'He was the aggressive one': Jacob Murphy says what Newcastle United have lost from leadership group this season
Newcastle United finally parted ways with Jamaal Lascelles in January as the defender had been tipped to leave in each of the past three or four transfer windows.
The club captain sealed a move to Championship side Leicester City on deadline day in January, bringing an end to his 12-year stay on Tyneside.
Lascelles will always be remembered for his fiery post-match interview that won him the club captaincy. After a lacklustre performance, Lascelles publicly called out the players who were just at the club to pick up a paycheque.
It elevated the former Nottingham Forest man's status with the fans and the club, and he was made captain, a position he retained until he left in January, despite rarely taking to the pitch.
Jacob Murphy gives insight into Jamaal Lascelles' leadership methods
While Lascelles' on-field appearances were limited, he was still seen as a very important member of the squad and that was emphasised when Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes waited for Lascelles to join them before hoisting the Carabao Cup trophy.
With Lascelles now gone, that has left a hole in the leadership group, and Jacob Murphy has told The Shields Gazette it also means that a certain style of leadership is missing.
“Jam was a big figure. He looked after everyone really well.
“I hope he doesn't mind me saying this, but he was the aggressive one. You need that in your team every now and then. He had that.
“With him, it was all about total respect. He could really lead the dressing room like that.
We have the perfect solution to that missing aggression
Murphy went on to explain that while they lost Lascelles' aggression, they have other methods that keep everything ticking.
“We lose that aggression, but then we have different ways of navigating that leadership group and making sure that we're going into every game fit and firing.
“Everything's done using one brain. I think that's been really clear to see, especially in the last four games. It's something we've identified, something we've been making a conscious effort on. We have to keep improving on that and make sure that's always evident in our play.”
If they want aggression, then they need to give Joelinton a role in the leadership group just as an enforcer. Who is going to argue with Joey?
