Geordies were looking hopefully towards a triple target and praying that we didn’t blow it. Now Newcastle are out of the FA Cup, currently out of the Champions League qualification places in the Premier League, and facing a rampant Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final without the suspended Anthony Gordon. Thanks for a bitter dose of reality. What has suddenly gone dramatically wrong?
Can a dire situation be rescued? Theoretically yes, of course, in terms of Europe and a first domestic pot in 70 years but are you prepared to bet on it? Whatever happened to the days of wall-to-wall sunshine not so long ago when we were walking on the right side of the street!
What happened to a front three (Murphy, Isak and Gordon) which played with guns blazing and were the envy of many a side. What happened to a midfield trio (Bruno, Tonali and Joelinton) which looked blockbuster strong bristling with power and vision. To two young England full-backs (Livramento and Hall), a majestic ball playing central defender (Schar) and an immovable rock of resistance (Burn).
Form has dramatically dropped across all departments. Bruno has appeared exhausted, trailing on pace and showing frustration. Murphy has been to the well once too often and looks a squad player again. Schar is passing far too casually and sloppily. He suddenly looks his age. And Gordon, not the buzzing winger of relentless pace and precision, has now taken himself out of the club’s biggest day of the season.
His obvious replacement Harvey Barnes has, despite his occasional goal input, never for me looked like a £37m signing and needs to justify himself right now or accept a summer move.
There is another question: can Callum Wilson lift his battered body to become what he once was, a centre-forward capable of clinical finishing?
In a game of snakes and ladders Nick Pope too looks to have slid down the ratings. The man bought to replace Martin Dubravka now trails him in my opinion though both could see themselves overtaken in the summer with the arrival of James Trafford. Joe Willock is a frustrating talent of promise but little fruition while Sean Longstaff has sunk like a stone thrown into a pond.
A player who has maintained top level, Lewis Hall, is unfortunately on the doubtful list through injury along with two other ace talents Alexander Isak and Sven Botman. It doesn’t bear thinking about a left side deprived of Hall and Gordon on the same strip of turf as the country’s most lethal player Mo Salah.
The whole squad has been for some time in dire need of an injection of new blood not only to enhance overall prospects but give an extra lift to those who have inevitably become stagnated due to a lack of fresh hope and competition. Has Eddie Howe a magic wand or the ability to turn the clock back instead of forward as it will automatically go at the end of this month to herald the beginning of summer?
Oh that we could have played the Carabao Cup final when United were winning game upon game upon game, were travelling to Man U, Spurs and Arsenal and winning, were exciting the neutrals in a way no Newcastle side has since the Entertainers. Timing is everything.
Football is played in the mind as much as on the grass and United currently have little confidence or self belief. Eddie will, as he must, talk the talk between now and Wembley, through West Ham away on Monday and in the build up to the final, but it is deeds not words which matter in the end.
He has to somehow find an answer in the dressing-room where he must verbally convince doubters that anything is possible with the right mindset and on the training pitch where he has to find a master plan to surprise and bamboozle a super confident Liverpool.
This ominously resembles the approach to Wembley 2023 when Man U were nowhere near what Liverpool are yet were still able to complete the job. United haven’t mounted a meaningful challenge at Wembley since 1955 – they have been poor in five successive finals – but what Geordies have a right to demand is that every man jack dies on his shield whatever the result.
Of course in any two-horse race the second favourites have a chance. United have Isak, have the Toon Army, have some blue chip players who might just step up to the plate and collectively swing a sledgehammer at Liverpool. Can they rediscover form just as quickly as it deserted them?
We Geordies will not give up the ghost. Manchester City, the most successful club side of recent times, lost the FA Cup final at Wembley last season to inferior neighbours when chasing the league and cup double. Back in 2013 they finished second top of the PL but lost the same final to relegated Wigan Athletic. So much for foregone conclusions at Wembley.
Way beyond in 1951 when United were about to dominate under the Twin Towers the whole nation was rooting loudly for the great Stanley Matthews to win an elusive FA Cup but Wor Jackie downed him and Blackpool.
We need hearts as big as frying pans, a defiance of what others see as inevitable, a fair wind, a smile from Lady Luck, and a Liverpool side willing to look towards greater prizes if resistance becomes unexpectedly strong. This is not a venue for the faint hearted. It is a venue for Mel Gibson and Braveheart.
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