Two members of Newcastle United’s relegated 2016 team are set for European finals, showing again how badly Steve McClaren performed.
Newcastle United may now be comfortable in mid-table in the Premier League, but fans do not have to cast their minds back far to remember some real misery.
The Magpies were relegated in 2016 with an expensively assembled squad – as they were in 2009 – with Rafa Benitez arriving too late in the season to save the side from the drop.
A number of players were cast off as flops after failing to impress under Steve McClaren, but a fair few have gone on to bigger and better things.
And as if to prove that McClaren was at fault for failing to bring the best out of his players, this week two of the former England manager’s buys have shown their class on the European stage.
Both Georginio Wijnaldum and Florian Thauvin were influential in their respective Champions League and Europa League semi-final first-leg wins with Liverpool and Marseille respectively.
Wijnaldum, called from the bench, starred against Roma in a thumping win, before Thauvin netted for Marseille as they set course for the final.
These were two players who often flattered to deceive under McClaren to differing degrees. Wijnaldum impressed but only sporadically, while Thauvin was quickly sent back to France after failing to win a place in the team.
Two very highly rated players contributed to the club’s relegation, yet they appear to be up for the fight as they lead a European charge now.
The week has provided an uncomfortable reminder of McClaren’s clear limitations as a coach, with Newcastle fans no doubt wondering how that 2015-16 squad – including current stars Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey – might have performed under Benitez for a whole campaign.
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