Why was this a Newcastle United revelation? Why no benefit of the doubt?

The Mag

·29 septembre 2024

Why was this a Newcastle United revelation? Why no benefit of the doubt?

It has been an ‘interesting’ start to the season for Newcastle United.

The opening six games seeing four wins, one draw, one defeat.

Vidéos OneFootball

Four of those six games away from home for Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s side returned to St James’ Park on Saturday for their seventh match, 27 days after last playing at home, when winning 2-1 against Tottenham.

I think we can all agree that Newcastle United hadn’t hit top form as yet ahead of Saturday, that the results so far had been more down to perspiration than inspiration.

However, following the result and performance against Manchester City, I have to ask the question(s).

Why was this a Newcastle United revelation? Why no benefit of the doubt?

Revelation definition – ‘A surprising and previously unknown fact.’

The benefit of the doubt definition – ‘The state of accepting something/someone as honest or deserving of trust even though there are doubts.’

We all know that our enemies, those in the media and elsewhere, will look to have a go at Newcastle United by any means possible. To try and unsettle us as a club and as a fanbase.

However, that doesn’t explain the behaviour of a significant minority of Newcastle United fans who have been so desperate to do the same. Based on a handful of matches, a handful of performances.

It wasn’t a ‘revelation’ that Newcastle United played so well against Manchester City, both as individuals and as a team. We have seen these kind of levels so many times in the past from each/all of these players, collectively and individually. Some of those who played yesterday, have made many more appearances than some of their teammates but even those such as Tonali and Hall who have had relatively few starts so far, we have seen them play really well before.

As I say, it wasn’t a ‘revelation’ what we witnessed yesterday, it wasn’t a previous unknown.

Which then brings me to giving the benefit of the doubt, or rather, not doing so.

Why have certain Newcastle United fans been so quick to slaughter their own players and manager? Only half a dozen games. Especially when four of them were wins and only one a defeat!

I heard and read all sorts, so ridiculously over the top. Players supposedly not trying, players giving up, Eddie Howe losing the plot, clueless selections and tactics, players not interested, the team needing drastic changes and so on.

For me, the commitment had been clearly still there, it just wasn’t happening for them in significant parts of the games. Yet they were obviously still playing for the shirt, the fans, the manager, as proved by how often they had recovered from setbacks – down to 10 men, going behind, in front but then the opposition levelling, holding the nerve in a penalty shoot out, plus four of the six games having been away from home.

Honestly, these fans need to take a good hard look at themselves for how they went on.

Newcastle 1 Manchester City 1 – Saturday 28 September 12.30pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Gordon 58 pen

Man City:

Gvardiol 35

Possession was Newcastle 38% Man City 62%

Total shots were Newcastle 11 Man City 16

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Man City 6

Corners were Newcastle 5 Man City 6

Touches in the box Newcastle 25 Man City 39