did not improve when rafa came. Sissoko did sort of show a bit more, but i still think he is too far gone as far as wanting a move is concerned, showing a lot of leg and flutrering his eyelashes at any passing club who is in europe. Gini owes us. If he does the manly thing, and wants to get us back up (doubt it like) then he would deserve another chance imo. He has the ability. Either way, we need a few experienced heads, and replacements for whoever leaves, but we don’t need a whole team.
Jib
Jun 2, 2016 at 8:46 AM
Comment #2Expat
Do you follow the Heart over there ?
Personally I’ve always wanted to see the Demons at MCG it looks awesome !
ToonTiger
Jun 2, 2016 at 8:48 AM
Comment #3Gini & Moussa saw a shop window. Sell and move on with Cisse, Thauvin, Coloccini, Taylor and possibly Tiote.
Jib
Jun 2, 2016 at 8:54 AM
Comment #4Coloccini may have dropped a clanger in Argentina.
San Lorenzo has said they really wanted him 2 seasons ago but now he’s too old.
They are trying to find a compromise with a coaching role for him.
The overrated Frenchman
Jun 2, 2016 at 8:57 AM
Comment #5Why on earth the Demons Jib???
giimps
Jun 2, 2016 at 9:04 AM
Comment #6Gini wanted to raise his stock as high as possible in the Spurs game which is why he wouldn’t let Andros take the penalty against his old club.
Very selfish imho and while being a very good player I think we should sell for as much as we can get unless he says he wants to stay, cya Gini and thanks for all the fish
Jail for Ashley
Jun 2, 2016 at 9:05 AM
Comment #7I think the squad mentality would change for the better if we got shot of Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Jaanmatt and Collo. Good players but you don’t need characters in the dressing room harping on about their move to a “big” club.
Jib
Jun 2, 2016 at 9:05 AM
Comment #8It’s over 2 months since the discrimination tribunal went away to think about Jonas’ compo.
I’m thinking the award has been made and is a lot less than the £2million JG claimed.
ArtyH
Jun 2, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Comment #9We have to believe in Rafa concerning the suitability of the squad. What I would like to see is Rafa giving a deadline to the players who want to leave to make up their minds before the start of the season as this would make the pre season worthless. So no sales after the season starts would be a good measure to start with, then make buys late in the window if required to improve the squad or if a bargain comes up.
Big Archie
Jun 3, 2016 at 4:57 AM
Comment #10Seriously flawed logic Ed.
One of the side effects of going down last time was that we were stuck with a number of higher paid players who were very happy to just keep on collecting their 50K a week while playing “kids” football.
Rather than saying that they were fighting for the club you could say that they were “taking it easy”, “lacked ambition”, took “money for old rope” , were just “ticking over”.
Does anyone know of a Newcastle site that reports fact as fact and doesn’t claim their own supposition to be fact?