In a matter of days, the British transfer market reopens allowing clubs to make changes to their current squad. Clubs around the country once more begin to scour the world looking for players to improve upon last year’s performances.
Newcastle United had a season to forget – narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the season. Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley made statements promising to readdress the problems. Rather than looking at potential incomings I’d like to focus upon the current squad and document who I believe should be moved on. Buying will be a priority to Newcastle, given the size of the squad available, however the need to sell players shouldn’t be negated. Every club has ‘deadwood’ so to speak. Players whose time has come to an end and need to be moved on to pastures new.
Tim Krul
Given the choice I would sell Krul. Over the last two seasons Krul has failed to progress in a way many had hoped. Since bursting onto the scene as a teenager, Krul bided his time before finally making the number one spot his own. Regression and complacency has since appeared in Krul’s game. Newcastle has no competition to his place, not Krul’s fault however I would like more from my goalkeeper. Krul has played his part in some memorable games, notably Spurs away two seasons ago, those games however are becoming more of a rarity with each passing year. Krul has been playing behind a defence, who by and large are not fit for purpose , but I still believe we should look for more. Watching Newcastle play whilst Krul is in goal, leaves me breaking into sweat at every opposition attack.
“He’s a good shot stopper”, the usual answer with regards to a goalkeeper. Any goalkeeper playing at a professional level should be able to ‘shot stop’. Modern day football requires far more attributes. Awareness, decision making, athleticism, distribution are all vital attributes, which filter the good from the great. Krul in my mind doesn’t possess many of those qualities. Distribution from the big Dutchman is abysmal at best. Krul, only being able to distribute with his left foot only hinders both himself and the team. Is it unfair to demand professional footballers be able to deliver with both feet? Krul’s decision making leaves a lot to be desired.
Set pieces concern me greatly whilst watch. Krul can be indecisive and tends to make the wrong decisions in vital moments. Coming to claim corners or set pieces he will attempt to catch through a crowd of bodies as opposed to leaving it to defenders to deal with. On the other side of the coin, defenders awaiting Krul to claim will be left miffed whilst he remains rooted to his line. Several goals conceded last year, I felt by and large Krul was largely at fault for. Whether it be his indecision, distribution, inability to command his penalty area or neglecting the basic fundamentals of goalkeeping. Rumours claim Newcastle value Krul between £10-£15 million.
Potential replacements for Krul: Guillermo Ochoa (Malaga), David Ospina (Arsenal), Luigi Sepe (Empoli), Alex McCarthy (QPR)
Robert Elliot
Alan Pardew signed Elliot in order to primarily provide backup to number one Tim Krul. Quite how Pardew saw the League 1 ‘keeper doing that at Premier League level remains a mystery to many. Elliot knows his role within the club. When called upon Elliot has never displayed signs he is capable of producing on a weekly basis. When viewing Elliot, as a professional he looks overweight, similar in stature to an amateur footballer. Burnley away last season saw Elliot given a chance to impress. What we witnessed that day clearly showed Elliot was not up to the demands of the Premier league. Diving to save a subsequent goal from George Boyd was embarrassing. Elliot’s position and dive were slow motion-esque. I think he’s still diving for it to this day. Karl Darlow will be linking up the squad following his season long loan at Nottingham Forest, I see no further need to retain the Ireland international.
Replacement for Elliot: Karl Darlow
Mike Williamson
If you were to ask the Geordie faithful who Newcastle should move on this summer, I suspect Mike Williamson would be in and around the top of everybody’s list. My question is how has Williamson managed to last 6 years representing the Magpies? Signed by Chris Hughton from struggling Portsmouth, Williamson quickly established himself at the heart of a defense, which stormed the championship. His 6ft4 presence was ready built for the demands of the Championship. After 5 years in the Premier league, it’s neither knee jerk or unfair to suggest Williamson is nowhere near the required level needed. Fans on the terraces and across the world berate the inclusion of Williamson. Last season many of the goals were caused due to his failures in one shape or form. Despite appearing physically imposing, Williamson is in fact weak, shrugged off by slight forwards on a weekly basis. Due to his size you would expect a physical aerial presence, again don’t expect that from ‘Iron Mike’.
Last game of the season Williamson strode forward to deal with a long ball from an opposing West Ham defender. Unchallenged, Williamson managed to mistime his jump and the resultant header rather than being placed into opposition territory ended up 10 yards behind his original position. At times Williamson appears almost parody esque. Williamson cannot be trusted to remain resolute and solid due to his appalling positional awareness and sense of danger. Rather than playing to his strengths (which are few and far between) Williamson will see danger but his eyes are drawn to the ball, a habit he cannot shed. These lapses of concentration have become more frequent and conceding even more alarming.
