Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has once again highlighted the tight financial constraints being placed on manager Rafa Benitez, and has pointed to Mo Diame and Isaac Hayden as proof of the club’s recent decline.
The Magpies lost 2-0 to Manchester United on Wednesday night, but the former striker used the match to comment on the lack of spending that has become symptomatic of the Mike Ashley era.
Using the Boxing Day defeat to Liverpool as an example, the all-time Premier League top goal scorer compared the similar level investment between the present day and the Toon Army side 20 years ago.
Speaking on Radio 5 Live, when asked if Newcastle would be willing to spend this January, he said: “I’d be surprised if they did and probably Rafa would be the same.
“I think he’s fed up, frustrated, and feels as if his hands are tied behind his back at times because he’s working on an unbelievable budget.
“If they survive again it will be a very very good season and that’s the sad thing about it.
“He just wants to be given a chance. He wants a chance to try and compete to try and get Newcastle in the top half of the table and try to have a good cup run.
“I was at Anfield on Boxing Day and I looked at out team then. 20 years ago Newcastle had those classic games against Liverpool, the 4-3 games that everybody talks about, I looked at the midfield and I looked at the forwards then.
“Newcastle then had a £5 million player, they bought David Batty. Their midfielders at Anfield on Boxing Day were Hayden and Diame who both cost around about £5 million. So that tells you exactly where Newcastle United are.”
OPINION
The stats that Shearer highlights are nothing short of embarrassing. Back in the 90s, when Newcastle were a real force and the fans had a club they could be proud of, investment was good and they reaped the rewards. The issue Mike Ashley has with the club is a personal one, and it’s beginning to damage the club on a footballing and business venture level. Ashley has fallen out with the fans, and therefore doesn’t want to spend his own money on a club and a fanbase that he wants rid of. If nothing else it serves to highlight just how important it is for a club and its owners to all be pulling in the same direction, even at the very top level. Newcastle’s record transfer fee is still the £16 million paid for Michael Owen in 2005, and quite frankly, that is just not good enough. The sooner Ashley leaves and an owner who cares is brought in, the better.