Alan Shearer summed what surely every Newcastle United fan was thinking after Sunday’s defeat to West Ham in the Premier League.
West Ham beat Newcastle United 3-1 in the Premier League on Sunday after what felt like one of the worst games of the Eddie Howe era.
Newcastle took the lead through Jacob Murphy but dropped their intensity and allowed the hosts to come back into the game.
It has now been seven months since Newcastle United won an away game in the Premier League and Shearer wants those inside the squad to take a long, hard look in the mirror.
Alan Shearer working as a pundit for BBC Sport ahead during Newcastle United vs Fulham.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Alan Shearer tells Newcastle United squad to look at themselves
Some of the performances this season have been hugely concerning, particularly away from home.
A cynic might suggest that this Newcastle United squad pick and choose when they want to perform. That may sound unfair but the sheer contrast in their performance levels in big games at home to fixtures away on the road is difficult to otherwise explain.
Speaking to the Premier League’s official website, Shearer said: “It was as bad as I’ve seen under Eddie for a long time.
“Some players need to look at themselves, they need to think they can’t always have the St. James’ Park energy.
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“They have to put their effort and determination into away performances when they’re not being roared on. That was an unacceptable performance, well done to West Ham. They were the better team.”
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Shearer appears to be suggesting that performances like this are down to attitude and application rather than quality.
That, frankly, would be extremely worrying. It’s one thing to lose a game because of a quality or fatigue issue but another to lose it simply because it doesn’t get the juices flowing.
Newcastle are in a rut on the road, there’s little doubt about that. It’s difficult to explain and while they aren’t always brilliant at home, there is a notable difference in performances.
Fans would be within their rights to demand a reaction at Brentford next Sunday but so little about the team’s away form right now would suggest that is likely.