Alan Shearer feels ‘something doesn’t look right’ at Newcastle United, fearing something may be up behind the scenes.
Our former No.9 feels we were ‘second best’ when it was 11 vs 11 against Southampton and described our display against Bournemouth as “pretty awful” aside from a bright opening 10 minutes and good spell in the second half after Howe made changes.
Shearer is concerned by the body language, lack of spark or energy, questioning why we look a shadow of the all-action side Eddie Howe demands when we’re so early into the new season.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, he said: ‘Newcastle were lucky…I don’t know, I hope I’m wrong, but I just get the feeling as if there’s, something doesn’t look right, you know? I don’t get the feeling that it’s all perfect at the football club.
‘Last week, there was lack in energy, there was lack in a spark. Even when it was 11 v 11, but it was a great result against Southampton. But even, even 11 v 11, they were second best. So I was thinking they’ve had a week to work on things but then today, apart from the first 10 minutes in the first half, I thought they were pretty awful. I didn’t like what I was seeing.
‘The body language was really poor from a lot of the players. Then he [Eddie Howe] made changes and for 10 or 15 minutes in the second half, they were the better team, they got the goal. But I expect a lot more from [them]. Eddie is always about the energy and the pressure and everything, I didn’t see any of that.’
It has been a turbulent summer and poor transfer window so far. Not only have we had no signings that improve our best 11, we’ve had the Dan Ashworth saga (leading to the late appointment of Paul Mitchell), a chaotic end to June’s PSR deadline, Amanda Staveley’s exit and uncertainty around Howe’s future, with the delegation of power questioned as Mitchell’s arrival was met with strong England links.
Thankfully, we’re still unbeaten after four points from a possible six over our opening two games, but it feels like a huge week for the club – both on and off the pitch.
Minteh and Anderson sacrificed due to PSR, Gordon and Almiron could have both been away, Howe doesn’t look a happy chap with no momentum off the field or on it.
Schar and Joelinton ridiculous lack of discipline with the latter better suited to playing rugby than football.
Lack of decisiveness with changes to personnel especially down the RHS, it says a lot when we have to move a LHS player to the RHS in Gordon to get some joy.
Director of Football, what is he getting paid for…how much say does Eddie have now?
Joseph(Quote)
Mark Guihe transfer should have walked away weeks ago?
SD Got no back up plan 5 days to go?
Any player we go for now looks like club is panicking and the prices will also be inflated?
Team morale ? Gordon is playing to get away to Liverpool.
The defence is still on holiday you would think they had never played with each other before.
Pope is all over the place and worries the back line
Midfield in effective no pressing or passing
Forward no service if this carrys on ISAK will leave
Murphy where was he gone missing until substituted
Yes Iam a Frustrated supporter who cannot believe the team has gone this far backwards
steve smith(Quote)
Mitchell the Cartel plant…discuss
John Eddy(Quote)
What is the catalyst for this apparent disunity and lack of momentum at NUFC, there were basically two potentially disruptive events that occured during the close season.
The departure of Amanda and Mehrdad, was that forced or was it voluntary, I still wonder if there was something going on behind the scenes.
The big issue for me was the arrival of Mitchell, was his arrival the catalyst for the departure of A & M, did he **** off EH, and unless he redeems himself this week, he will have been a total disaster. In conclusion Mitchell is the source of all our perceived problems, HE IS THE CATALYST !
George(Quote)
A great number of amateur psychologists and analysts with their opinions. So here is mine, a more positive opinion. Probably the fact is that we haven’t quite clicked into gear yet. For the first 15 mins yesterday certainly it looked only a matter of time before we scored, such was the ease and speed in which we moved through their midfield. Once they got into the game though with some good forward movement of their own it prompted hesitancy with too many of our players second guessing situations. The addition of Trippier in particular restored the direction and confidence of earlier. I’ve seen before how the others constantly look to Trippier – he is so important to ‘the team’.
Tonytoon(Quote)
Mehrdad and amanda where just the faces behind the takeover, rather than it being bin salman and the PIF, I believe that there was always a contract/agreement in place that amanda and mehrdad would always step down when the dust settled and the transition went through smoothly giving more control to the reubens and PIF respectively, there is always going to be a hangover period of when two big personalities leave a club like them too, this is just my personal view on things
Lee(Quote)
Personally extremely disappointed with the open conduct of NUFC board and the procedure they have opted to take
I would on the back of Big Al’s piece and others opinions facts and disappointed fans assessment of embarrassing summer
An Open letter to Daren Eagles and the PIF board NUFC board our feelings and disilosment of public exposure of in-house discontent and public exposure in our transfer dealings
If we do not speak out now this will only fester
For the record would prefer at the start no movement this window until we consolidate rather than this tourcher
Trevor Thailand
trevor(Quote)
Alan is right, but what is NOT RIGHT is Mitchell, he should be the first through the door, unless he is obeying instructions from above! Should have walked away from the Guehi situation ages ago Are there any intentions of improving the squad? Don’t be surprised if there aren’t any additions, if there aren’t, and the way they are playing at the moment they will be lucky to finish in the top half of the league. If that happens then what do you think the PIF will do?Thats the problem with having owners who know nothing about football
TigerMax(Quote)
There is something wrong. EH seems to have lost his mojo and good players suddenly don’t become bad ones. In business when something good or bad happens, you look at what has changed. We lost Amanda and Mehrdad who acted as the fans’ friends so we do not have that anymore. My best guess is that they were second guessing Darren Eales and the PIF would rather put their faith in DE so exercised an option to buy them out. Paul Mitchell is not covering himself in glory but we have the finances to think about not just in this tansfer window but in the next two. Gordon has been poor so play Harvey Barnes this week until the window closes.
Peter(Quote)
I am not as impressed or confident as I was before. We seem disjointed and unrest within the squad. Amanda leaving and now with Spurs gives a signal that says Newcastle is not what was planned. Psr is killing football and improvement and development of non top 6 clubs. The PL is becoming a top 6 closed shop and the PL hiarchy are pandering to the top 6 and preventing Newcastle from breaking the control the top 6 have.
Martyn Hancock(Quote)
What’s this, someone else claiming that Joelinton did a rugby tackle?
Anyone who has played rugby knows that a tackle round the neck is not acceptable in rugby so how does that make him better suited to playing rugby?
Daveys **** mate(Quote)
Daveys ****mate
Because there are some thugs in rugby, he just happens to be on a football pitch.😂
Joseph(Quote)
I think paul mitchel is not performing properly otherwise we would have walked away from crystal palace and their ridiculous demands for a player who will not align with the players we already have cant see him adding any significant element to the team. I also think all the transfer antics trying to sell our best players has upset the whole team to the point it has unsettled all the players 5 mins ago we had to sell players and then we want to buy a £70 million player and still have issues regarding players leaving to settle the amount of psr we have. Ridiculous situation which is ruining the team.
Terry(Quote)
We need a decent striker to accompany Isak we can’t wait for Wilson we need a midfielder who’s not scared to be on the ball and can make passes and we need a centre back who can stay fit and we are supposed to be going for Trafford a goalkeeper we have 5 get rid of the 2 goalkeepers they brought in don’t need rubbish
Chris(Quote)
Its difficult to assess a game played by men on boys pitch(Bournemouths)
We’ve no pace in midfield,we should go for Sterling rather than Guehi.
We need to keep Trippier and why was Hall dropped?Pope has to be the worst kicker of a ball in tge foitball league,get Ramsdale in on loan.Its been clear for ages that Longstaff is not good enough for the premier league,gets knocked off the ball far too easy,good engine but no pace.I fear spurs will romp home.
Big T(Quote)