Alan Shearer, the revered figure associated with Newcastle United, has recently shared his thoughts about the club close to his heart. Shearer, a legendary figure for NUFC, reminisced about his lifelong support for the team and his significant goal-scoring contributions to the club.
Newcastle United’s season has been a rollercoaster, witnessing remarkable highs along with some significant setbacks. The season commenced on a high note with an impressive 5-1 victory over Aston Villa inspired by Tonali. However, this success was followed by a series of defeats, with a twelve-game stretch that only saw one loss among them.
The team faced defeats against Man City, Liverpool, and Brighton in late August and early September, then suffered two recent losses to Dortmund and Bournemouth. Amidst these losses, there was an exceptional phase of 12 matches marked by eight wins, eight clean sheets, and conceding only one defeat (to Dortmund at home). During these dozen games, the team scored thirty goals and conceded only six.
Nevertheless, as Shearer pointed out after the recent back-to-back defeats, the strain of competing on multiple fronts seems to have taken its toll on the team. He emphasized that Newcastle needs a morale boost.
It’s hard to disagree with Shearer’s assessment. However, beyond the challenging fixture list, the primary factor behind the team’s struggle has been the unprecedented number of absent players—both in terms of quantity and quality—which is unprecedented in the history of Newcastle United. Most of these absences weren’t due to fatigue from excessive matches but rather due to unexpected injuries (Botman, Barnes, Murphy, Burn, Targett, etc.), along with a ban (Tonali) and suspension (Bruno).
Shearer emphasizes the need for a lift for Newcastle United, despite the fact that it has only been 10 days since Eddie Howe’s team showcased an excellent performance, deservedly defeating Arsenal. Moreover, it’s been just 13 days since a completely revamped squad convincingly defeated Man U at Old Trafford.
The return of Bruno from suspension, the expected return of Isak for the Chelsea match post the international break, and the availability of the promising teenager Lewis Miley after recovering from glandular fever are positive signs. If a couple of other injured players can also make their way back onto the pitch as November draws to a close, Newcastle United might just be poised for a resurgence.
Alan Shearer speaking to BBC Sport about where Newcastle United are now at – 13 November 2023:
“Newcastle need a lift.
“Saturday’s defeat at Bournemouth was their first in the league since 2 September but it looked a game too far for them, and they were not anywhere near their best.
“Eddie Howe’s side have got a lot of injuries and suspensions to contend with but they did not deserve anything against the Cherries, who were the better team from start to finish.
“Newcastle looked really flat and very tired and they probably need the international break more than anyone in terms of resting some players and getting others back to fitness.
“It was always going to be a big ask for them to cope with Champions League football and challenge for the top four again.
“They are still giving it a good go, and have reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals too, but at the moment it looks like fighting on three fronts has caught up with them.”
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