TOON FLOPS PLAN TEAM MEETING TO STOP ROT

NEWCASTLE players have arranged a clear-the-air team meeting after their winless start to the Premier League season. As revealed by Sportsmail yesterday, concerned owner Mike Ashley is taking manager Rafa Benitez and the squad for dinner this week in an effort to build relations and raise morale. But the players have also taken it upon themselves to organise their own talks in the wake of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Leicester after views were exchanged in the dressing room. Captain Jamaal Lascelles is set to lead the meeting and players will be encouraged to air their opinions on where the team are going wrong and what they can do to improve. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka said: ‘I spoke to Jamaal and said we need to arrange a meeting with all the players. We need to talk honestly and change something. It is down to us, no one else. We need to analyse everything but we have to be honest with each other — we haven’t done that until now.’ Dubravka also suggested that the team need to better understand the way Benitez wants them to play. He said: ‘Everybody has to know which kind of system we play. Rafa has told us many times. On Saturday we were a little confused but it is more important how we react.’ Newcastle have also lost to Tottenham, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal this season but Dubravka says the quality of the opposition is no excuse. He said: ‘We knew we had tough fixtures but we felt we could take points.’