Alan Shearer has been very critical of Newcastle United in recent weeks.
The Newcastle United legend was not happy with the summer transfer window, with the Magpies failing to make any major signings.
Shearer was critical of Paul Mitchell, suggesting that Eddie Howe had not been backed ahead of the 2024/25 season.
There have also been issues with performances. Newcastle have not been playing well, and were extremely poor against Fulham. Shearer said Newcastle were awful against Fulham, and he was not wrong.
Shearer also criticised Newcastle’s lack of intensity, with Howe’s players severely lacking the energy to press in a way that has made them so hard to beat in recent years.
Alan Shearer’s verdict on Newcastle’s performance against Manchester City
But that changed on Saturday, as Newcastle drew 1-1 with Manchester City. Shearer predicted a draw, and he was right.
The Magpies came from a goal down to snatch a point, with Anthony Gordon winning and converting a penalty to equalise.
It was a much better display from Newcastle United, and Shearer was much happier with what he saw from his beloved Magpies.
Shearer spoke about Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast.
“I thought it was Newcastle’s best performance of the season,” he said.
“I thought the energy was back, the pressing was back from what we looked at last season and the season before.
“Everything about Newcastle and Eddie was all about the intensity and overpowering team, and that hasn’t happened this season.
“But it happened yesterday. And it was the best performance of the season, and a draw was a fair result.”
Newcastle United must build on Manchester City draw
Shearer liked what he saw from Newcastle against Manchester City. That energy and pressing was back. It looked like intensity really was Newcastle’s identity once again.
But it is easy to get up for a game against a team as good as Manchester City. The task now is to build on Saturday’s performance and do it consistently.
The Man City game was the best Newcastle have played this season. There was the odd spell when the Magpies were sloppy on the ball, but that will happen. As a full 90 minutes, it was a complete contrast to what Howe’s players had been offering up.
Now Newcastle must do it on a regular basis. Their next two games are very different, starting against Wimbledon. Newcastle will be forced to break down the League Two side, who will go into Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie as massive underdogs.
But the Magpies must not be complacent. Just because they have played well against Manchester City does not mean they are entitled to beat Wimbledon.
Then it is Everton away, which is a fixture that ended in humiliation for Newcastle last season. The Magpies were beaten 3-0 at Goodison Park, on what was a torrid night for Kieran Trippier.
Everton are a strange team this season. They have played well in patches, but only recorded their first win of the campaign on Saturday at the expense of Crystal Palace.
It will be a tough fixture, but one that Newcastle United need to win if they are serious about challenging for a place in Europe.
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