Chronicle journalist Mark Douglas took to Twitter yesterday to start a debate on the merits of selling Aleksandar Mitrovic to Fulham after his brace for the Cottagers against Burnley yesterday.
The reporter thinks the Serbian’s sale could be an error in judgement by Rafa Benitez:
Old debate I know. And I'm sure I'm opening a Pandora's box here.
But I think it was a mistake not to give Mitrovic more of a chance at #nufc.
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) August 26, 2018
Some fans agreed with Douglas that the manager should have given the 23-year-old another chance:
He’s done extremely well at Fulham bagging 2 and an assist today really wish we kept him but it’s whatever another gem that got away..
— Jack (@Jack_Rogers97) 26 August 2018
100 % was a mistake. All he needed was game time and confidence. I love Rafa, but letting go of both Mitrovic and Mbabu were big mistakes.
— Aato (@elAato) 26 August 2018
I would have kept Mitro and played to his strengths. A lot will say Rafa would not play him so its a good price, but Rafa won't get it to spend.
— David Linsdell (@Linsa119) 27 August 2018
I don’t even think it’s open for debate to be honest. I just think hos@only downfall was he was too tactically unaware to play in rafas system.
— Dale (@dc_nufc_84) 27 August 2018
I’ll never agree with Rafa selling him, gotta build sides around a striker. He’ll probably score at least 10-15 this season, closer to 15.
— Jake Shearer (@Jake_Shearer) 26 August 2018
Other supporters believe that Mitro just wasn’t a good fit for Rafa’s tactics:
Think there's talent there however, he isn't consistent enough. Time will tell I guess, here's his chance at Fulham to prove if he can indeed cut it at this level. Ok, so he didn't fit ino Rafas plans i don't mind that he's gone, I mind that he wasn't allowed to replace him #nufc
— K H A N – Z (@angryZK) 26 August 2018
The mistake wasn't selling him as he never suited Benitez' way of playing,
The mistake was not using the money to bring in a more suitable striker.
— Josh Blakey (@lil_josh92) 26 August 2018
Was a mistake not to get rid of him sooner imo, not saying he’s not a good player but never suited rafas style so off he goes, good luck to the lad
— Kevin wood (@Kevwoodh24) 26 August 2018
He fits into their system, not Rafa's. He's not much of a grafter and can be hot headed.
— Notorious for Nowt (@LostBoyNUFC180) 26 August 2018
Looks like their style of play (or 80m worth of new players on top of Mitro ????) suits him
— MC (@cook_uk) 26 August 2018
Personally, I would have loved to have seen Mitrovic offered another go this season. He was flying high after scoring 12 goals in the Championship last campaign.
While his heart may have been set on a £27m switch to London, if the manager had told him that he wanted to give him one more shot, there was a possibility he could have stayed.
Of course, we are only three games into the new season, and while scoring three goals is a good start, there’s no guarantee he will continue in this great vein of form. Still, it would have been interesting to see how a high-in-confidence Mitrovic would have fared this season at St James’ Park.
Was it a mistake to let Mitro go? Let me know in the poll: