Will some important faces be at Newcastle for much longer?

Perhaps this hasn’t been Newcastle’s season. Perhaps they haven’t been quite as good as they were one year ago. And perhaps they will just have to wait until next year to try and bring back their stunning form in the 2011/12 season. But can their elite players wait that long?

It’s a well known fact that Newcastle possess some true talents on the football pitch.

Dutch keeper Tim Krul has been in fine form this season (when fit), and his impressive performances have been noted by a large number of top teams in Europe.

Argentine defender Fabrizio Coloccini has been in that similar vein of form this season (also when fit), and the 31 year old must surely be thinking that it might be time to really move for some silverware, while he can still sustain the same level of playing that he has been showing recently.

Another key cog in the Newcastle engine is French midfielder Yohan Cabaye. Known for his clever vision and his great eye for a pass, the French midfielder was one of the most important players in France’s midfield when he represented his country at the Euros last year. Surely a player of that calibre isn’t fit to play for a side struggling to stay in the English top division.

Last, and certainly not least, we have French creative wizard Hatem Ben Arfa. Probably Newcastle’s best player. Still only 25 years old, he has many years of good football left in him, and with his fantastic skill on the ball, I doubt many teams will be put off by his long list of injuries.

But can Newcastle survive without these hugely important players? I think not. No doubt, they would be paid handsomely for each and every player just mentioned, but owner Mike Ashley has a reputation for being rather tight when it comes to giving Alan Pardew the right money to spend on adequate replacements for the vacated player(s). 

Something must be said to these players in order to keep them, because if Newcastle either get relegated or continue their poor run of form onto next season, then surely these players will feel it’s time to say au revoir  to St James Park.

Leander Winden (@LeanderWinden)