West Brom 1-0 Newcastle - The 'Index 6'

Newcastle fell to another defeat to West Brom in a now customary flat, uninspiring performance. Darren Fletcher got the goal with a header that fill in ‘keeper Karl Darlow should have saved. In any case – Newcastle were once again devoid of quality, confidence, nous, and willingness. The result left us languishing in the bottom three, and does little to assure fans that we will be a Premier League outfit next season. It’s all very grim.

Rational decline:

A few years ago, much of the talk was about Newcastle underachieving. The assumption was that Newcastle were blessed with talent and ability, which, whilst perhaps slight of Premier League experience, should (and eventually will) perform better. Recall the days of Cabaye in midfield, Ben Arfa out wide, Santon at LB, Remy and/or Ba upfront, Coloccini performing well etc. These were all good players. Players, after all, that nearly took us to the Champions League.

Thus, while there was frustration amongst the Newcastle faithful – it was frustration laced in optimism. The hope being that good times should be around the corner, purely on the basis that Newcastle were a talented but underperforming team.

Now, this isn’t true. In fact, the adage “we demand a team that tries” isn’t all that helpful if trying is all you can do. I don’t think even the harshest critic could accuse the players of not trying. I don’t doubt it. But we can accuse the players of not winning. And we are not winning because, frankly, we aren’t very good. It’s no longer the case of: “the talent is there, but not the results.” No, the talent is not there, and that explains the lack of results. Anita and Colback is the worst central midfield pairing we’ve had in years. Paul Dummett is ponderous and slow at left back.

There is far less dynamism upfront. I could go on. Couple this with the fact that teams around us are all improving. They are buying better players in positions they need to strengthen. Wouldn’t it be nice if Newcastle did the same? No, this is a decline which isn’t hard to understand. Bad players = bad team. This is rational decline.

Smiling and positivity:

I think we’re all in agreement that McClaren is not very good. Yes, he’s inherited a bad set of players. Yes, he wasn’t even able to bring in players he necessarily wants (welcome to Newcastle). But, he has to be the least inspiring manager I’ve ever seen. Everything about him: demeanour, decisions, interviews etc smack of a man with not the foggiest idea what he’s doing. But, even a complete clown like McClaren should have the intelligence to treat the fans with some respect.

What do I mean by this? I’m not talking about clapping the fans after the match, or praising their loyalty. No, I mean in a post-match interview where you’ve just lost to West Brom: do not trot out the same meaningless platitudes about effort, desire, attitude, and misfortune. Such comments are fury-inducing for a fan base that is absolutely fed up with the consistent rubbish they have to witness. Just come out and say: we aren’t good enough. Show some anger. Share in the fans frustration. His comments come across as a ) feeble: as if he’s scared to criticise the players, and b) utterly detached from reality.

Both are not good traits in a leader. It’s not as if the tactic to preserve confidence by praising the players when they lose works anyway. You may as well make an effort to understand how the fans feel. Statements like “West Brom is a difficult place to come” goes nowhere to aid your cause.

January:

I don’t think this point warrants a paragraph. Spend some bloody money - and on players that are a) good, and b) in positions we need. Cough, central midfield, cough.

Boycotts, protests:

I feel it is only a matter of time before various social media outlets are awash with debate about fan protests and boycotts. Then comes the inevitable dividing line between those who “support the team not the regime”, and those who only see change occurring by hitting the regime in the pocket. This debate is futile. It divides the fans, and neither position achieves much.

Support the team, not the regime is clearly failing. But it is almost impossible to organise a full boycott, and the regime has proved willing to stand its ground in the face of intense discontent. I don’t know where I fall in all of this, and it’s depressing that I will be faced with this choice for the third season in a row.

Coloccini:

Because I am fed up with writing depressive stuff, I think we ought to give credit where credit is due. Perhaps the bar has been set so low I am willing to praise anything (am I turning into McClaren?) Nevertheless, I thought Coloccini played well today. He’s been criticised for not putting it in where and when it matters, and I think he has risen to that task.

He’s clearly limited – he’s not a natural leader, but he didn’t make himself captain. He can’t make his teammates score either. For what he is – he has stepped up – but I think that fact will be lost because his upturn in form hasn’t coincided with his teams.

Darlow:

Nerves or no nerves. Not good enough. See “rational decline”.