Coloccini Saga Reveals Another Layer Of A Toxic Season

On our last podcast, nearly a month ago, guest Phil Lavanco (@de_facto_phil) voiced his theory on why Newcastle United's season was in a free fall.

While injuries and insufficient depth have no doubt combined to conspire against Newcastle, Phil speculated that some sort of dysfunction must have entered the club's locker room. None of us truly know what's going on between those four walls, but Newcastle has certainly lacked the sort resolve that it displayed time after time last season.

Well, take a bow, Phil, because your hypothesis looks more and more accurate by the day. Rumors that captain Fabricio Coloccini wants to make a stunning exit and return to his native Argentina began last week, but solidified Friday when reputable publications began reporting the news. The speculation is Coloccini has a family issue and believes returning home is the only way to address it.

Alan Pardew admitted he and Coloccini had a disagreement last month - which prompted Pardew to embrace his captain on the field following the win over QPR - and Coloccini hasn't looked like himself for much of the season. (Not to mention of late he's been pulling the Michael Owen captain routine by avoiding interviews at all costs.) Add to that the constant drama surrounding now-departed Demba Ba, who was said to be one of the more influential voices in a heavily French-speaking locker room, and you don't exactly get the picture of a team with the sort of we're-all-in-this-together mentality that seemed to exist last season.

Pardew, Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias may dig in their heels and insist Coloccini stays, at the very least until the summer. But does the risk of holding on to an unhappy captain outweigh the positives of keeping the club's most accomplished defender? Would a struggling team benefit from a total shakeup this month? Or would losing Coloccini be merely another blow to its fragile psyche?

I don't know. But let's hope Pardew, Ashley and Llambias choose the right answer.

Comments

[Eric]

Do we think these drama swirling around Colo finally forces the club to bring in a minimum of 2 new center-backs? The fact that we have failed to address this glaring need over the past several transfer windows is shocking. However, as long as we treat players returning from injuries as "new signings" I suppose it's not entirely unexpected.

Heck, I would even be in favor of taking the Remy money and using it to reinforce the back-line but that's just my two cents.

Nervous times.

[terry]

agree that phil was right with ba/locker room issues, but colo's family issues don't equate to locker room problems imo.it's a family/personal problem that he needs to resolve and with the wife taking the action she did, his hand is pretty much forced.

[Tom]

The Colo personal problems may not stem from a locker room issue, but it certainly is going to affect the locker room when the club captain and undroppable defender decides he wants to skip town.

[paul]

colo has been caught playing away from home his wife has left the country hence he wants to suddenly go home

[GFH]

Don't see that Phil was right either in his comments at Ba's departure or now with Collo's personal predicament . To conflate the two situations into one underlying criticism of the club is just jumping on a bandwagon pushed by Southern based journalists who think its smart to mock NUFC. Ba was mercenary , Collocini has family problems get it straight.

[chuck]

It appears theres a difference of opinon here, but there's no, to my knowledge proof of any family conflict.
On the other hand we know for a fact both Colo and Ba, had differences of opinion with Pardew concerning his tactics and watched Colo give Pardew a cold reception as he approached him on the pitch at the end of full time.
The body language was obvious to anyone who saw the incident.
And yes , all indications are theres an unsettled dressing room, divided into different factons.
The recent slide down the league, Pardews threatening a clearout of the younger players, when the real problem is lack of quality in depth.
But he' cant very well blame Ashleys parsimony, can he?
IMO Pardew has taken this side as far as he can, but like the other clubs he managed has been found out as someone who is limited both tactically and otherwise and it's time for him to go.

[GFH]

I'm guessing Chuck that you are not posting from Newcastle . If you were you would know the nature of Collo's personal problems ( which I have no intention of amplifying Here )
Like many other posters you seem to be selectively interpreting the "facts" to support a position which suits your prejudices. SAnton , Ben Arfa and Cisse have all commented in recent press reports on the happy family atmosphere at Newcastle .Maybe you can see things more clearly than they can from where you are placed.
Support the club and don't join in with those who delight in mocking the name of NEWCASTLE UNITED!

[Phil]

Without starting an international incident, I think all comments on the blog should be treated with respect and not pandered with "you are not from here".

I think Colo's personal problems have spilled over into the dressing room, and his level of play. Its only human nature.

As for waiting for the facts, you are right, we dont know the facts. But we can narrow down the list of possible outcomes. Surely, Colo's wife didnt take the kids back to Argentina because they were being chased by the KGB.

I asked my wife what could drive a woman to leave her husband and take the kids (while leaving behind a pretty good life) and sadly, the results do not make the curly haired one look very good.

[MNTOONARMY9]

Hurts more when half our roster is hurt.

What I don't understand is how Colo went from being one of the guys (along with the Taylors, Jonas, Guthrie, etc.) with "character" who brought us back from the Championship to suddenly being homesick or wanting to bail. People change and time passes but it seems like there is a real disconnect between how he was perceived (he was given the armband after all) and where he is now.

I'm the first person to say take care of family if that is the issue (no idea about that) but he's not exactly in a line of work which allows people to just move from place to place. He's a highly paid professional athlete and part of the deal when you sign that contract is that you accept the terms.

My prediction is that he won't move in this transfer window. Assuming he wants to move, I think the club will convince him to stay at least until the end of this season (which is only four months away) and then try to find a solution. Hopefully his form improves with an "end date" in sight.

For a "high character/leader" guy to walk away now, like this, when a club, teammates and fans need leadership would be a devestating indictment of his professional legacy. Might be necessary for his family, but there will still be a price to pay.

I hope it turns out ok for Colo and the club.

[geordiepat]

GFH - I'm from Newcastle but I don't see how that gives me anymore information on what's happening here. It's not like we pass Pardew for a chat about dressing room discontent on the way to work each morning.

Players will experience personal issues regarding family back home quite often. Most of the time their clubs will grant them compassionate leave, not terminate their contracts forthwith. If it is a marriage dispute, then I sympathise to an extent, but it surely would be better to give him a couple of weeks to resolve it.