Benitez ponders who will stay and who will go
HOW BENITEZ NOW HAS A SQUAD OF PLAYERS WHO ARE KEEN TO STAY
THIS time last year Rafa Benitez had the task of dealing with a clutch of players who simply did not want to be at Newcastle United.
All Toon fans know who they were and eventually they got their wish to leave St James’ as Moussa Sissoko, Gini Wijnaldum, Florian Thauvin, Andros Townsend and Daryl Janmaat moved on to pastures new.
Benitez had made it clear he did not have to sell anybody after confirming he would be staying on at the club after relegation.
The former Real Madrid boss could have played hardball and forced some of them to stay on Tyneside but, in the end, that idea was dismissed as it would have been counter-productive.
With Wijnaldum, Thauvin and Janmaat still in the squad during the early weeks and games of pre-season, Benitez was open to the idea of all three playing their part in the Sky Bet Championship.
He also felt Sissoko could really benefit from a season in the second tier – but the French international was desperate to leave.
The Wijnaldum transfer to Liverpool came to a head as the player sulked during Newcastle’s pre-season trip to Doncaster Rovers and was ordered on the field during the 2-2 draw at the Keepmoat Stadium.
United told Liverpool and Wijnaldum’s agent to pay up or leave the player alone and within 24 hours the deal was done.
Sissoko wanted a move so badly he was reluctant to come back and train and his expression at the club’s training ground when he eventually did return told its own story.
Newcastle ended up banking good money for all five who wanted to leave. However, 12 months on, the biggest indicator Benitez has transformed the mood at the club is the fact he now finds himself with too many players who would probably stay if they could. Very few have stated they want to leave the club this summer and while Daryl Murphy, Achraf Lazaar Grant Hanley and Massadio Haidara could all be moved on there are not any hard feelings compared to last year. Quite the opposite.
In fact, Newcastle United now have a squad full of players who actually want to be here.
For example, Tim Krul and Siem de Jong head the queue of players who want a final chance at St James’ Park.
Newcastle also have the likes of Manu Riviere and Henri Saivet returning - so far there have been no takers for the duo.
Benitez may have to take another look at them if there is no movement and there are also youngsters such as Freddie Woodman and Adam Armstrong who have spoken publicly about their aims to challenge the first team squad.
Newcastle United now have a squad full of players who actually want to be here Lee Ryder
Whether any of them can do enough to catch the eye remains to be seen.
However, the big positive for Benitez is playing for Newcastle has become an attractive proposition for players again - and that includes a few players who had started to take life at the club for granted.
Considering Newcastle are recovering from a period in which they openly sold the club as a stepping stone to better things, that is hardly a surprise. That policy has now been torn up by Benitez.
There is no doubt Benitez will move a clutch of players on and he will bring new faces in before pre-season starts.
However, unlike last summer – when those players who wanted to leave the club were starting to affect preparations for the new season – Benitez will start pre-season with a vastly-improved atmosphere around the club.