Like any good football pundit Alan Shearer tends to tell it like it is, and when talking about Newcastle United on Monday night’s Match of the Day he didn’t pull his punches about his home town club.
Newcastle didn’t play particularly well and we lost to West Brom who won their first game in six games and so are now 6 points above Newcastle.
Alan has said Newcastle are third bottom of the league for a reason – and we are not playing well whatever Steve McClaren keeps saying at the end of the recent games.
Alan Shearer – Newcastle 3rd bottom for a reason
Here’s some of what Alan said on Match of The Day when talking about Jonny Evans having blatantly brought down Mitrovic in the penalty area in the second half but no penalty was awarded:
“It was a definite penalty, Jonny Evans on Mitrovic, he is holding him and he pulls him back. A clear penalty, I don’t think there is any doubt about that.
“Newcastle haven’t had a penalty for over a year now, Boxing Day I think.”
“What Steve McClaren says about Newcastle…he can’t keep on saying that they are playing well – they’re not playing particularly well. They are third bottom for a reason.”
“Things have to improve, they spent a lot of money and they are in trouble – a relegation fight.”
Steve McClaren is obviously trying to put the (poor) results in the best light possible by intimating Newcastle are simply unlucky and things will get better soon.
We should have had a penalty and we missed chances and all that good stuff.
But those are simply the reasons being talked about – because we don’t have the results.
You either talk about the results – or the reasons you don’t have the results – it’s really that simple.
When you keep having poor results all you can do is talk about the reasons and after a while it all becomes a little boring.
Comments welcome.
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68 comments so far
Tsunki
Dec 30, 2015 at 8:52 AM
Comment #1Ashley Out!
Tsunki
Dec 30, 2015 at 8:52 AM
Comment #2Out, I Say!
cyprus
Dec 30, 2015 at 8:53 AM
Comment #3Optimistic message alert, move on if you are squeamish.
I’ve seen us play well against quite a few teams this season, meaning that we can. We’ve beaten the best, so we can compete. NO result is assured this season, meaning we could start picking up points.
Keep the faith. There’s no choice.
Tsunki
Dec 30, 2015 at 8:54 AM
Comment #4We haven’t had a penalty for a year, some really bad decisions against in that time, but let’s face facts here, we don’t exactly threaten defences that much do we?
Tsunki
Dec 30, 2015 at 8:56 AM
Comment #5Look out for a series of ‘ Head in hands depths of despair Mclaren’ pics.
lesh
Dec 30, 2015 at 8:57 AM
Comment #6Cyprus
Shut up man! You’re optimism’s uncalled for…. We’re doomed, doomed a tell ya.
Ron Knee
Dec 30, 2015 at 8:59 AM
Comment #7Tsunki
“Now we have 8 pairs of worn out shoes and four serviceable ones, not really any decent ones. Serves us right for being cheapskates.”
Reminds me of the old Lone Ranger/Tonto joke: “What do you mean ‘us’?” I.e., It’s our incompetent board, not the supporters, who’ve dropped us in it.
Tsunki
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:01 AM
Comment #8“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Only when I laugh, old man. Only when I laugh”
Jib
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:07 AM
Comment #9The Guardian “Rumour Mill” is always interesting
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/dec/30/football-transfer-rumours-arsenal-edinson-cavani-psg-47m
Jib
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:09 AM
Comment #10Reminds me of the old Lone Ranger/Tonto joke: “What do you mean ‘us’white man?”
Rotonda heights
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:11 AM
Comment #11The Chile manager is now available. Swansea were looking at him. Teaboy charnley has sadly probably never heard of him, but what a shot in the arm he would be.
We’re on the road to nowhere with SM and his ultra negative long ball football makes CP look like Brazil!!
Jib
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:12 AM
Comment #12More rumours
Momentum is gathering for the usual Winter nonsense.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/35195789
Jib
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:21 AM
Comment #13It has even made it to Spain (banquillo is Spanish for bench)
http://www.defensacentral.com/real_madrid/136277-pardew-candidato-al-banquillo-del-real-madrid-defensa-central/
Jib
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:37 AM
Comment #14The rumour mill is goimg into overdrive.
We are linked with the 25 year old captain of Girondins (Bordeaux) Henri Saivet a winger.
Southampton want him in Summer and we are going to hijack him 6 months early
http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Henri-saivet-des-contacts-en-premier-league/620256
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:47 AM
Comment #15morning all
koulibaly’s agent has said hes happy in napoli and not looking for a move to newcastle apparently…… oh what a surprise!lol
optimistic prime
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:52 AM
Comment #16Cyprus
I’ve seen then play well in spells also, however getting our players up for the fight is as much of a challenge as getting them over the line!
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:58 AM
Comment #17blofal mentioned a few threads back that playing a 4-3-3 maybe more beneficial to the players we have and i tend to agree with him and his reasonable argument for this… but my team would be with the players available would be
——————————–elliot————————————
janmaat————-mbemba——-colo—————–mbabu
——gini———————tiote———————colback—-
sissoko———————–mitro———————–thauvin
worth a look at anyways
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:04 AM
Comment #18my thinking is, if they are trying to sign this russian lad time may be be up for SDJ unfortunately….wonder if they’ve had an offer…..no rumours or anything just started thinking that with him been dropped the last couple games(keeping him fit) and then we are linked to another playmaker…..like a say just a thought
NoahJ
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:08 AM
Comment #19Cyprus
Playing well has somehow become an ‘exceeds expectation’ criteria these days, which is stupid because it implies that the norm is to play ok (that’s not good enough!).
