Loic Remy says Newcastle should prepare for Alexander Isak exit

Ex-Newcastle striker Loic Remy has warned that his former club needs to begin preparing for the exit of star attacker Alexander Isak.

• "Look, at some point, you have to change something, and the first thing people turn to is the manager. I've never been the kind of person who just blames the coach when the performances aren't there, though."
• "You have to worry about losing the likes of Isak, because the longer you go on with results being like they are, the more likely it becomes that players of his calibre will leave the club. But it's part of the game; players come and go, they can leave at any time, you need to be prepared for it."
• [Signing for Newcastle] "When you're being offered an opportunity to play for a club with such a great atmosphere, and for a coach who really wants you to be a part of his project, it's only ever going to be a yes."
• "It ended up being a successful season for me, finishing with 14 league goals in 26 games. I was always a player who thrived on confidence from my manager; if I got that, I was going to give you 100 times more than I'd give anyone else. I just had a great connection with Alan."
  

Look, at some point, you have to change something, and the first thing people turn to is the manager. I've never been the kind of person who just blames the coach when the performances aren't there, though. The players on the pitch need to do more; the role of the coach is to direct things, but the players need to apply them.   

This Newcastle team is going through difficult times; I was really pleased to see them playing really well, maybe a year ago - I suppose you do have to take the manager into consideration at some point, because the team can definitely be doing better in the league, for sure. But there's still plenty of time for things to improve.  

Alexander Isak isn't scoring as many goals as he once was, and that's obviously having an impact on the rest of the team. I'm not worried for the team just yet, but I would say they need to strengthen in the next transfer window, in order to push on for the second half of the season.  

You have to worry about losing the likes of Isak, because the longer you go on with results being like they are, the more likely it becomes that players of his calibre will leave the club. But it's part of the game; players come and go, they can leave at any time, you need to be prepared for it, and anticipate it, almost. It's not the end of the world; it's happened in the past and will continue to happen in the future. I'm sure he'll continue to be talked about, and you know that sooner or later, these players will go and find another challenge. It's about bringing the right person in to replace him, and when that moment comes. 

I was lucky in England, to work with people like Harry [Redknapp], because he felt like a dad to me. It's the same with Alan [Pardew] at Newcastle, you know, I felt like he really wanted me from the very first time I spoke with him. QPR were relegated in 2013 and the World Cup was coming in 2014, so I knew I needed to be playing in the Premier League if I wanted to make the French squad. I remember speaking with Redknapp, who was trying to get me to stay with the club, in the Championship, but I just couldn't. My mind was set on the Premier League, and it was difficult for Harry to accept that, but in the end, he let me go.   

In the end, I signed for Newcastle, and Pardew was really, really good for me. It wasn't the decision of the Newcastle chairman, or anyone else; it was Alan who really wanted me to sign for him.   

When you're being offered an opportunity to play for a club with such a great atmosphere, and for a coach who really wants you to be a part of his project, it's only ever going to be a yes.   

Alan improved my finishing, and my positioning in games, and encouraged me to help the team off the ball. He helped me a lot; you know, I could have been injured and he'd have played me with one leg... that's how much he wanted me to be a part of things.  

It ended up being a successful season for me, finishing with 14 league goals in 26 games. I was always a player who thrived on confidence from my manager; if I got that, I was going to give you 100 times more than I'd give anyone else. I just had a great connection with Alan. 

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