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Opinion

Jack Colback praises fans as Newcastle future in doubt

7 years ago
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As Jack Colback wonders where he will be playing football next season, he has paid tribute to the performance of both the Newcastle fans and team this season.

The lifetime Newcastle supporter says that to get an average of over 51,000 in the second tier is ‘astounding’, especially when compared to many in the Premier League with empty seats.

As for the team/squad’s performance, Jack Colback says you only have to look at the fate of Norwich and Villa to see how well Newcastle have done these past 10 months.

At the top of the tree, the Newcastle midfielder says that you have to credit all the positivity to Rafa Benitez, for ridding the club of the ‘negativity’ that existed before he rode into toon.

As for Colback himself, he played second fiddle to Isaac Hayden and is widely reported to be one of the players who Newcastle want to sell, to bring in cash and make room for new signings.

With four goals and six assists in his first Premier League season at Newcastle, the midfielder looked a bargain after leaving Sunderland as a free agent.

However, only one goal and two assists these past two years have left fans questioning his role in the team.

Newcastle undoubtedly looked a better team with Hayden alongside Shelvey and Jack Colback’s lack of pace was a big weakness in the Championship, never mind the Premier League.

With 33 yellow cards in only 87 league starts (plus 6 as sub) at Newcastle, his lack of discipline as well as pace is often a negative, especially when often getting booked early in matches.

No doubting his effort but Newcastle must surely be looking to bring in better quality than Jack Colback to try and ensure the step up to the Premier League is as smooth as possible.

Jack Colback:

Rafa Benitez has brought positivity to the club.

“We were on our knees when we went down and there was a lot of negativity around the place – but as soon as he signed up it gave the fans optimism.

“That has helped the fans and us along, they can see the long-term plan which is what someone like Rafa Benitez brings to the football club.

“After we were relegated it would have been easy for lots of them (Newcastle supporters) to disappear but they haven’t.

“You just look at the stadium every week, it is astounding in the Championship, especially when you look at the Premier League and some stadiums are nowhere near full.

“It (promotion) was tough, a lot harder than people were expecting, but if you look at the likes of Aston Villa and Norwich they struggled.

“They haven’t been able to bounce back and there haven’t been many who have over the last few years.”

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