During Newcastle United‘s 5-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City on Sunday, reporter Luke Edwards suggested Allan Saint-Maximin may have been right in regards to comments he made about the Magpies’ strikers.
Newcastle were clearly second-best to City at the Etihad Stadium, as a brace from Raheem Sterling and goals from Aymeric Laporte, Rodri and Phil Foden put them to the sword. The visitors could have had a goal of their own, though, had 65-time New Zealand international Chris Wood directed Saint-Maximin’s ball into the back of the net.
During a recent interview with So Foot magazine, Saint-Maximin questioned the ability of the club’s forward, saying he would have had ten or 15 assists this term with better quality players. He has since apologised, but Edwards believes his comments were proven right versus City. He wrote on Twitter, “Also backs up what ASM said about him having more assists if he had players who could finish chances… that was not a good moment for Wood because the cross was perfect #nufc and no ASM shouldn’t have said what he said but…”
TIF Thoughts on Saint-Maximin’s comments
Newcastle have struggled in regards to strikers this campaign. Callum Wilson has managed six goals in 16 appearances, but has spent the majority of the term out injured, while Wood, who is valued at £9 million (as per Transfermarkt), has managed just two goals in 16 games since moving from Burnley in January.
Should Newcastle sell Saint-Maximin?
Yes
No
Of course, Saint-Maximin was wrong to say what he did, but he does have a point. A new striker is surely a player the club’s new owners, the Saudi Arabian Private Investment Fund, will look to bring in during the summer transfer window. Having said that, the former Nice winger must improve his performances, with him having been inconsistent of late.