Newcastle United has its soul back: Part II
By Dean Cassidy
Following relegation to the Championship, there was a surprising air of optimism around the club, hot on the heels of Rafa Benitez’s confirmation that he would stay on as manager.
In many ways, there was similarity to the 2009-10 preseason following the last time the club was relegated. Lots of players whose place in the squad did not correlate based on performance and wage. A mass overhaul of players and mentality was necessary.
Must Read: Newcastle Has Its Soul Back: Part One
Where the situation differs is that this time, there was a defined management structure in place, and a direction and ambition to immediately restore Newcastle to the top flight of English football and beyond. It would be an arduous summer of upheaval, but Newcastle was a phoenix rising from the ashes.
There was a changing of the guard in the locker room with high profile, experienced, ‘big name’ stars such as Fabricio Coloccini, Moussa Sissoko, Papiss Cisse, Steven Taylor and Georginio Wijnaldum shipped out to make room for more hungry players, with nothing but desire to see Newcastle battle their way out of the Championship.
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Players such as Matt Ritchie, Grant Hanley, Dwight Gayle, Isaac Hayden and Daryl Murphy were brought in to provide league experience, but also to display leadership qualities and passion that was so lacking in the squad that was relegated.
Some squad players have come back from the brink and contributed enormously to where Newcastle is today in Vurnon Anita and Yoan Gouffran, and this is in some part due to new and improved coaching methods.
As well as a change in the playing staff, Benitez eventually confirmed his backroom team that would be responsible for organizing day to day training sessions, and help with planning out Newcastle’s plan of promotion. Mixing in some vastly experienced, continental faces that had previously worked under the manager with some familiar faces around the training ground to ease the transition.
What was also equally as important, is that the supporters all bought in and became invested again, immediately as Benitez was announced as manager. The unwavering support of the city was something that none of the previous three or four managers could muster.
Attendance figures in pre-season and in the first half of the season have been nothing short of phenomenal for a second-tier club. Week-in-week-out the fans have turned out in force to see a reformed club licking its wounds and bouncing back in style, leading the way for the majority of the season.
To have ambition and passion restored, to have players who are willing to fight for the shirt, the history and the fans has translated directly into victories, in turn, boosting morale around the whole club and creating possibilities we never thought we would see under the ownership of Mike Ashley.
Rafa Benitez has restored the soul of Newcastle United and it is now not just a case of promotion to the Premier League to simply take part, its a case of taking over.