Alan Shearer delivers brutal Newcastle United criticism as major questions asked of owners

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has delivered a stinging criticism of the club, proclaiming PIF's takeover "project" at a crossroads, with major questions to ask about where the Mags go next. Writing in his column for The Athletic, Shearer has not held back in his verdict on Eddie Howe's players, showing his frustration with the team and the owners after a campaign so far littered with inconsistency on the field and uncertainty off it.

With approaching half of the season gone, Newcastle lie 12th in the Premier League with 20 points from 15 games, having won just five of those matches in the campaign so far. The league position is similar to the one the club were in when the takeover was completed three years ago, leaving Shearer to ask about the levels of progress that have been made.

"As a team, they’ve gone stale and as a club, they’ve stalled, is Shearer's opening gambit, before going on to lament the recent performances and the lack of clarity regarding some big issues dominating the club right now. "There are legitimate questions to be asked and how about these for starters: what’s happening with the chief executive? What’s happening with the stadium? What’s happening with the training ground? What’s happening with new signings?" adds Shearer.

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While off the pitch matters are unlikely to be resolved for some time yet and questions regarding the stadium for example, will not be answered until the new year at the earliest, answers on the pitch are more attainable, with Shearer looking to see a consistency in performance.

Highlighting the contrast between the impressive home display against Liverpool which was followed by a poor capitulation and defensive effort against Brentford, the club's record goalscorer highlighted the issue with Newcastle's press as one area for concern.

"Individual mistakes littered the Brentford game, but the biggest worry was how Newcastle pressed in ones and twos. There was hesitancy. It was a half-and-half, ‘Shall I go or shall I stay?’ and it gave Thomas Frank’s team time and space to beat the press and maraud upfield where, as it happened, they found an open door leading to a comedy club. Not for the first time in recent weeks, this felt like a problem of mentality."

Backing manager Eddie Howe as the right man for the job still, Shearer instead has questioned the "energy and implementation" of the Newcastle players, who now face a key period which will have a major impact on shaping the season. Saturday's home game with Leicester City in the league is followed by a midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford and then a trip to Ipswich Town in the league. Three successive wins are attainable and feel much-needed to instil belief and confidence once again ahead of a key period in January when the transfer window will again provide an opportunity.

"By standing still in the transfer market, they are overtaken," explains Shearer. "They are easier to work out by the opposition. Yes, there are fewer fitness concerns, but there is less in the way of competition and without the help of incomings, Howe has to conjure something from what he already has. Players who could and should have been moved on are still there. Stagnation is the risk, a marginal dropping off of percentages."