Worrying update emerges on Ki Sung-Yueng – Does this explain why he’s totally disappeared?

According to The Chronicle, there’s been ‘whispers’ around NUFC that Rafa Benitez is concerned about Ki Sung-Yueng’s ‘lack of mobility’ – something which could explain the midfielder’s real lack of game time since signing over the summer.

With Newcastle languishing in the relegation zone and still winless this season, attentions are already turning to the winter transfer window and how we can strengthen like last January to help us climb the table.

Chronicle reporter Chris Waugh has identified five key areas Rafa will be looking at (read the article HERE), and one area is central midfield – raising questions about the impact the South Korean summer signing has made.

Here is what The Chronicle say on the lack of game time of the South Korean captain;

“Then there is Ki Sung-yueng, who joined the Magpies on a free transfer as a replacement for Merino – yet the South Korean has barely featured this term, with whispers that the 29-year-old’s lack of mobility has seen him fall down the pecking order.”

Diame has seen his form dip this season and with Ki not in Rafa’s plans at present, we are certainly short.

He’s not played since City away over a month ago and has regularly missed out on match day squads too – with him also being nowhere to be seen in some training sessions recently.

If a lack of mobility is true, is this another example of a Benitez signing that has quickly turned sour where his references seem to have failed him? Gamez, Lazaar and Sels were all Rafa buys as well, but they also appeared to go out of his plans quickly after arriving

It says something when a want-away Hayden gets in the squad ahead of an experienced international who’s captain of his country but it is important to counter this with the fact that forcing a manager to stick to free transfers, you are always going to come unstuck.

You can’t work miracles in the market on every deal with no investment – something Mike Ashley needs to take note of finally – or sell the club to someone who understands football and our clear need for real investment.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Simon Riddlesden

Lifelong Newcastle United fan and East Stand season ticket holder. Observations from a supporter who has followed NUFC during Champions League participation and through relegation, taking me from Milan to Scunthorpe.

8 thoughts on “Worrying update emerges on Ki Sung-Yueng – Does this explain why he’s totally disappeared?

  1. This article just sums up for me Benitez in the transfer market at Newcastle, so many flops, maybe just maybe a reason why there is no trust to give him a large kitty to spend !!!!

    And yes I know he is operating in the bargain section of the market, but if I was the owner I would be concerned by the number of his signings that are still behind those he was trying to replace.

    And as for some of the players he has let go, Mitrovic, Mbemba and Mbabu all much better than those that have replaced them.

    Unfortunately I have lost confidence in Benitez spotting talent, only consolation is I know his coaching skills will keep us competitive, just hope in our defensive tactics we somehow sneak a couple of wins.

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  2. David:
    This article just sums up for me Benitez in the transfer market at Newcastle, so many flops, maybe just maybe a reason why there is no trust to give him a large kitty to spend !!!!

    And yes I know he is operating in the bargain section of the market, but if I was the owner I would be concerned by the number of his signings that are still behind those he was trying to replace.

    And as for some of the players he has let go, Mitrovic, Mbemba and Mbabu all much better than those that have replaced them.

    Unfortunately I have lost confidence in Benitez spotting talent, only consolation is I know his coaching skills will keep us competitive, just hope in our defensive tactics we somehow sneak a couple of wins.

    I can’t lie, the Lazaar deal was a vert weird one that must make Ashley think.

    Rafa’s saying he wants a left-back, but Mike must be thinking ‘wait a second, I bought you one didn’t I? (or two if you count Gamez).

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  3. When you are having to buy bargain basement, loans and free transfers to keep a club the size of Newcastle United in the league, which incidentally is height of Mr Ashley’s ambition for the club, you can point blame nowhere else but directly at the owner.

    Rafa has done an incredible job to make this squad of players into a top flight team, who no doubt will finish lower mid table to the delight of Ashley.

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  4. The lack of football nous amongst some of our fans is frightening.
    Whilst other managers are allowed to spend big sums of money, Rafa has to scrape away amongst the dustbins of football to try and assemble a squad for virtually nothing.
    Yet the dummies blame him instead of the one and only person responsible.
    Give him some money and he’ll do what he’s always done – win trophies. He’s used to being supported in the transfer market, as most world class managers are.
    Don’t worry, if you don’t like it, you always, have the off button to press.

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  5. As is the blinkered support for all things Rafa.

    He is a good manager without investment from Ashley but doesn’t excuse the number of flops he has signed !!!

    Bobbybee:
    The lack of football nous amongst some of our fans is frightening.
    Whilst other managers are allowed to spend big sums of money, Rafa has to scrape away amongst the dustbins of football to try and assemble a squad for virtually nothing.
    Yet the dummies blame him instead of the one and only person responsible.
    Give him some money and he’ll do what he’s always done – win trophies. He’s used to being supported in the transfer market, as most world class managers are.
    Don’t worry, if you don’t like it, you always, have the off button to press.

      (Quote)

  6. Rafa should def give him more playing time. Those who saw him during his tenure at Swansea would know the qualities he could add to current Newcastle. While Shelvey and Diame are clearly not replaceable, Rafa should try to play Ki with 3 mid in the middle to have more build-ups in the back.

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  7. Wow, that’s sad if true. Ki used to be an excellent midfielder and is still quite young. Maybe injuries have finished him off

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