Shortly after last week’s harrowing 5-1 defeat to Chelsea, it was revealed that Steve McClaren and his underperforming Newcastle squad were to jet off to the luxurious La Manga training camp in Spain.
Several outraged Toon fans voiced their anger on Twitter, with the most common response being: “That’s how you reward failure.”
With the well-funded side languishing in the dark realms of the relegation zone, one can understand the frustration of the fans.
Why should these players, who haven’t delivered to the best of their ability so far this season, be granted a trip to a sunny island in Spain?
This is the question on a lot of fans’ lips, and contrary to popular belief, I feel that this trip beholds more pros than cons.
The Magpies’ next Premier League fixture isn’t until March 3rd, where they’ll take on Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on a Tuesday night.
There are a few reasons as to why I think the training camp could prove beneficial for the out-of-touch Newcastle squad.
La Manga’s resort has been used by some of the best clubs in world football, including FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
It goes without saying that their facilities are an upgrade on what the squad are used to at Benton in Newcastle.
Five days spent in La Manga will improve team morale – a change of scenery and culture could bring the squad closer together.
Inside La Manga Club’s grounds, there are:
Eight natural grass FIFA standard pitches
One five-a-side pitch
Highly-equipped gym
Spa
Goalposts, cones, hurdles and massage benches
Recuperation centre and physio rooms
The immensely impressive facilities provided by the famous resort will allow players like Vurnon Anita, Siem de Jong and Paul Dummett to recuperate and regain full fitness relatively quickly.
From a coaching point of view, all of the required equipment and more is provided, as well as a number of neatly-cut pitches.
This will allow Steve McClaren and his coaching staff to broaden their horizons and incorporate new sessions on a daily basis.
The five-day trip to La Manga is by no means a “holiday”, and it could actually be more intense than the squad’s usual training at Benton.
The players will get to know each other more – they won’t be heading home after a few hours of training, and as we all know, teamwork is essential in football.
The friendly against SK Lillestrom was also a shrewd move, as it will allow some players to get a lot of minutes under their belt before they return to Tyneside.
With that being said, Steve McClaren will desperately be hoping that this camp pays off, because if it doesn’t, his time as Newcastle United head coach could come to an end.