Alan Shearer's x-rated tweet sums up every Newcastle United fan's frustrations as £124m question has to be asked
Newcastle United were toothless in attack yet again, despite having the lion's share of possession against Wolverhampton Wanderers and playing some excellent crosses into the box.
Many times over recent seasons, when Newcastle have had a bad day at the office, it has come down to a lack of confidence up front. That certain something that has just been missing in the final third.
That has so often been the case right across the front three that it has been hard to pinpoint what the exact problem is.
However, today, much like in the game against Manchester United on Boxing Day, the wingers and full-backs did their job in putting the ball into the danger area, but there's just nobody attacking those balls.
Alan Shearer had to censor his own tweet, which is good for us as we get to use it
Alan Shearer, who went ballistic after the defeat to Man United about this very issue, was clearly once again very frustrated with his X-rated post on X (formerly Twitter) during the game.
"Someone attack the f—— ball man in the box. 🤬🤬#WOLNEW"
Newcastle spent £124 million on a new strikeforce in the summer, bringing in Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, and neither seems to know what to do when a winger gets into a good area and pings the ball into the box.
Nobody seems interested in making a run into the box to meet a cross
Nick Woltemade is 6'6" and isn't known for his heading. How is that even possible? He has said that it's something he's been working on since he came to England, but today he'd clearly forgotten everything he's ever been taught.
Wissa isn't blessed with height, but he has pace and the technical ability to be in the right place at the right time. Today, he showed no real desire to get into the right positions to get on the end of crosses.
The strikers weren't the only ones guilty of this, mind. Harvey Barnes had one in the first half that, had he been a few yards further forward, he'd have been well placed to get a shot away, but instead he hesitated and held back.
Short of buying a new striker this month, the only thing we can do is run endless crossing drills in training and work on the front players being brave and running into the right areas. It's the absolute basics of being a striker and we can't seem to do it.
