With Newcastle now sitting 14th in the league with three games remaining, we can safely say that we will be playing Premier League football next season unless Fulham achieve the comeback of all comebacks. After a brilliant three points gained at Leicester City on Friday night, it has given us fans a period of relief and calm as we close in on another inconsistent campaign. What would be interesting to see is how many of these players Newcastle fans would keep on for next season.
I recently wrote a piece with the focus being on Jonjo Shelvey's future at Newcastle and how much longer he would have in a black and white shirt, and I believe he and others should be relieved of their duties come the Summer. Although some of these players such as Jonjo, Ciaran Clark and Dwight Gayle have been brilliant for us and were big players during our season in the Championship when we were pushing for promotion, I think now is the time to refresh the squad and look to bring in talented youth. There are also players that just haven't been able to settle and perform at the levels we were hoping whether it be Joelinton or Emil Krafth, who only signed for the club back in 2019. One of the most recent signings in Jeff Hendrick who started his Newcastle career so well with a debut goal against West Ham last September, has just never pushed on from that and put in performances the coaching staff and us fans can't rely on in the centre of that midfield.
However players such Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron, Issac Hayden, Matt Ritchie, Jamal Lascelles, Martin Dubraka etc. These sets of players who posses either top drawer quality or great character that can be the bones of a very good team. Developing those such as Jamal Lewis, who although struggled during certain parts of the season can develop and learn at just the age of 23. Surround these with good footballers and young players with high energy looking to develop I believe can push this club forward even under the difficult ownership we currently operate with. What comes with this will be a strong element of coaching and tactical direction which will be crucial if we are to not repeat yet another season of poor display and severe inconsistency.
There will have to be big decisions made on the pitch this summer at Newcastle and I just hope they are progressive ones. With full fan capacity allowed come August, we can't have another toxic period after whats been such a difficult year in all aspects for us magpies.
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