Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren has revealed that he and his backroom staff are actively encouraging club captain Fabricio Coloccini to become more vocal on the field.
A perpetual weakness of Coloccini’s spell as United captain has been the former Deportivo man’s reluctance to verbally lead his black and white teammates during games – a shortcoming that has regularly attracted Newcastle fans’ reproval.
McClaren has clearly identified this frustrating defect in Coloccini’s game and the former England manager has revealed that he is taking steps to tackle his captain’s leadership issues:
Coloccini leads by example and we have talked to him a lot about the responsibility and the role that he has within the team.
Once he came back and committed (new contract in summer) to us and bought in (to the new management), he has been terrific. I think he has becoming more vocal and that is something which we are encouraging. If we keep on this way, then we’ll be okay, he has to lead by example to gain that respect.
He knows, and we tell him, as captain you have to make sure that you do your job first and make sure you do it well. On Saturday (v Bournemouth), when we needed him, he was really top drawer.
After widespread calls for Coloccini to be stripped of the armband following his discouraging role in last season’s debacle, it has been refreshing to see the experienced defender taking the captaincy more seriously this campaign.
Off the field, the Argentine has shown an increased willingness to take on media duties – conducting two post-match interviews so far, as well as penning a series of sincere emails to Newcastle fans.
On the field, the Magpies have started to reap the rewards of their captain’s newfound vocality by turning in some accomplished defensive displays to keep consecutive clean-sheets in their last three Premier League games.
Coloccini was one of Newcastle’s standout performers in Saturday’s crucial 1-0 victory over Bournemouth and McClaren will hope that the revitalised 33-year-old can maintain his improved form over the coming weeks.
