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Newcastle star wants emphasis changed to attack

9 years ago
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Summer signing Georginio Wijnaldum wants to be given the freedom to get forward more.

The former PSV player says that he will play the ‘controlled midfielder’ role that Steve McClaren is asking him to do but wants to be ‘higher’ up the pitch.

After scoring 18 goals last season as an attacking midfielder, it doesn’t appear to make sense to have Wijnaldum playing so deep when the team is struggling for goals.

Fans have become frustrated at what they perceive as negative tactics from Steve McClaren, with the emphasis more on stopping goals, which clearly isn’t working, than scoring them.

The Dutch international thinks the team must work harder and have the right attitude.

However, Wijnaldum also thinks that the team must relax and try to be free and play football, something that becomes ever more difficult the longer you stay at the bottom of the league without a win.

Georginio Wijnaldum:

“It is not about me, it is about the team and what the trainer asks of me. I played controlled midfielder, I prefer to play a little bit higher.

“But if the team needs a controller and someone who can make dribbles then that is what I can do.”

What needs to change:

“You must work hard to get results and that’s what we’re not doing right now.

“What has to change? The attitude – we must stay positive. We need men now out on the field, players who want to work hard, give everything to get a good result.

“On top of that, I think we must play free. Sometimes I have the idea that we play with a lot of pressure on us. I think that we must be more brave: Play free. Play football.”

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