Newcastle fans slam ‘terrible’ player who completed just five passes vs Barcelona
Newcastle United supporters made their feelings known as their team missed multiple key chances in a defeat to Barcelona.
Anthony Elanga was Newcastle’s brightest player, bursting in behind the backline on more than one occasion, but those missed opportunities were punished by Marcus Rashford.
The Man United loanee scored an incredible brace at St James’ Park on Thursday, 18 September, and even after a 90th-minute goal from Anthony Gordon, all three points returned to Spain.
Ally McCoist was baffled by the decision to substitute Elanga, and had the former Nottingham Forest man stayed on the pitch, it could have been a very different outcome in the closing stages.
Newcastle supporters slate Harvey Barnes’ performance
One player who did not catch the eye of the fans for a positive reason, however, was former Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes, who was guilty of missing some key chances for the Magpies.
Clearly, supporters could not understand the decision to keep the player on the pitch following the half-time break, and it was too long before Howe also saw that he needed replacing.
- @AdewumiRydone: “Harvey Barnes is very bad.”
- @HerculesMunesu: “Barnes and Gordon putting on a stinker.”
- @benadamsss5: “Barnes is absolutely terrible.”
Many were expecting Nick Woltemade to start against Barcelona, and so when he appeared on the bench, Howe caught a lot of flak from the fanbase. Unfortunately, they might have been right.
Barnes’ performance against Barcelona in numbers
In 63 minutes, Barnes completed just five of his eight attempted passes, created zero chances, failed to convert either of his two shots on target, missed a big chance, and failed to deliver a single cross [FotMob].
He had the fewest touches of any player who started the game, while simultaneously creating the highest expected goals (xG) due to the two big chances that he saw thwarted by Joan Garcia.
Last season, the winger notched nine goals and four assists, becoming one of the supporters’ most-liked players, but those same fans are growing restless with the performances this term.
He has yet to record a goal contribution, and while that could be a result of Alexander Isak joining Liverpool this summer, it is no excuse for such bad displays in front of goal.