Alan Shearer doubles down on criticism of Newcastle United's attacking play after Boxing Day defeat to Man United
Newcastle United came away from Old Trafford with nothing to show for their efforts on Boxing Day, despite absolutely dominating for most of the game.
A Patrick Dorgu volley was all it took for the hosts to claim all three points on the night, but in reality, Newcastle should have been the winners by a considerable margin.
Newcastle only managed three shots on target despite having almost 75% of the possession and being on the front foot for a good 60 minutes of the game.
On Match of the Day, Alan Shearer criticised Newcastle's lack of creativity after putting in over 40 crosses in one game, and now, on The Rest Is Football podcast, the former Toon number 9 has doubled down.
Alan Shearer was fuming at the lack of attacking intent in the box for Newcastle
Shearer even says it was 'illegal' that nobody got on the end of a Jacob Murphy cross in the first half.
"Newcastle [made] 46 crosses in that one game. And it was probably only, I would guess, three or four good ones.
"[Jacob] Murphy put one in in the first half which... it was illegal that no one was on the end of it. [Anthony] Gordon and [Nick] Woltemade standing still.
"That has to change from a Newcastle point of view. You can't be putting that many balls into the box and no one is getting on the end of them.
"Unbelievable. How can you have 46 crosses in a game and not create really good opportunities? That tells you there has to be a lack of I don't know, desire, or knowledge or ability to want to get in there [the box].
"That's a frustrating thing from a Newcastle point of view because it wasn't just [against] Man United. They put loads [of crosses] in against Chelsea, against Tottenham, and that's been a common theme where balls are put in and there's not been enough players prepared to get on the end of it.
"I thought from a Newcastle point of view they were good until the final third and then terrible in the final third."
Newcastle and/or Nick Woltemade need to adapt
The fact that we could put in 46 crosses in one game and only create three attempts on target shows what we've been saying all season long: We aren't playing up to Nick Woltemade's strengths, or Nick Woltemade isn't playing how Eddie Howe wants him to.
It's unfair to pin the blame on the German's shoulders, especially given his decent goals return on his first season in the Premier League so far, but he's not the same type of striker as we're used to playing with, and not enough has changed to accommodate that.
It's all well and good saying that things will change when Yoane Wissa is up to speed, as he's more of a typical striker that we're used to, but that doesn't help Big Nick, does it?
