The Newcastle United supporting punters here in the Transfer Tavern have had many a miserable night, spent crying into their pint pot’s during the 2015/16 campaign.
The team have done little since the turn of the year to suggest that they are capable of going on a decent enough run to pull clear of the bottom three, and these really are worrying times for the Magpies faithful.
Talk in the Tavern’s smoking area has turned towards just why the Magpies have had such a disastrous season, with many excuses being brandished around.
One Magpies fan is playing pool in the Tavern and he doesn’t believe that Steve McClaren was the right choice of manager and has never been convinced by his Premier League credentials.
We set our writer Lee Clarke to task on FIVE reasons why Newcastle United will be relegated this season…….
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE REASONS!
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Steve McClaren
The ex-England boss made a potential rod for his own back in the summer when he opened a blank cheque book and signed several players, who had never played English football before.
It is always a risky move to do such a thing and despite adding the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend in the January transfer window, their arrivals may have come too late to save the Magpies from the drop.
Although McClaren is a good coach on the training ground he does seem to struggle with the man management side of things and this could be a telling factor this season.
Better teams around them in the league
Newcastle are in an unfortunate position of being down in the relegation zone at present and need wins quickly, if they are to force their way out of bother.
The thing that will make life difficult for them is the fact that a lot of other teams down near the bottom are starting to pick up solid wins.
Sunderland had a decent win at Swansea the other week, whilst the Swans themselves secured a vital three points away at Everton recently.
When the pressure is on their relegation rivals thrive, whilst the Magpies have a tendency to hide.
Only Swansea and Villa have scored fewer goals
Aston Villa are quite simply awful, yet despite their demise they have managed just five goals less than Newcastle, which when you consider the money the Magpies spent in the summer it is simply not good enough.
The lack of goals could be really detrimental to the Magpies as they look to avoid the drop and unless they start finding the back of the net soon, Championship football looks a real possibility.
McClaren did bolster his attacking arsenal during the January transfer window with a swoop for Seydou Doumbia, although he has struggled to build up his fitness thus far.
Lack of match winners and leaders
Newcastle United are a club blessed with a passionate fan base that would rival any other team in the land, but on the pitch they lack real leadership.
The fact that boss McClaren is set to make recent signing Jonjo Shelvey captain for this evening’s game against Stoke City pretty much says it all about the lack of leaders in his squad.
It isn’t just leaders that remain an issue at St James’ Park and they are desperately seeking for a player, who is going to grab their relegation battle by the scruff of the neck.
Sunderland have Jermaine Defoe, Swansea boast Alberto Paloschi and Andre Ayew and Newcastle have Aleksander Mitrovic. I will let you decide which team are better equipped to beat the drop.
Mike Ashley
As much as Steve McClaren can take a portion of the blame for the summer signings, Ashley must take a sizeable chunk also for allowing him to sign so much rubbish.
The controversial Sports Direct bigwig has pumped millions into the football club but it is all a bit little too late for the Magpies in the context of this season.
It is difficult to see Ashley putting another sizeable chunk of his own wealth into the football club should they get relegated again, and the next few months could be really crucial for Newcastle United Football Club.
