Former England international Micah Richards has hinted that rival teams are beginning to figure Newcastle United out. Heartbreak in the Carabao Cup final means the Magpies have won just four of their last 12 fixtures.
Alarmingly, three of those victories were in cup competition, with Newcastle winning only one league game in 2023. That poor run has resulted in United sliding down to fifth, four points behind Tottenham Hotspur with two games in hand.
It was a familiar story for Eddie Howe’s men in the 2-0 defeat at Wembley. Despite dominating possession, Newcastle looked toothless in attack, struggling to create clear-cut chances against a sturdy Manchester United defence.
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Callum Wilson - who started the final - has struggled to get into goalscoring opportunities. Just one goal in 13 outings is indicative of the Magpies’ struggles in the final third.
Speaking to the Monday Night Club, ex-Manchester City defender Richards suggested Newcastle are predictable, with Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier singled out for criticism.
“I thought Newcastle were excellent until Man United’s first goal,” he said. “That took the wind out of them a little bit and then they got the second goal just six minutes later. At that time, you could just see the belief drain out of them a little bit.
“The game was quite scrappy at times and I thought Newcastle were going to be nervous but it turned out they weren’t. I just think Newcastle, at times, you know what they’re going to do.
“Almiron is going to come from the inside, Trippier is going to go down the right-hand side and get in a cross, Saint-Maximin was brilliant in flashes but again, we talk about his end product and he did some lovely skills past Dalot and you’re thinking ‘he’s going to put it away’.
Richards also pinned the result on Man United’s ruthless streak in front of goal. Although they only had 38 percent possession, the Red Devils managed eight more shots on target than Newcastle.
“They just needed one of those many chances to go in and it would’ve been a completely different game but the quality between the two teams showed in the end over the 90 minutes,” Richards added. “One team that took their chances and ended up winning the game.
“Newcastle fans were amazing. The atmosphere at Wembley was quality from watching it on TV but I just think it was Man United’s quality in the end that I think Newcastle just couldn’t get over.
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