A number of Newcastle United supporters have raged over the latest suggestion from former Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Peter Crouch that the toxic atmosphere around the club makes them favourites for relegation.
It has been a very turbulent period for the Magpies on and off the field over the last few months, with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Wolves meaning they have now won just two of their last 17 matches.
While Newcastle have also lost eight of their last 11 Premier League games which sees them hovering perilously close to the drop zone just three points clear of Fulham.
Unsurprisingly that run of form has seen Steve Bruce come under intense scrutiny, but the Magpies’ hierarchy reportedly have no intentions of making a change in the managerial department.
It has been further reported that could change but only if Mike Ashley intervenes, but that is thought unlikely with him viewing the club as a lower priority than other business interests at the moment.
There have been other issues that have impacted the Magpies’ form with Bruce having only been able to add Joe Willock to his squad in January. While injuries to the likes of Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron have only made matters more challenging.
Crouch, writing in his latest Mail Online column, suggested that he believes those injury issues and the toxic atmosphere around the club from supporters means that the Magpies are now favourites for the drop this season.
He wrote: “Newcastle, on the other hand, are sinking. It pains me to say because I am a fan of Bruce — I have never hidden that — but the toxicity around them, together with crippled confidence and big injuries, is dragging them down.
“We are all looking forward to seeing fans back inside stadiums but I’d argue that Newcastle are better off playing behind closed doors for as long as possible, as the discontent is so apparent.
“It isn’t helpful. I love them as a club but I’d now have them as favourites for the last relegation place.”
Newcastle fans fume over Crouch’s verdict
Many Newcastle fans were left frustrated that Crouch has suggested that their frustration with performances and Bruce’s management has caused them to be in their current predicament. With many supporters feeling that they have had little influence on things considering they have not even been at St James’ park all season.
