Jamie Carragher pulled no punches as he ripped into Tottenham and labelled them “a disgrace” after being thrashed by Newcastle.
Braces from Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak and goals from Joelinton and Callum Wilson, earned the Magpies a stunning 6-1 win on a humiliating afternoon for Spurs. The visitors headed to Tyneside with aspirations of drawing level on points with Newcastle, who occupied the final Champions League spot at the start of play.
But those hopes were quickly dismissed after a sensational opening 20-minute period which saw the Toon score FIVE times. Harry Kane scored a consolation shortly after the break, before Wilson re-established the five-goal buffer just 68 seconds after coming off the bench.
The result leaves Newcastle tantalisingly close to a return to Europe’s top competition for the first time in 20 years. As for Tottenham, they are now relying on others and the decision to sack Antonio Conte and replace him with Cristian Stellini is back under the spotlight.
Daniel Levy decided to part ways with Conte last month, days after the fiery Italian tore into the Tottenham dressing room and the club as a whole. But rather than appoint a long-term successor, Conte’s former assistant Stellini was given a promotion, with the hope of navigating them through to the end of the season.
That plan has now spectacularly backfired after picking up just four points from a possible 12, leaving themselves six off the top four despite playing more games than both Newcastle and Manchester United.
Carragher took to social media as the debacle at St James’ Park was unfolding to point the blame at the process which saw Stellini installed as interim boss. "Newcastle are brilliant, they have been all season,” he posted on social media.
"Tottenham are a disgrace! How have they gone to a back four for the first time this season, with Porro a full back that can’t defend & Perisic who is a winger. Get a proper manager in right now, not Conte’s mate."
Spurs had hoped to wait until the summer to hire a new manager with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Vincent Kompany and former boss Mauricio Pochettino all linked. Whoever takes on the role now looks likely to be managing a side without Champions League football, potentially limiting the pool of elite candidates on offer.
Ex-Spurs winger Chris Waddle was another to tear into the North London outfit, suggesting the embarrassed dressing room should reimburse the despondent travelling section of away fans.
“Newcastle have done their job and played with pride but you have to question Tottenham’s pride in the shirt,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “These Tottenham players should reimburse the travelling fans because this is literally one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen. They consider themselves as a top four club. It is embarrassing.”
Waddle added: “Newcastle work hard, they move the ball and want to get on the front foot. These players are proud to wear the shirt and they want to get the fans behind them. You have to question whether the Tottenham players are as committed.”
