SUPER MAC Attackers must show up in Toon’s must-win clash
ANYTHING short of victory will be failure against Brighton. I am sorry but that is the way it is and Newcastle’s players have to realise it.
If they think a draw with Watford last time out at home was a good result they must think again. It was a missed opportunity. Tottenham away was a good result and it is the only one United have had so far this season. Beating Brighton would be a good result. A draw or a defeat would not.
Players must face up to reality, they must look facts straight in the eye, accept them and then do something about them.
For example, the players could argue United have failed to score in a match only once this season, but I would point out they have never notched more than once and Joelinton is the only forward to have his name on the scoresheet.
Not good enough. Neither Miguel Almiron nor Christian Atsu have registered and that is awful.
Almiron has all the attributes to be a wonderful player but at the moment he is running everywhere and nowhere. I want him to be more controlled, a cleverer thinker who times his runs, makes himself difficult to mark.
Perhaps United are banking an Andy Carroll coming off the subs’ bench and causing havoc. He can do that. He will ruffle feathers all right – but will he score goals regularly enough and stay fit?
The Carroll I remember from when he was here first time was a fiercesome centre-forward but since he left he has become more and more injury-prone.
Make no mistake, Brighton will be targeting this game as one where they can take something in the same way as Newcastle will.
Let no one kid themselves – losing at home to an average Arsenal, being hammered 3-1 at Norwich, being held here by Watford who had lost all their games, and then predictably getting nowt at Liverpool is not a decent return just because of what happened against Tottenham.
I am worried about who will score us the goals and I include Joelinton in that criticism. I bet he thinks he has done all right so far and in some ways he has but I would be furious I had only scored once and had so few shots on target.
Those figures have to be improved if he is to become a top, top No 9.
It is all right looking pretty, elegant and athletic, but goals are the currency that matters.
I am not being harsh on United, just realistic. I want them to stay up, to give the most caring supporters in the country what they deserve.
It is just that when you look at the immediate fixture list lying ahead after Brighton you realise just how important three points are this time out.
If we cannot beat the Seagulls then how many of the nine points are United going to collect against Leicester City away, Manchester United at home and Chelsea away?
The job needs to be done, no ifs or buts. No excuses. Win and move on. Lose? We don’t want to think about it.