Stubbornness is a terrible thing, and there should be no place for it in professional football, particularly when it will undoubtedly come back and bite the stubborn party so catastrophically on the backside. It seems that stubbornness is the only reason Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has been allowed to leave Newcastle on loan at this stage: he is a very good player, technically gifted and a good option in the long-run if the similar trajectory of current club captain Fabricio Coloccini is anything to go by. And yet, despite that, and despite the lack of business that would bring in a replacement, Newcastle have still let one of their centre-backs leave. Bear in mind also, that the defence was hardly pulling up any grass. In the last game, this is the same defence that let in three goals against Crystal Palace at home, and all were defendable chances. So weakening that defence seems utterly, utterly ridiculous. The stark conclusion to all of this distasteful business is that Newcastle now have the three of the same centre-backs they had during the Championship season in 2009. And somewhat worryingly, they don't have Fitz Hall or James Perch as back-up. Is this progress?
