5 Reasons Newcastle United Won't Finish In The Top Four

4. Lack Of A Settled Back Four

Despite the fact that the players being used in the defence are the same people, they are far from settled. Club captain and central defender Fabricio Coloccini is the worst offender, claiming on several occasions that he wishes to leave the club and return to his native Argentina. The captain is now 31-years-old, and he has stated that he wants to return to San Lorenzo, the club he spent on loan during the 2000/01 season, and incidentally the same club that his father Osvaldo is a youth coach at. Coloccini's wife has also reportedly left for Argentina, and it is expected that her husband will follow in the January transfer window, with interest from the Argentine league side reaching fever pitch over the past couple of months. When the club captain has these feelings it cannot be a settling emotion for the rest of the defence, let alone other members of the squad. Coloccini's performances have also been rather below par this season, and with other defenders like Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Massdio Haidara still adapting to life in the Premier League, the more experienced defenders in the squad need to lead by example.