It also annoys me when people, including mclaren, say “we played well in the second half” etc… trying to put a positive spin on the fact that we were actually dire in the first half
We play villa away the game before the last game of the season. If we do get relegated, I’m praying it’s not going to be there again
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:13 AM
Comment #20noah j
this “positive spin” as you call it i like to call flanel….its rubbish to try and distract to paper over the cracks
Jib
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:14 AM
Comment #21SPRINGY
With those players it’s more of a Terry Venables type floating Christmas tree !
4-2-3-1
With GIni in the middle behind Big Al
It could work very well
terencelim
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:20 AM
Comment #22Ashley and his ass lickers OUT!
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:22 AM
Comment #23jib
the shape of team i put up is partly because…
1)gini on left isnt working and is leaving us open all the time
2)gini had a great season playing a similar position for PSV
3)looks a bit more balnced.
im no manager,just my thoughts and something i’d like to see tried,what could hurt at this stage tbo
Thump
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:25 AM
Comment #24@Springy: Central midfielders in central midfield? What kind of madness is this?
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:26 AM
Comment #25haha thump
shhhhhhh or i may get chased with pitch forks and torches!!!lol
JamesToon
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:33 AM
Comment #26I’d play this against Arsenal:
4-2-3-1
Elliot
Janmaat-Mbemba-Coloccini-Mbabu
Wijnaldum-Tiote
Thauvin-Sissoko-Perez
Mitrovic
jayphoto
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:36 AM
Comment #27Think the thing is, we’re playing pretty poorly but the effort is high which is probably where mcClaren is finding his positives.
We’ve got decent players but not sure mcclaren plays the right side to really attack!
Gini and Sissoko wide narrow us alot. On the left Dummett isnt the type of full back to get up and overlap, hes an out and out defender. Because of this thauvin might be a good option left as dummett wont go past him often.
Leadership is the big problem.
Dejongs play has been poor but be does talk and direct on the pitch. No coincidence for me he started wins against liverpool and spurs. Perez seems more effective off the bench running at tired defenders.
We play too defensive and too narrow which is fine but our sides strengths are more to play expansive and attacking.
2 defensive midfielders isn’t necessary. Sissoko and gini both played central at previous clubs and would give us more attacking impetus
lesh
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Comment #28NoahJ
McClaren’s not going to publicly slam under performing players as doing so would leave his abilities as HC in question!
Jib
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Comment #29I know it’s ifs and buts.
I’m still upbeat because for the last 2 games , but for a couple of gimme goals we would be 2 points better off on the same points as Chelsea.Also if there had been no freak weather against Villa we could be on 21 points now above West Brom.
We will start getting the rub of the green soon I’m sure
WWSBRD
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:50 AM
Comment #30jay
Not sure Id say de Jong has been any worse than anyone else in the team, in fact Id probably be on the side saying he has out performed Perez
As for Sissoko and Gini playing CM both have played there for us and have been less than impressive
Not really sure why McClaren is trying to play a formation with wingers yet wont put a winger on the pitch, the team naturally play narrow so play a formation that fits that would surely benefit everyone?
Personally I am very disappointed with McClaren and this ‘new dawn’, looks very much the same to my eyes
Our Toon
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:50 AM
Comment #31I have no issues with Sissoko on the right wing, he has 6 or 7 assists….creates chances from that side so why would we want to change the only real positive of our attacking play?
Elliot
Jan, Mbemba, Colo, Colback
Tiote or Anita, SDJ
Sissoko, Gini, Thauvin
Mitro
Our Toon
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:52 AM
Comment #32Thauvin or Aarons if the latter is ever fit
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Comment #33just our luck we face an inform arsenal then man utd…..if it was the other way around id fancy our chances against man utd….on the bases we seem to up our game against bigger sides and man utd are pretty poor at the min…..but as it stands we could get a whumping off arsenal that would sponge up what confidence we have and by the time we play man utd van gaal might be gone and the new manager syndrome will kick in!!lol…all ifs and buts again tho!lol
WWSBRD
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:56 AM
Comment #34Jib
Half a season gone and we are in the bottom 3 after picking up 1 point from 3 very winnable games and ur still upbeat…what are u upbeat about mate?
lesh
Dec 30, 2015 at 11:02 AM
Comment #35Springy
As Ashley said, we’ve got to make our own luck.
They’ve done that alright and Charnley Ashley must restrict his responsibilities and take control of both the HC situation and transfers in and out – quickly.
Blofal
Dec 30, 2015 at 11:02 AM
Comment #36Springy,
Janmaat, Gini and Sissoko down the right is a potent attack. Our left side is just so damn weak. I agree your team could work too.
Playing Sissoko and Thuavin as out and out wingers I think is the key. 4-4-2 is useless when you are pinned in your own half 90% of every game.
lesh
Dec 30, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Comment #37* and Charnley must take responsibility for the mess we’re in…
Jib
Dec 30, 2015 at 11:05 AM
Comment #38WWSBRD
One point only from the last 3 games is true.
However as I pointed out , that had much more to do with bad fortune (weather , goalies being poorly , or freak last second goals) than the team being poor.
To berate a coach or a collection of players for having hard lines , is crass in the extreme.
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 11:10 AM
Comment #39blofal
cheers mate, that the left is weak as water thats why i thought colback would be able to help out defending and if venutred forward might put a natural left footed cross in for mitro to attack…..gini on the left is’nt working at all tbh and its doing the lad or the left back any favours
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2015 at 11:12 AM
Comment #40lesh
ya right about luck…we have to make our own….just little things like that sometimes help!lol