Alan Shearer is not happy about Newcastle United’s current situation.
The defeat to Brentford was extremely concerning, with Newcastle United failing to build on that outstanding performance against Liverpool.
Newcastle’s defending was shambolic, as Eddie Howe’s side completely crumbled at the Gtech Community Stadium. Bruno Guimaraes said Newcastle were a mess, which is putting it mildly.
While Shearer believes Eddie Howe should continue as Newcastle manager, the former Toon striker is well aware that changes need to be made. These players are not delivering on a consistent basis, despite many of them having Champions League aspirations.
Alan Shearer questions Newcastle’s ‘big players’
Amazon Prime Video UEFA Champions League pundit Alan Shearer during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Manchester Cit...
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There is a lot of talent in this Newcastle United squad. In a recent interview, Sean Longstaff named multiple ‘world class’ players at Newcastle right now.
However, those players are not justifying that adulation on a consistent basis.
That is a major concern for Alan Shearer, who has spoken to the Athletic about the Magpies’ big players seemingly only turning up for big games like the recent Liverpool tie.
“But let me tell you something: big players do not just turn up for big games,” he wrote.
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“The best players find a way of turning up every week, whoever the opposition and treating them the same. They turn up nine times out of 10. Newcastle are patently not doing this.
“There is no excuse for the lurch in performance from losing 2-0 at home to West Ham United and drawing 1-1 at Crystal Palace to Liverpool and then Brentford. Something isn’t right.”
Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes can do more for Newcastle
Shearer is spot on. The best players always find a way to deliver. That is what makes them the best.
Right now, there are not many Newcastle players who are delivering on a consistent basis. Out of Eddie Howe’s stars, Alexander Isak is the only one who you could say is doing the bare minimum. The 25-year-old has eight goal contributions in his last eight games, once again establishing himself as Newcastle’s most pivotal player in the final third.
However, Newcastle are not getting consistency from Anthony Gordon. He was incredible against Liverpool, with Gordon sending a message to his critics with his performance and celebration.
But he needs to do more against the Premier League’s smaller sides. Gordon has got four goal contributions so far, with three of them coming against Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
It is great to be impactful in those big games, but Newcastle also need Gordon to deliver against the likes of Brentford, West Ham and Crystal Palace. However, in Gordon’s defence, he did spent most of the Brentford defeat on the bench.
Eddie Howe also needs more from Bruno Guimaraes. He is the Newcastle United captain, and needs to lead by example in the games that the Magpies should be winning.
At the start of his Toon career, he was mesmerising every time he played. That is not the case this season, on the back of a summer of uncertainty.
Bruno has been linked with Manchester City again, which sums up how highly rated he is. It highlights the fact that he is a Champions League calibre player.
But he needs to be proving that on a weekly basis, especially as captain.
This Newcastle United team is capable of much more
This is not to dig Bruno and Gordon out. They are not the only Newcastle players who need to do better. Eddie Howe needs more from Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, while Nick Pope has also struggled on occasions.
There are plenty of issues at Newcastle right now, but there is certainly not a lack of talent in this squad. It is a squad capable of so much more, with many pundits tipping the Magpies to challenge for the Champions League at the start of the campaign.
If Newcastle do not get back into Europe, there will be endless rumours about some of Howe’s big stars wanting to leave. That is inevitable.
But that works both ways. Newcastle’s major names need to drag the team to their level, rather than drop their own standards.
For Gordon and Bruno, they must begin to prove they match Shearer’s description of a ‘big player’.
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