‘Shell of a club’ Newcastle United in no drop danger, but relegation-worthy all the same

Newcastle United fundamentally 'don't have a team,' writes Richard Jolly after their latest loss, to Liverpool, 'just a dispirited, disjointed group'.

Moussa Sissoko hands Newcastle United manager John Carver his captain's armband as he leaves the pitch after being sent off in the club's 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Monday. Lee Smith Action Images / ReShow more

Newcastle United are a shell of a club. They have one of the great stadia in English football, a ground where two stands rise into the skies as though it is the Camp Nou of the North-east. They have a fanbase that fills it. They have 10 outfield players in the famous black-and-white kit and a goalkeeper in a strangely luminous kit.

But they don’t have a team, just a dispirited, disjointed group. They don’t have a squad, after weakening it in January. They don’t have a defence, with two midfielders pressed into service at full-back. They don’t have a manager, only a stop-gap who is out of his depth. They don’t have any tactical formula, and were such obliging opponents they granted Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson complete control at Anfield. They don’t have a point in their last five games. They don’t have any real cause for optimism. Salvation will surely lie in the likelihood that three other teams won’t reach 35 points, rather than in anything Newcastle might do themselves.

They don’t have any discipline. Their top scorer, Papiss Cisse, is still suspended for spitting. For the second time in four games, Newcastle had their captain dismissed. Fabricio Coloccini saw red at Goodison Park, Moussa Sissoko at Anfield, both for awful, avoidable lunges. Now Newcastle’s best player will sit out their next two games.

Sissoko’s actions highlighted the crisis of leadership at the club. Newcastle have an unaccountable, seemingly uninterested owner, in Mike Ashley, and an unconvincing, unsuccessful imitation of a manager. John Carver argued a loss to Liverpool was prompted an admittedly awful bit of refereeing, when Dejan Lovren fouled Ayoze Perez and Newcastle were denied a penalty. “The game hinged on a huge decision,” said Carver. “I don’t want to be seen to be a moaner but it is fact we don’t get big decisions for whatever reasons: it could be me. Contracts and jobs and livelihoods rise on jobs like that but people on this side of the fence get punished.”

Yet this was a case of focusing on an isolated incident and ignoring a bigger picture of decline, decay and a deserved defeat. In any case, jobs depend, too, on Ashley’s whims. Carver’s temporary status as a top-flight manager could probably only happen at Newcastle. His elevation from the ranks, rather than hiring a permanent replacement for Alan Pardew, was not merely a case of cost-cutting. It showed complacency, a lack of ambition and a willingness to write off the rest of the season. Newcastle are likely to limp over the line. They will stay up by default, presuming the clubs beneath them will not catch them.

It is little wonder the fans are in revolt and talking about boycotting Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur. By Newcastle's standards, losing 2-0 to Liverpool ranked as one of their better results. Carver claimed there were "a lot of positives", an appraisal so upbeat that it was almost delusional but it certainly ranked as one of their less ignominious reverses. After all, their previous defeat was to Sunderland, a side so wretched they were thrashed 4-0 and 4-1 in their other two previous home matches.

Newcastle can’t beat their local rivals. It transpired they can’t escape them, either. It rather summed up their fortunes that the most influential player on the pitch was a Wearsider. They were beaten by Sunderland in their previous game and the former Black Cat Henderson was the architect of their downfall eight days later.

His perceptive pass led to Sterling’s glorious opener. Sterling against Ryan Taylor, who was pressed into service at right-back, was a mismatch. So was Mike Williamson against anyone. Williamson is the only actual centre-back who was available to Carver. His embarrassing inability to deal with Emre Can’s lofted pass allowed Joe Allen to score Liverpool’s second.

Darryl Janmaat, a right-back used alongside Williamson, illustrated his composure on the ball. Perez provided glimpses of his talent. In both cases, that is a mixed blessing. Newcastle are a selling club. They ought to make a profit on both, just as their season develops into one extended, embarrassing loss, even if the chances are they won’t lose their top-flight status.

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