ALAN SHEARER LAMBASTS NEWCASTLE UNITED: A BRUTAL WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE MAGPIES
Alan Shearer didn’t just criticize Newcastle United after their dismal defeat to Brentford – he unleashed a verbal hurricane, laying bare the attitude problems and lackluster effort plaguing the squad. The legendary striker didn’t mince words, turning the spotlight on a team he accused of arrogance, complacency, and outright disrespect toward opponents outside the so-called “Big Six.”
“I Don’t Like the Attitude”
Shearer’s frustration boiled over on Match of the Day, where he dismantled Newcastle’s defensive performance with surgical precision.
“Several players seem to think they can coast through games,” he fumed. “You can’t just turn up against the big boys and switch off against everyone else. It’s unacceptable.”
And he had the receipts to back it up. Sure, Newcastle have punched above their weight against top-tier sides—earning draws with Liverpool and City, and scoring emphatic wins against Spurs, Chelsea, and Arsenal—but Shearer wasn’t letting them off the hook.
“This isn’t just inconsistency; this is a team mentally clocking out when it suits them. They were dreadful defensively against Brentford, and frankly, they got what they deserved.”
First-Half Fire, Second-Half Flop
In the first half against Brentford, Newcastle showed flashes of brilliance, but the cracks were already visible. As fans held their breath, it seemed like only a matter of time before the team sabotaged themselves. By the second half, the collapse was complete.
Brentford didn’t steal the victory—it was practically gift-wrapped by Newcastle. Sloppy passes, lack of urgency, and schoolboy errors painted a damning picture. Watching Shearer break it down afterward was a masterclass in just how far Newcastle had fallen short.
“It wasn’t even a case of Brentford being brilliant,” Shearer said. “It was Newcastle handing the game to them on a silver platter. Capitulation doesn’t even cover it.”
Disrespect and Arrogance?
Perhaps the most stinging part of Shearer’s critique was his observation that Newcastle’s attitude borders on arrogance.
“They seem to think they don’t need to try against teams outside the Big Six,” he said, his tone dripping with disappointment. “It’s disrespectful, and it’s costing them. You don’t win games on reputation alone.”
This isn’t the first time Newcastle have been accused of taking smaller teams lightly, but Shearer’s words carried extra weight. Coming from the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, the critique was less an angry outburst and more an urgent warning.
A Message for Eddie Howe
Shearer didn’t just lay into the players—he sent a clear message to manager Eddie Howe.
“I hope Howe has sat them all down to watch this performance and my comments. If he hasn’t given them a proper dressing down by now, then he’s letting them off far too easily.”
The Newcastle legend stopped short of questioning Howe’s leadership outright, but the implication was clear: the buck stops with the manager, and something needs to change—fast.
Can Newcastle Bounce Back?
For Newcastle, the message from Shearer couldn’t be clearer: show up, every game, no matter the opponent. Whether they’ll take it to heart remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: if they keep playing like they did against Brentford, Alan Shearer won’t be the only one calling them out.
