December 8th 2024.
During his analysis on BBC's Match of the Day, Alan Shearer did not hold back in describing Newcastle's performance against Brentford as "dreadful" and "unacceptable." He expressed his concern over the team's lack of energy under manager Eddie Howe.
Newcastle fought hard to come back from behind twice, with goals from Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes. However, Brentford's second-half goals from Nathan Collins and Kevin Schade proved too much for them to handle, resulting in a deserved victory for Thomas Frank's side.
The defeat leaves Newcastle in 12th place in the Premier League, and they have not been able to secure a win in their last four games. Shearer specifically pointed out the attitude of several Newcastle players, stating that they cannot just perform well in big home games against top teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
Shearer was disappointed with Newcastle's defensive performance, highlighting instances where players were not engaging with their opponents and were not putting in enough effort. He criticized Fabian Schar for being too easily bullied by Thiago, and Lewis Hall for not being in the box and not being able to defend effectively.
The lack of energy and pressing from Newcastle was a major concern for Shearer, especially when compared to how the team used to play a couple of years ago. He noted that there was no one within five yards of any Brentford player, even in Newcastle's final third, which was simply not good enough and ultimately led to their defeat.
Shearer also analyzed Brentford's goal from Nathan Collins, calling it "laughable." He pointed out how easily Schar was bypassed and how the entire Newcastle defense seemed disorganized and out of position.
Overall, Shearer's analysis painted a worrying picture for Newcastle United fans. The lack of energy and defensive mistakes were major factors in their defeat, and Shearer believes that the team needs to improve significantly if they want to compete at the highest level.
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