Alan Shearer has condemned Newcastle United’s “unacceptable” performance in their 4-2 loss to Brentford on Saturday, voicing concerns over the team’s lack of energy under manager Eddie Howe.
Despite coming from behind twice to level the game with goals from Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes, Newcastle couldn’t hold off Brentford, who sealed a deserved victory with second-half goals from Nathan Collins and Kevin Schade.
Following the defeat, Shearer delivered a scathing assessment of Newcastle’s performance, particularly highlighting their defensive frailties.
“I don’t like the attitude of several of Newcastle’s players,” Shearer said during his analysis on BBC’s Match of the Day.
He also pointed out the stark contrast in Newcastle’s recent performances, citing their strong home results against top teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal. “You can’t just turn up in the big home games,” he warned.
Shearer was particularly critical of the team’s defensive lapses. “They were dreadful defensively,” he remarked, pointing out specific moments like Thiago’s strength bullying Fabian Schar.
He also criticized Lewis Hall’s positioning during a Brentford attack, calling him out for not being in the box when needed.
Shearer further analyzed individual errors, including a poor pass from Harvey Barnes that led to a Brentford goal, and Fabian Schar’s failure to engage with the attacking player.
“Schar has got to engage at some point,” he said. “He never gets near him, and they get a free shot.”
The pundit expressed deep concern about Newcastle’s lack of energy and pressing, something they were praised for in previous seasons.
“Two years ago we were praising Newcastle for their energy, closing down, and pressing. There was none of it against Brentford,” Shearer said. He lamented that Brentford players had too much space, with no Newcastle players closing them down.
“No one gets within five yards of any Brentford player,” he noted, calling this a significant issue for the team.
Shearer didn’t hold back in criticizing Collins’ goal for Brentford, describing it as “laughable.” He pointed out how Schar was nowhere near the ball, allowing a Brentford player to easily get through and score.
“From a Newcastle point of view defensively, they are all over the place,” Shearer said, adding that the lack of defensive organization was “worrying.”
Shearer concluded by expressing concern over the lack of energy in Newcastle’s game, which was once a hallmark of their play under Eddie Howe.
“They’re lacking the energy we’re so used to seeing a year or two ago,” he said, signaling alarm over the team’s current form.
With Newcastle now without a win in their last four Premier League games, Shearer’s analysis suggests major questions need to be asked about their performance and Howe’s tactics moving forward.