COMMENTARY
Newcastle fans have been left hammering the performance of Jamaal Lascelles on Twitter in the first half against Wolves on Sunday afternoon – and they, as well as manager Rafael Benitez, will be questioning just where their star defender has disappeared to. Is it because he was operating in an unnatural role on the right side of a back three? If so, then he has no place to play in this sort of formation – which does not bode well for his future considering how frequent it is being used by the Spanish boss. He was caught ball watching for the visitors’ opening goal and continued to struggle as the half continued. Heralded as one of the best defenders not only in Newcastle but in England last season, he appears to have fallen behind Federico Fernandez and Fabian Schar in the pecking order during his injury absence. He and everyone at St James’ Park knows he has the ability and potential to be a top quality centre back, but with competition as fierce as ever, he still faces a serious battle in the first team.
This is Futbol has gathered a selection of the supporters’ tweets:
#nufc Lascelles useless compared to Schar.
— ???? ?. ????? (@John_D_Lewis) December 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/Nufc_22/status/1071800577930248192
You can see why Southgate didn’t select Lascelles right there…#nufc
— Jasper (@BorderJasper) December 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/DrDry1CG/status/1071802291173384194
https://twitter.com/DrogsNavan/status/1071802229903028226
Schar is twice the player lascelles is
— Dale-graham (@DaleGraham26) December 9, 2018
Lascelles is actually one of our worst defenders now man so annoying
— . (@BenArfaSZN) December 9, 2018
Think having Schar and Fernandez the last few games has made us forgot how trash likes of lascelles really are.
— Martin (@_MartinDean) December 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/hasarnn10/status/1071801713496076288