Pace and decision making is not something Williamson possesses. Opposing attackers drop deep in order to create space, Willo will push forward knowing full well he will be in trouble should a foot race incur. Modern football is changing. Defenders are encouraged to begin the transition from attack to defense. Attributes such as passing and range are being looked at by traveling scouts. None of these traits can be attributed to Williamson. Whether he is unopposed or under pressure Williamson will play a pass the only way he knows… hoofing it. Taking the leather from the ball was a tactic in the 70’s, there is times where clearing lines are imperative but regardless of situation, Willo knows no other.
Alan Pardew sold Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa due to his inability to head a ball. Why wasn’t Williamson also shown the door? Mbiwa leaving and making a return to the French national team and Champions League, shows a mistake was made. Selling Williamson should be seen as matter of urgency. Should we get £500k to £1 million would be an amazing achievement.
Potential replacements for Williamson: Joel Veltman (Ajax), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Craig Dawson (WBA)
Fabricio Coloccini
Captains lead by example, in times of struggle and pressure players look to their captain for inspiration. Can any Newcastle fan honestly say over the last two years ‘Captain Colo’ has lived up to his duties? After revealing two years ago his desire to return to Argentina, Coloccini has been a shadow of his former self. Colo’s desire and motivation appears long gone, replaced by a man whose demeanor suggests he doesn’t really care anymore. Coloccini is reaching the latter stages of his career, but he is still attempting to play the same way he did in his younger years. This is just not possible. Age and injuries all catch up to players and he doesn’t move across the ground as he once did. Coloccini is part of a defense which by and large is unfit for purpose. Coloccini has to shoulder some of the blame. Lapses in concentration see Coloccini dragged out of position allowing opponents to exploit the open spaces. Colo has never been a physically imposing defender. Rather he used speed and clever pressure to regain possession. Over the last two years , too many times Newcastle have capitulated under his watch. Playing alongside Williamson, neither fill me with confidence moving forward. Colo is a shadow of his former self, allowing him to leave now would give the club a chance to appoint a new, stronger captain and move forward. Giving Colo is the highest earner at the club, reportedly earning £3 million per year is he worthy of such wages? My answer would be categorically no.
Potential replacements for Coloccini: Joel Matip (Schalke), Chancel Mbemba (Anderlecht), Nicolas N’Koulou (Marseille), Aymen Abdennour (Monaco) 
Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Obertan was signed after a recommendation from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to Alan Pardew. What kind of recommendation is clearly up for debate. Parting with £3million to bring the Frenchman North has to be one of the worst decisions made in the current era. Obertan possesses explosive pace but an incapability to take the ball with him. How he has managed to achieve such notable transfers in his career is beyond baffling.
Obertan is a willing runner, capable of covering ground but becomes a liability when asked to provide an offensive outlet. Crossing, decision making, alertness, basic ball control and technique are all beyond the frustrating Frenchman. Cutting our losses would be best for both parties. Obertan cannot move the team forward, taking a position on the bench limits the chances of an academy player, who by and large could offer more. Having witnessed the Champagne flair of David Ginola, Laurent Robert and most recently Hatem Ben Arfa, Obertan by comparison is more a flat cava, left to aerate and fizzling away to nothing.
Potential replacements for Obertan: Florian Thauvin (Marseille), Tom Ince (Hull), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Quincy Promes (Spartak Moscow)
Moussa Sissoko
Another Frenchman whose time I feel should come to an end this post-season. Rumors circulating within the media suggest Sissoko could be sold for a fee in the region of £15- £25million depending on where you read about it. Such a fee should be jumped upon for a player who by and large has flattered to deliver.
Sissoko is a player who frustrates me greatly. A man whose stature and physique should see him dominate and impose his will upon a game. What we’ve witnessed in reality is a weak, irrelevant burden. Sissoko’s debut brought energy, dynamic running and power. When was the last time we saw this from Sissoko? A powerful header giving Newcastle the lead against West Ham was met with both delight and ‘where did he get that from?’ Such things have never been seen from Sissoko. Sissoko has very little finesse, his technical ability is way below what I’d imagine from a French international. A non existent first touch, combined with individual dribbles without being aware of what is around him, suggest he not as good as many people suggest.
