Newcastle United were atrocious in every department yesterday, producing perhaps THE worst performance we’ve seen under Eddie Howe’s tenure.
We were shocking and got exactly what we deserved, seeing our wait for a Premier League away win continue as we remain 13th in the Premier League and six points behind the top four pace.
After slating the performance on X straight after Sunday’s match, Alan Shearer has discussed the dismal display in more depth on the Rest Is Football podcast – and he hasn’t held back.
Shearer described it as a “rotten” display, the worst “for a long time” under Howe, “lazy”, lacking energy and a shambles from back to front, although some of his analysis then turned to our away-day and what’s not working.
He believes we are too easy to play against, not aggressive enough and a team that’s allowing their standards to drop too easily when away from home comforts and a 52,000 crowd that wouldn’t let them get away with it.
Discussing the game before tackling our away-day woes, Shearer said:
“Seriously, how bad were Newcastle? I mean, they were rotten. They were awful. It’s as bad as I can remember under Eddie Howe for a long time. Until the last time you said this last season at some point. It was so bad. I mean, they were lazy.
“They were lethargic. They had no energy. I mean, other than maybe Murphy, who scored the goal, there was not one player who could come off that pitch and say, I did alright today.
“They were terrible. Every single one of them, from the goalkeeper to the centre forward, right the way through. They were awful and got what they deserved.
“West Ham were the best team by a mile. Yeah, and it hurts to say that, because even when they went 1-0 up, I’m thinking they’re a bit fortunate here. But then I’m thinking West Ham are so fragile.
“Well, it was mad, wasn’t it, because you had that incredible effort from Jarrod Bowen in the post. Then they went straight down the other side and scored. I thought, ‘We’re going to get a few here. West Ham are fragile. The fans will be moaning. It’s going to be a tough day for West Ham’.
“But give credit to them for the way they turned it around and the way they stuck together, because the pressure was on them when Newcastle scored. So, yeah, well done West Ham. They thoroughly deserved it. Newcastle are hopeless.”
Our away form simply must improve, with us currently winless on the road in the league since a victory over a relegated Leicester side back in April.
Discussing our displays away from St James’ Park, Shearer insists the summer of change can’t excuse a lack of effort or aggression, believing we’ve become too easy to play against after shipping five in our last two at Brighton and West Ham:
“It’s a different style, obviously, with what happened in the summer, getting used to playing a different way… but I don’t like what I’m seeing away from home.
“I get that things have changed, but that doesn’t stop you from running around and being aggressive. If you go back to last season, the one thing Newcastle were was tough to play against. The thing about going away from home is you might have 2-3,000 fans inside the stadium.
“But at home, you have 52,000 who will not let you not put a shift in, not graft, not work, tackle or all the things that made Newcastle successful, to win the cup and get in the Champions League, and I’m not seeing that away from home. That’s the thing that Eddie has to somehow turn around.
“I could sense his anger after the game and I knew he was angry at half-time, because he got stuck into his players and made three changes. But they didn’t get any better second half, to be honest.
“So that’s what he’s got to work out. He’s got to get back being tough to play against, particularly away from home. They have been very, very weak.”
Next up away from home is a trip to Brentford on Sunday, where Eddie Howe will have plenty to ponder and lots to work on as we bid to finally end our winless run away from St James’ Park.