During our promotion season there was a pecking order amongst the players - with Joey Barton, Alan Smith, Steve Harper, Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll leading the show.
Mike Ashley was never a fan of the player's meeting, and made it known, and (allegedly) Alan Pardew was told to break up the clique.
Mike Williamson: “The lads had a meeting during the week and everyone put their thoughts across.
"Everyone will go through tough periods in a season and this one is ours.
“The squad is obviously stretched at the moment and the lads are having to play a lot of games because we’ve got a lot injuries and a few suspensions.
“The application has still been there. Everyone saw against Swansea that the lads had the same effort and determination that we’ve always had, but unfortunately we’re just not getting the rewards.”
“I’ve enjoyed playing in Europe because it’s something different, something I haven’t experienced before.
“So it’s been a fantastic competition to play in and hopefully we can progress and carry on, but at the moment we need to concentrate on our Premier League form because our form in Europe seems to be quite good.
"It’s just about continuing what we’re doing.
“For a player – for me anyway – it’s a good thing playing again so soon, because we want to get back on the pitch and right the wrongs.
“It’s just frustrating that a performance like we put in against Swansea didn’t get us anything, so it’s a good thing that we can get back, come together and try to play the football that we have done.
“It has been tough so far and the last couple of results have been disappointing.
"It’s time to dig deep, show our character, work hard on the training ground and just continue what we’re doing and I’m sure the belief will come back.
“It’s only a matter of time because it’s not as if we’re doing anything different.
"It’s just that the results aren’t clicking at the minute, so we’ve got to find the right formula like we did last year."
Source: Newcastle United Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
