'Rotten' - Alan Shearer delivers worrying Newcastle United verdict ahead of Man City clash
Alan Shearer has expressed his concerns about Newcastle United in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat away to Fulham.
The Magpies missed the opportunity to go top of the Premier League table, losing 3-1 at Craven Cottage. Goals from Raul Jimenez and Emile Smith Rowe saw United trail 2-0 at half-time. Harvey Barnes pulled one back immediately after the restart but couldn’t find an equaliser before Reiss Nelson wrapped the Cottagers’ win in stoppage time.
“They were rotten for the first-half, they were dreadful. Bloody awful they were,” club legend Shearer told The Rest is Football Podcast. “It was a bit of a reality check as they hadn’t played well all season.
“They were getting through games and we were saying about their team spirit and it has to be a good sign once they start playing well but they didn’t deserve anything. They changed it up second-half, again a little bit of an improvement but Fulham were miles the better team and deserved to beat Newcastle.”
It was a first defeat of the new campaign for Howe’s side but unconvincing displays against Southampton, AFC Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers has left Shearer concerned.
Shearer also believes behind the scenes tensions are filtering down onto the pitch. Paul Mitchell arrived as sporting director at the beginning of the summer and failed to secure a major signing in the transfer window. Mitchell has since questioned whether or not the club’s transfer policy is fit for purpose.
He continued: “If you remember last season and the season before, what Newcastle did really well was they overpowered teams, they pressed and went after teams and we kept on saying about their energy and fitness... well I haven’t really seen that yet this season.
“They looked knackered yesterday, really tired and heavy legged, too many players below par. And that would be a worrying thing for me because we saw lots of it two seasons ago and last season but in terms of this season up to now, the high intensity, pressing, aggressive and everything else, I haven’t seen that yet.
“And also what’s going on off the pitch. We’ve said it before about the sporting director and Eddie [Howe], unless that gets sorted out somehow it will affect performances on the pitch because it always does. Whatever happens off the pitch, it always eventually comes down.”
Newcastle return to action on Saturday afterniin against Manchester City at St James’ Park after their midweek Carabao Cup at AFC Wimbledon was postponed due to flooding.