Newcastle United were rightly criticised for not putting up a player to speak to the written press after the defeat to Sunderland, so tearing into a player who does speak does seem somewhat strange.
However, comments from Anthony Gordon are particularly unhelpful given the ill-feeling towards this Newcastle United team from their own fans right now.
Do you think PIF have lost interest in Newcastle United? 🤔
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the stands at St James' Park, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks to the ground
Credit: James Gill – Danehouse/Stu Forster via Getty Images
Indeed, Gordon told Newcastle United’s official website that Newcastle shouldn’t be losing to Sunderland because “in my opinion, they’re not a very good team compared to us.”
Here’s why they are unhelpful.
Gordon claims Newcastle are a better team than Sunderland – but there’s no proof of that
Across four halves of football this season, there has been no conclusive proof that Newcastle are better than Sunderland.
This season, the Newcastle players have had their mentality questioned. To come out and say that they’re still a better team than their greatest rivals does little to respond to those doubts in a positive light.
Does anyone really want to hear this after THAT performance? 😡
A quote from Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon on Sunderland reading: "They're not a very good team compared to us."
Credit: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA
Just because Newcastle have a more expensive squad with bigger names means absolutely nothing, as supporters have seen on the pitch.
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Newcastle were dreadful against Sunderland and the most painful thing was that it wasn’t a surprise, even after they were gifted a chance – which Gordon finished well – on Sunday.
If they are so much better, why haven’t they been able to show it all? There was no fight on the pitch, yet a big claim made off of it.
It currently feels like everyone at Newcastle talks a good game without actually ever following through.
PIF and David Hopkinson might talk about grand plans for the future, but supporters are never actually treated to any official updates on them.
Newcastle United players look dejected after Brian Brobbey scores for Sunderland.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Gordon might talk about being a better team than Sunderland but not once in 180 minutes of football this season has that actually looked to be the case.
Defeats in the Tyne-Wear derby lend themselves to dramatic and sweeping statements but anyone who has watched Newcastle this season would surely have seen this coming.
Gordon is entitled to his opinion but there is very little substance backing it up.
Sunderland, as painful as it is to say, are better than this version of this Newcastle team. They’re above the Magpies in the table and have beaten them twice this season.
Merely claiming you’re still a better team with nothing to back it up does not make anyone feel any better at all.
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