Southampton 3-1 Newcastle - The 'Index 6'

Another game, another defeat, and that’s now 9 straight away league defeats. Fallacy, that maybe Rafael Benítez can save the season in which the players gave up months ago – after yesterday’s cowardly performance – it has never been clearer than ever that Newcastle United are very much closing in on a return to the Championship.

This team – ultimately constructed by Ashley’s frugal blueprint – does not have one iota on the meaning of the word “fight.” A vibrant city, a city that has a growing GVA (Gross Value Added) trend, which is contributing heavily to the UK economy; hard-working people and the majority of those live and breathe Newcastle United, can no-longer wake up on a Saturday morning feeling excited that it’s matchday. Instead, there’s a feeling of angst because come 3pm, there will be a 90-minute performance of destitution and passivity. Even a man of Benítez’s calibre, a man that is studious and tactically astute, is struggling to get some life out of this side.

The game at St. Mary’s was like Groundhog Day: same story, different day. After last weekend’s defeat to Norwich City, going to a ground where we usually get resoundingly beaten was the last away trip we wanted to make. So, here I try to conjure up the six key points on a side that’s accepted its fate and rather feverishly heading into the Championship:

1. That Defence

Have you ever seen anything so abhorrent in your life? How on earth have some of those made it as professional footballers, I do not know. Kamikaze defending, it is an utter mess and Steven Taylor – where do I start with him? This guy was one of our main defenders when we went down in 2009; he still remains as one of our main defenders and effortlessly manages to demonstrate on how “not to defend.” Due to the club’s negligence, we decided to only invest in Mbemba during the summer. The need and cry for more defenders, particularly a left-back, was overlooked in both of the transfer windows. We had Vurnon Anita playing left-back yesterday: (1) He isn’t a left-back (2) He should be nowhere near that first-team in any position.

2. Daryl Janmaat

I read a quote from Holland manager Danny Blind during the international break about Daryl Janmaat. He said the right-back was “gutted” that he couldn’t be involved with the national team to showcase his talents to potential suitors. To me, Janmaat is just another Sissoko: massive potential, looking for a move, and now lacking heart. That was pretty much summed up when he impishly walked-off “injured” after his pathetic attempt to intercept Mané’s pass to Long that led to Southampton’s 2nd goal. Janmaat is a player that is in the “Debuchy-mindset:” he knows he will attract bigger clubs, and he knows that regardless of his performance, he would never be dropped as he’s our sole right-back.

3. Moussa Sissoko

Despite wanting to leave and not turning up this season, this is a player that I always think can change a game when he decides to play; on his day, he can be unstoppable. No, yet again, I was foolish enough to think the French international would turn up. Sissoko has shown emphatically on why he should be nowhere near the starting XI during this run up. His lackadaisical style of play is infuriating, and the wide position should be filled with someone that has hunger and some desire: Rolando Aarons. If not Aarons, maybe change the formation to accommodate De Jong – but when the former Ajax man came on as a substitute, he just confirmed my belief that he isn’t suited to the Premier League. Aarons it is, then.

4. No Support

Poor Mitrović. One of a very few players who actually seems to care, the last few games he has shown us all that he can cause real havoc once he receives some service. Yesterday, he had nothing, and I can’t actually remember a decent ball being crossed in for him. You look at that Southampton side and see the support given to Pellè and Long: quick and intuitive. Then you look at the opposite end of the field and see the stark contrast of the support given to Mitrović and Pérez.

5. No Leaders

We can all unanimously agree that Coloccini is not captain material. In his forever absence, that task has now been handed to January signing Jonjo Shelvey. A player that has been at the club for a few months has already been given the leadership role – says it all really. Shelvey started his Newcastle career off brightly, but like Wijnaldum and co., goes completely missing in away games. The post-match duties were handed over to the inexperienced Jamaal Lascelles, who handled the situation pragmatically and professionally. It does beg the question: “When the situation gets rough and tough, does Shelvey go in hiding like Coloccini?”

6. A Glimmer Of Hope

I don’t want to end this on a downer, and it’s extremely hard to find some positives from this game. Andros Townsend seemed like the only Newcastle player that wanted to change things at St. Mary’s – albeit a mere consolation – his thunderbolt of a goal cutting in from the right gave me some assurances that we do have a player who isn’t afraid to take on his man and try something different. Out of the six remaining games, we have four tough home games, and hopefully, in those home games it’ll allow Townsend to play more freely and express his creativity. It was his cross against Norwich that Mitrović scored the first goal from, and it seems he’s the only player that Mitrović can rely on to receive some service.

We are all hurting, and hurting very badly. This nauseating sinking feeling isn’t going to get better any time soon. So, as fans, let’s make the most of the last six games. In a recent interview, when asked about his commitment to Newcastle United, Mike Ashley said, “I’ve got no choice. I am wedded to Newcastle like Sports Direct. They’ve got me and I’ve got them.” No Michael, you’re just a measly parasite in this relationship. The true statement is: the fans have Newcastle United, and that’ll be passed from one generation to another, and Newcastle United will always have their fans as their unconditional custodians.