Sissoko will neither offer a defensive nor offensive platform. Relatively weak in the challenge and lacking vision to unlock structured defenses, I struggle to see where Sissoko can fit in moving forward. Large fees around Sissoko’s head should not be balked at, Newcastle should look to move him on immediately. Sissoko in recent interviews has suggested he’d like to play for Arsenal, Chelsea, PSG and any club plying their trade in the Champions League. Such statements make me question his motivation and desire to see the club prosper and for such a large fee, reinvested properly could completely reshape Newcastle’s midfield, who last season was nothing short of abysmal.
Potential replacements for Sissoko: Marco Van Ginkel (Chelsea) Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Clement Grenier, Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV), Jordan Veretout (Nantes), Will Hughes (Derby)
Sammy Ameobi
Sammy Ameobi is the only remaining member of the Ameobi family at the club. Given the chance, an affiliation lasting 15 years would be brought to an end. Sammy, having grown up around the club, has failed to live up to his promise and potential.
The time is now right to part ways. Sammy’s contract will expire at the end of the month and reports of a renewal were met with anger. There is however reasons behind the extension offer. Changes made by the FA involving the movement of English players under the age of 24 means Newcastle had to offer a contract in order to guarantee a compensation fee. The offer for all we know could be derisory – allowing Ameobi the chance to negotiate with interested clubs. Should a move take place, Newcastle would then be entitled to a compensation fee.
A move I feel will help all parties. Sammy is a hard worker, but hard work is nowhere near good enough in the harsh world of the Premier league. Ameobi having been around the first team setup for many years, appears raw and unpolished. He shows signs of promise but his inability to deliver consistently make it easy to move him on. What could we expect from Sammy next season and moving forward? Not a great deal in my mind. He won’t frighten defenders by taking them on nor is his movement difficult to counteract against. Sammy Ameobi has been giving countless chances and he’s never seized any of them. What you essentially have in Sammy is a willing runner. Most fans could offer this attribute. Selling Sammy would be no big loss in the grand scheme of things.
Potential replacements for Sammy Ameobi: Bruma (Galatasaray), Nathan Redmond (Norwich)
Yoan Gouffran
Brought in during a time of strife, Gouffran started his career as a striker, signing for Newcastle from Bordeaux he was deployed as a wide midfielder under Alan Pardew. In terms of transfer fee Gouffran was a bargain, coming in and making an impact with little outlay. Over time Gouffran has become a frustrating figure. As like many of the players mentioned previously, what does Gouffran offer? Being deployed as a wide midfielder, Gouffran spent his time rather than looking at ways to attack as a secondary fullback in an abysmal system. What you must not do though is just blame the system. Gouffran like Ameobi and Obertan is just not good enough to represent Newcastle United. What once was a hard working, forward thinking wide man has been replaced with a dour, lazy and disinterested figure. Gouffran’s stats make grim reading too. He contributes little to nothing in a goal shy and creative less offense. Lazy passes become part and parcel of his game, along with a lack of awareness to move into positions needed to cause defenses problems. The primary task of a wide midfielder is to create opportunities for strikers and teammates. Offensive transitioning should be seen as a priority. Midfielders will at some point have to play their part defensively. Such a notion shouldn’t however be seen as a priority. Gouffran, like many others has ran his course at NUFC and it’s time to move on.
Potential replacements for Yoan Gouffran: Anwar El Ghazi (Ajax), Florian Thauvin (Marseille), Andros Townsend (Spurs)
Papiss Cisse
Why would you sell your top goalscorer? Why would you sell the only legitimate goal scoring option within the team? Questions I can envisage you are asking whilst reading this. I would sell Cisse but not before a replacement was brought in first, however I would release the Senegalese marksmen. Cisse whilst top goal scoring last term requires a high level of service. Most strikers do, however I believe that in a modern day striker you need far more. Cisse lacks the strength to hold up play. Link up play is lost due to Cisse wanting to play on the shoulder of the last defender. Whilst playing on the last defender cisse lacks discipline to remain on side and attacks fizzle out. Ideally it would be nice to find a striker who could provide a focal point. A striker who can both link up play and move within the channels. A multi disciplined striker would take Newcastle forward far more effectively than Cisse. Cisse for all his good last season was lost for 10 games due to suspension. Indiscipline like this isn’t acceptable. Add to the time Cisse missed whilst representing Senegal in the African Cup of Nations and it’s easy to part ways. Cisse now turning 30 has maybe two good years at the top remaining. A fee of £10million allows the club to replace and move forward. Should Cisse receive another injury to his knee, it could potentially curtail his career, a factor we shouldn’t neglect.
Replacement for Cisse: Charlie Austin (QPR), Bas Dost (Wolfsburg), Aleksander Mitrovic (Anderlecht), Jonathan Soriano (Red Bull Salzsburg), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla)
