Newcastle United remain maddeningly inconsistent.
While their recent winning run was fantastic to see, to suggest Newcastle United still don’t have problems would be foolish.
When they’re bad, Eddie Howe’s team can be absolutely dreadful. Manchester City thrashed Newcastle 4-0 on Saturday on a day where the away side really could have conceded more.
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There’s little doubt that Newcastle can be brilliant on their day but games like that underline what a job Howe still has on his hands.
Newcastle were passive throughout and looked beaten in the first few minutes at the Etihad Stadium.
It was a desperately disappointing day for Newcastle and captain Bruno Guimaraes slammed the performance when speaking after the game.
Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United reacts, after Omar Marmoush of Manchester City (not pictured) scores his team’s third goal during the Premier L…
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
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Guimaraes was praised by Pep Guardiola before the game but did little to justify that on the day.
While the Brazilian was not alone in that, the team captain surely has to be doing more when the going gets tough.
Guimaraes slammed the fact Newcastle didn’t put any pressure on City and warned his teammates they simply have to work harder.
Speaking to the club’s in-house media team, the skipper said: “We made this too easy for them. Like I said, we were very late in our pressure and they played through us and they have a lot of good players.
“We gave them the space, the time and they enjoy it. You know, we were very, very late today.
“I’m not happy at all, like I said we accept the defeat but not the way that this was today.
“We have to work hard, no matter the reason, no matter the game and today everything goes wrong.”
Interestingly, it’s not the first rallying cry the former Lyon star has issued of late. After the 4-2 defeat to Brentford in December, Guimaraes labelled Newcastle a “mess”.
Bruno Guimaraes frustrated by Newcastle United performance
Guimaraes was seen throwing his chewing gum down in anger when he was substituted towards the closing stages of the game.
In truth, however, the Brazil star did little to change the game. So much has been made about City’s struggles without Rodri but Newcastle’s famed midfield just could not get going.
