Get Rid: Five Players Newcastle Need to Move on This Summer

The end of Newcastle’s disastrous season has been so far consumed by the Rafa Benitez situation with fans desperate for the Spaniard to remain at St. James’ Park and attempt to return to Premiership a year from now. Newcastle’s six games unbeaten streak in the final six league games including the 5-1 demolition of Spurs on the final day highlighted the quality within the squad juxtaposed with the inadequacies of it in the previous 32 games.

So before we gear up for Euro 2016 and as the fans wait for news as to whether Rafa will stay in charge of Newcastle, let’s focus on the squad who have seen us relegated and suggest which players should leave Newcastle following a season finishing in the bottom three.

  1. Fabricio Coloccini

Club captain Colo has struggled at Newcastle for a couple of seasons now and the time might be right for the Argentine to return to his native land. Despite some of his criticisms it is worth noting Coloccini’s loyalty to Newcastle since he arrived back in 2008. Coloccini was part of the Newcastle squad that got relegated back in 2009 but stayed as he vowed to help Newcastle return to the top flight stating he felt an obligation to put things right.

His playing performance has been mixed in his time here. On occasion, when at his best Coloccini was excellent. Accomplished on the ball, calm in possession and a good reader of play, Colo had all the attributes of a top centre half. More recently though Coloccini has looked short of pace and often beleaguered at the back as he struggled to lead his teammates.

Quite often though you can’t help but think Coloccini was an easy target for criticism. Far too often he was blamed for Newcastle’s poor defence despite being left totally exposed by marauding full backs and midfielders failing to track runners.

That being said, Coloccini has been far too inconsistent in the last two seasons. Admirable for his loyalty, a virtue seldom found in the modern footballer, a move back to Argentina might actually be best for Colo himself. Newcastle need a new look team with a new leader. Fans will wish him well though after eight years at the club.

Click ‘2’ below to view the next player Newcastle should get rid of in the summer.