Magpies’ failure to land a quality frontman is just
THEY cost a king’s ransom and it is so easy to understand why.
Master strikers win matches and so enter legend.
Men like Alan Shearer, Malcolm Macdonald and Wor Jackie have dominated Newcastle history because they made more difference than virtually every other player.
They are sculptured in gold, especially in the top flight where rewards are counted in millions.
Unfortunately, when the best chance of a match between two Premier League newcomers on the south coast fell to the unfortunate Joselu his lines were badly fluffed. Only 20 minutes had elapsed at Brighton with the score locked at 0-0 when the ball broke off a defender to Joselu only five yards out plum in front of goal.
Turning quickly, he dragged his shot wide of the far post and buried his head in his hands.
A goal then and it would have been a very different match.
The bad miss went with his hattrick of such chances squandered against Stoke, but whereas victory still came that day it was Brighton who went on and claimed all three points here.
Maybe it is harsh on Joselu to single him out but then the PL is unrelenting, played out in the full glare of an unwavering eye.
Chances are rare in the back alley of flick knives that is the penalty area and a decent percentage of them have to be taken.
United are paying the price for not supplying Rafa Benitez with the sort of quality, high-costing natural finisher he so desperately required during the summer and so it will continue until January at least.
Joselu was again hooked with 20 minutes to go but last season’s free-