A cleanout can be just as difficult to complete as a bulk purchase. You pay for your recklessness. How long has it taken Newcastle United to get rid of dead wood? Too long.
Jeff Hendrick has just left after four years and three loans contributing to just 25 Premier League games. United are currently trying to agree a deal with Isaac Hayden, who has been on the payroll since 2016 and has recently been sent to Norwich, Standard Liege and QPR. To be fair, he was an honorable servant in his difficult early years, but for a considerable time he was past his sell-by date.
Then there were the infamous cases of Henri Saivet, who played five league games in seven years, and Achraf Lazaar, who only played four of five torturous seasons. Each time, United paid hard time for awarding ridiculously long contracts. However, on the other side of the road, we have just said a very grateful and respectful farewell to two great servants, Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett, and another equally loyal contributor, Martin Dubravka, who will surely follow us as the summer progresses.
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While the Geordies are engrossed in what the transfer market has to offer in terms of strengthening the squad, let’s not forget a trio we were delighted to see stick around and contribute consistently.
Ritchie first joined Rafa Benitez in July 2016, amassing 215 appearances and scoring 25 goals, while Dubravka was bought in January 2018 playing 163 times. Long-time servants who were recognized for what they both won as Northeast Footballer of the Year.
At 35, Dubravka deserves to soak up any late sun he can get and, if he turns out to be Celtic after the departure of Joe Hart, he would fit in perfectly as a club with massive support where medals seem guaranteed. Of course, Harry Kane expected that at Bayern Munich!
Dummy, a local boy, served his club from the age of eight to 32 and was as solid as a rock and just as steadfast. They have been a top-class trio who have not limited themselves to chasing the pound as many modern footballers are accused of. Loyalty was a word that was abundant in his dictionary. It has been good to meet you and appreciate what you have done.
Each player’s form drops at the end of his career; even Alan Shearer, when he finally surpassed United’s goalscoring record, was not as good as he was in his fearsome pomp. However, with players like Dubravka you have to remember his previous standard and not just the close of last season.
It is always difficult to say goodbye and there are many types of goodbyes. The big goodbye: to Shearer after destroying the club’s record. The bitter goodbye: To MIchael Owen, who never wanted to come here and was reportedly reluctant to play for Shearer in case he got injured and ruined his free transfer to Man U. Newcastle were relegated. The sympathetic goodbye: to Tony Green, whose magnificent career was tragically cut short by injury. And the brief goodbye: to Peter Beardsley, who left but would return with equally supreme effect.
As we look to the future we must never forget those who served faithfully in the past.
