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I just saw ‘unique’ Newcastle player waste a huge opportunity to prove a point to Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe hoped that a confident Anthony Gordon could provide Newcastle United with an advantage against Chelsea following his new contract.
The 23-year-old recently signed a six-year deal with the club, and Howe anticipated this would help Gordon regain his best form. However, Gordon was unable to participate in the match at Stamford Bridge due to a groin issue, despite traveling with the squad.
This absence allowed Harvey Barnes to start on the left wing, but he struggled to make an impact as Newcastle fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Howe had previously described Barnes as a “unique” player, but his performance on Sunday did not reflect that label. He was wasteful against Chelsea and failed to seize the opportunity to showcase why he should be the starting left winger. Earlier this season, Barnes had scored three goals, but he appeared frustrated and lacked confidence in this match, unable to get past Malo Gusto and missing chances to make a difference.
Barnes’ afternoon ended prematurely when Howe substituted him in the 68th minute.
Newcastle’s winger situation continues to be a challenge for Howe. At the end of last season, it was evident that the team needed a new right winger to complement Gordon’s creativity on the left. However, no new winger was brought in, leading to a lack of offensive options. Barnes’s poor performance, along with Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy’s struggles on the right, highlighted this issue.
With only four senior wingers available—Gordon being top class, while Barnes remains inconsistent and Almiron and Murphy fall short of the necessary level—this remains a significant concern for the team. Addressing this issue in the January transfer window is crucial, as Sunday’s match demonstrated the team’s severe lack of quality when Gordon is sidelined.
