8 Reasons Why Newcastle Should Sell Fabricio Coloccini
The Argentine's seven years at the Magpies will be looked upon fondly but it's time to move forward.
Fabricio Coloccini signed for Newcastle United from Deportivo La Coruna in 2008 for £10.3 million and has been an almost ever-present feature at the very heart of the Magpies' defence for the past seven years.
Despite another 32 league appearances last season, it has been a long time since we have seen the same Coloccini who captained Newcastle United to a fifth-place Premier League finish during the 2011-12 season. Yes, there are glimpses of that form now and again; the famous feathered touch that prompted Alan Pardew to liken the defender to Bobby Moore is still in the 33-year-old's locker - but it's currently squashed beneath a pile of fitness question marks, memories, arguments, managers, a fraying captain's armband and a tourist guide to South London.
The problem with having such a colourful past with a club that - aside from the aforementioned near-podium finish - has continuously underachieved, is that the Argentine has become synonymous with the recent failures, bust-ups and management changes. Newcastle United are starting a new era this season under the guidance of Steve McClaren - and unfortunately this is Coloccini's cue to leave. His beautiful golden curls are dropping out of his head like toxic debris, slowly tarnishing McClaren's freshly-vacuumed Berber carpet.
During a cagey interview with BBC Newcastle on Tuesday, McClaren said that Coloccini will carry on as captain. Rather than boldly announcing his decision he used a series of rhetorical questions combined with some paper-thin filler that certainly did not sound convincing. The Magpies boss said to the radio station:
"Do I need to change the captain? Why do I need to unsettle everything and everybody? He's our most experienced player and he carries on."
To answer your questions Steve: "Do I need to change the captain?" Yes, desperately - did you not see Newcastle United last season? "Why do I need to unsettle everything and everyone?" Well, giving the captaincy to someone new would implement a fresh start and be less disruptive than leaving it with a player who nearly got the side relegated?
Here, WhatCulture.com/NUFC take a look at some of the reasons why Newcastle United should sell their centre-half and how it would benefit the side going forward...