Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has heavily criticised three players following Sunday’s defeat to Sunderland.
North East bragging rights are back on Wearside, as Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby.
It was a disgraceful performance from the Magpies, who got it completely wrong at the Stadium of Light. The game plan made no sense, while the players on the pitch showed a complete lack of heart and fight.
Finish this sentence, the worst thing about Newcastle United’s defeat to Sunderland was _
Having to hear about it until at least March, would be my answer!
Shearer called Newcastle ‘awful’ in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s defeat, and now he has gone into more detail on just how bad Eddie Howe’s side were.
Alan Shearer furious with Nick Woltemade and two more against Sunderland
Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer has stated that Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga were ‘awful’ against Sunderland.
He has also criticised Howe, confirming that the Newcastle United manager got the big calls wrong.
“Newcastle were dreadful, they were rotten,” he said.
“I was really shocked at how bad they were because, I mean, that is pathetic in any game, let alone in a derby game. Seriously, you’re going to play in the biggest game of this season at your rivals and you’ve heard all the players all week, ‘we know how much it means to the fans and we’re going to do this and we’re going to do that’.
“They did nothing. They were awful, honestly. And Eddie made some big calls in team-wise, and I thought Eddie got it wrong as well.
“The players who we picked didn’t perform for him. Elanga was awful. Gordon was awful. Woltemade was awful. And they offered nothing in forward positions.”
Who was Newcastle United’s most disappointing player vs Sunderland?
Feel free to list all of them in the comments 👀
It is unclear how Newcastle United bounce back from Sunderland embarrassment
As Alan Shearer says, Newcastle United truly were awful against Sunderland. It was an embarrassing performance in the derby.
Despite all they have achieved in recent years, Howe’s side looked scared. There was nothing bullish about their performance. They turned up to the Stadium of Light, played into Sunderland’s hands and allowed them to call the shots. That is not the Eddie Howe way.
Already, Newcastle players are talking about bouncing back on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup quarter-final. In truth, it is going to take a lot more than a win over Fulham to repay the fans for that turgid display on Wearside.
Newcastle used to be a horrible team. They were nasty to play against week after week. Infuriatingly, that has disappeared.
That needs to return, and fast, although some supporters will argue it is too late after Sunday’s embarrassing defeat in the derby.
Sign up to TalkingPoints for free to join the conversation about all things Newcastle United with Geordie Boot Boys!
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
