BBC Sport pundit Phil Neville has slammed the Newcastle United players for their performance against Southampton on Saturday.
The Magpies played their part in a dull goalless draw at St Mary’s Stadium, and Neville feels that it’s time the players stepped up to the plate on Tyneside.
“I think they [Newcastle] will be delighted with the point today, I don’t think they played well,” he said on Match of the Day on Saturday night [76:48]. “I think there is a lot happening at Newcastle off the pitch that is effecting them, but I think the players now have to start taking responsibility and start winning games and playing for the club.
“Don’t hide behind Mike Ashley, don’t hide behind Rafa Benitez’s situation, start playing.” Host Gary Lineker then asked Neville if he thought Newcastle’s players were good enough, to which he simply replied: “No.”
OPINION
Newcastle supporters might accuse Neville of being a bit harsh here but the fact is he’s correct. From what we’ve seen so far this season the Newcastle players are not good enough. They don’t have enough quality in the final third to win games, that’s why they haven’t claimed three points all season. There is a distinct lack of creativity in this Magpies team and there are simply too many sub-par players who are routinely given starts. The likes of Kenedy, Mohamed Diame and Ayoze Perez have shown next to nothing this campaign to suggest that they should be playing week in week out for a team of Newcastle’s size. Neville is right, the players need to step up. Ashley is suddenly attending games again amid takeover speculation, but they cannot allow that to affect their performances on the pitch. Simply put, they haven’t been good enough this season and they risk another relegation if they don’t step things up quickly.