Former Arsenal star and current Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has issued a stark verdict on Newcastle United after watching the Magpies play out a lacklustre 0-0 draw with Fulham on Saturday.
The points were shared at St James’ Park on a game which had just two shots on target, both for the visitors, leaving the Cottagers rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table as they secured their first clean sheet of the campaign.
However it was the Magpies which Merson chose to voice his concerns about, insisting that their lack of cutting edge was a serious concern for him.
He told Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (22/12, 17:38): “I look at Newcastle, I think they’re going to struggle. I know they’ve won those games on the trot but I seriously think they’re going to struggle badly.
“As you say, the goalie doesn’t have to make a save through the whole game and I can’t remember their (Fulham) two shots on target.”
Opinion
Just as Salomon Rondon looked to be picking up some form at Newcastle this sort of match comes around. It was less Christmas cheer on Tyneside and more Ebenezer Scrooge with the lack of chances that the fans were forced to endure for 90 minutes and there was not an awful lot to celebrate for either side. However the Magpies have indeed shown the cutting edge required to be a threat to opposition defences in recent weeks and so questions need to be asked as to why they were unable to put the visitors to the sword on Saturday. Whatever the case, they need to find that sort of form once again with a nightmare run of fixtures on the immediate horizon. If they cannot spring a shock or two – which will only come from putting the ball in the back of the net – then they are going to be there or thereabouts in the relegation zone in January, rather than pushing their way up the Premier League table.