Lowest of side that
TOON SLEEPWALKING INTO TROUBLE AFTER AWFUL LOSS TO BLADES
NEWCASTLE United handed Sheffield United their first league victory of the season as Billy Sharp’s penalty sealed the Blades’ first league win of the season. In truth, Chris Wilder’s side, who had registered just two points from their opening 17 games and had made the worst start of any side in Premier League history, deserved to win by a greater margin.
Yes, Ryan Fraser’s stupid red card didnot help proceedings but that cannot be allowed to be used as an excuse when Newcastle allowed their hosts to have 10 shots on goal and 61% of possession while he was still on the pitch in the first half.
It was the sixth time Newcastle have failed to register a single shot on target in the first half of a Premier League game this season – more than any other side in the division. The Magpies lined up with five at the back and with just two attackminded players in their starting XI against a Sheffield United side which had scored just eight goals all season and had the third worst defensive record in the division.
Make no mistake, this was a new low for Newcastle United.
Steve Bruce’s team selection garnered criticism and rightly so.
This was not a manager setting up to win. This was a manager trying desperately not to lose.
It set the tone for what was, put simply, an absolutely pitiful display from a Newcastle side sleepwalking into relegation trouble.
There was no plan, it was a team devoid of ideas and a bunch of players whose body language betrayed signs their faith in the manager is fading.
Aside from the dreadful match stats, that is now zero wins in eight games for the Magpies with just one goal from open play in that time.
They have won just two of their last 12 matches.
Bruce keeps reiterating his team is a ‘work in progress’ but if that is ‘progress’ then Newcastle are in serious trouble. The truth is Newcastle are going backwards rapidly.
They are near the bottom of the Premier League for almost every attacking metric. You cannot outrun the stats forever.
Newcastle were picking up results which defied their performances.
Now, it is finally catching up with them and unless they can arrest that trend then the consequences could be dire.
Even the most ignorant pundits should not be able to argue against that but they will find a way.
Jamie Redknapp was the latest TV
‘expert’ to defend the Newcastle manager, only to quickly change his mind about United after sitting through their performance in the first 45 minutes.
If Bruce thought there was ‘histrionics’ after the defeat to Brentford in the Carabao Cup then he can have absolutely no complaints at the criticism which will come his way after defeat to the Blades.
Things don’t get any easier either. Newcastle have Arsenal, Everton, Southampton, Chelsea, Manchester United and Wolves in their next eight matches. That eight-point gap between themselves and the bottom three could very quickly erode.
Luckily for Bruce, his saving graces at Newcastle are plentiful.
There are no fans in stadiums to air their frustration, Newcastle still hold a comfortable gap between themselves and the bottom three – who don’t look capable of stringing a run of wins together – and he works under a hierarchy which will unlikely act as a result, while they focus on the legal fight regarding the club’s failed takeover.
While the criticism of Bruce is justified, there should also be questions asked of the club’s leadership, too. Bruce was the wrong appointment and he still is now. Managing director Lee Charnley, who remains silent, despite a vow of more regular communication last season, remains nowhere to be seen. No progress, no improvement and the same mistakes week-in, weekout. At any other club in the Premier League, this would prompt serious questions over the manager’s future. Newcastle are likely to be stuck in a stasis until the league table suggests they are in ‘serious’ relegation trouble. The trouble is they are already there.
Newcastle were picking up results that defied their performances. Now, it is finally catching up with them