Let’s not beat around the bush, Newcastle were woeful against Brighton on Saturday, and looked like a side who will struggle to escape a third relegation under Mike Ashley’s ownership.
Substitutions pumped some life into the last 17 minutes, but even if it had been enough to snatch an undeserved three points, it would have merely sugarcoated a depressing display.
There were, on the whole, two redeeming performances that deserved better: one was the brief, but energetic, substitute appearance by Allan Saint-Maximin; the other was the continued majestic form of Fabian Schar.
Schar’s performances for both club and country have been superb, and he has topped them off with some unexpected goals too, which have rightly seen him picking up plaudits from fans and media alike this season.
His overhead, goal-line clearance on Saturday was simply breath-taking, and single-handedly saved us from losing the game.
His was the one Newcastle display that shone over the 90 minutes, and his post-game comments were scathing, and correct.
Of course, when he laments the team display, and sounds as livid as he did, it could soon turn into personal frustration for the Swiss international, who clearly does not deserve to be let down by his teammates week after week.
Many more awful Newcastle performances could see Schar questioning his future
If Newcastle are entrenched in the relegation zone by January, and the Premier League survival cause appears a forlorn one, Schar could well start looking for a move away from Tyneside.
He will know he is in the form of his life, and so will his agent, who will undoubtedly see a big-money move, and a lucrative contract on the horizon for his client.
Of course, it is up to the players and Steve Bruce to ensure that form and results pick up, which would see Newcastle pull away from their current flirtation with the bottom three.
But if that fails to materialise, Schar could well be hoping that his spell on Tyneside is a short one, and the way the side is currently playing, it would be hard to blame him.
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