Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

Opinion

Two months on and I’m still not going with this spin at Newcastle United

8 years ago
Share

Another week, another loss, and Steve McClaren continues to try and pull the wool over the eyes of Newcastle fans.

Fair enough, I will accept the performance against Arsenal was good. We kept a good amount of possession and we created a good clear goal scoring opportunity. Only the one good opportunity, but away to Arsenal that’s ok.

The problem is, this is what we see most weeks (if we aren’t completely trounced). A match where we have decent amount of possession and one good goal scoring opportunity, and then McClaren tells us how well we performed.

If that is the standard for performance when playing at home against Aston Villa, or away against a West Brom side who haven’t won in six. Then we are truly in danger of relegation. I said the same thing in an article I wrote for the Mag two months ago. We’re sleepwalking towards relegation.

The concerning thing is, I believe Steve McClaren sees it this way (ED: playing well at the minute rather than likely relegation!). He is actually happy with how we are performing and thinks things are coming together. Even Rob Elliott said similar this week.

It is so far from the truth though. Teams that are playing well but keep losing, don’t miraculously bring it together. It happens because those teams are missing some key ingredients. Like a proven goal scorer, or a real leader on the pitch. Things we continue to lack.

Much like a team who plays poorly but manages to pick up a victory, is said to be the sign of a great side, a team who plays reasonably but keeps losing is surely the sign of a crap one.

This week Newcastle need to act. Players must be signed because as we know, this club is not one that will move Steve McClaren on while the result are like they are now.

But the stories coming out make it sound like we are going to bide our time in the window. I am personally worried that, if we sign anyone at all, it’ll only happen at the end of the window.

By that point it’ll be three more games lost in the league and out of the cup. There will be little chance of recovery if that is the case, the results this weekend went against us and it only takes a couple more weekends like that to see us cut adrift.

I hope I’m wrong, I hope we act decisively, spend well and save our season. Perhaps have a decent second half that can offer some joy.

But then…I just feel like we’ll be saving ourselves for the exact same thing again next season.

Dan has his own blog which you can visit at www.nufcbase.com and you can follow him on Twitter @nufcbase

(To feature like Dan, send in your articles for our website to contribute@themag.co.uk – all views those of the author etc etc)

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks