Mick Quinn has questioned Newcastle United interim manager Graeme Jones following yesterday’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
The Magpies were comfortably beaten in the end by the Premier League leaders.
Reece James scored twice, and Jorginho then added a third via the penalty spot.
It was Newcastle’s first outing at St. James’ Park after the sacking of Steve Bruce.
But that didn’t count for anything as the Blues took full advantage of the Magpies’ negative approach.
Jones opted to go with three at the back once again, with Emil Krafth and Ciaran Clark lining up either side of Jamaal Lascelles.
Newcastle invited pressure from Chelsea, having just 21% possession and one shot on target.
Former Toon striker Mick Quinn expressed his shock at the approach on Twitter after the game.
He said: “Graeme Jones is not going to be in charge of @NUFC for long, so why didn’t he let the handbrake off and have a go at home with over 50,000 fans behind the team, instead of sitting back and being worried to death of Chelski?”
Perhaps the plan was to hit Thomas Tuchel’s side on the counter.
Whatever the thinking was, it did not pay off and Chelsea will probably not have many easier games this season.
Newcastle should have gone for it
Quinn has a point.
Newcastle should have just gone for it, against a top, top team.
Instead, it was, once again, a case of trying not to lose the game.
Yes, Newcastle have inferior players to Chelsea. But the Magpies need to start getting points on the board fast.
It surely would have just been better to try and take the game to them.
Perhaps the result might have been the same, but at least Newcastle would have actually threatened.
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