Fabricio Coloccini Is Failing Miserably As Newcastle United Captain

When a team is falling apart at the seams, it needs strong captaincy to grasp it and somehow drag it back together - but Newcastle United have found leadership sadly lacking in recent weeks and months. In particular, their skipper Fabricio Coloccini has done anything but lead by example as his side have hurtled down the Premier League table at an alarming pace. A player who has been at St James' Park since 2008, the 38-cap Argentina international has made 179 top-flight appearances for the Magpies - yet he has looked like a Premier League novice at times this season and, if truth be told, over the course of the last two seasons. You would think that for a player who has already experienced life in the Championship following Newcastle's relegation back in 2009 that Coloccini would be fighting with every ounce of his being to prevent the Magpies slipping through the trapdoor once again - yet the Argentine had himself a mini three-week break following his reckless and stupid red card against Everton at Goodison Park.

Add to that vice-captain Moussa Sissoko's cowardly dismissal against Liverpool - his second ridiculous red card of the season - and the Newcastle United dressing room suddenly smacks of a place devoid of leadership, determination and fight. Coloccini should be leading from the front and dragging the likes of Mike Williamson and Vurnon Anita together in order to prevent Newcastle conceding - yet against Swansea City they shipped three sloppy goals and looked susceptible at every single set piece. Hopefully the return of Siem de Jong will add some much-needed leadership - because Coloccini looks like he is already back home with boyhood club San Lorenzo, rather than trying to direct Newcastle United away from the Premier League's relegation zone. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.