Another year, another disappointment in FA cup for Newcastle United. Whilst Newcastle fans have become accustomed to disappointment in cup competitions under the Mike Ashley regime, this time it feels much more pivotal for the road ahead.
With Rafa Benitez having spoken of his ‘private conversation’ with Mike Ashley ahead of the visit of Watford to St. James’ Park, hope was in the air ahead of a potential deal for Jordan Lukaku and a very winnable game against a Watford side Newcastle had beaten previously this season. Once more, however, the dominos within a line of mismanagement that is Newcastle under Mike Ashley began to fall.
A tweet from Sky Sports’ Keith Downie confirmed before the game that Jordan Lukaku would not be joining the club on medical grounds – a massive blow with only days remaining in the January transfer window. A much needed left back – amongst a creative midfielder, winger and No. 10 on Rafa’s shopping list – was no longer coming in. This spoke of a club that really has no idea of what it’s doing. Lukaku, surely far down on Rafa’s preferred list of players for that position, had only recently returned from injury. Failing a medical should not have been surprising and frankly, should have been anticipated – if not expected.
Whilst a disappointment for Newcastle fans – albeit expected under the current owner – what transpired at St. James’ Park left very few fans in doubt that a pivotal moment had arrived. What was witnessed by 32,000 in attendance was a display of very little quality, effort, and an air of resignation about the importance of the FA Cup to the club. When Matt Ritchie was substituted in the second half – boos rang around the stadium. This unpopular substitution characterizes the clubs current plight – players have to be protected. An injury to Matt Ritchie would leave a gap in Rafa’s threadbare squad that would spell disaster, particularly at left-back.
Newcastle’s performance against Watford didn’t just look like a team lacking in confidence. It distinctly looked like a team beaten down multiple times. It looked like a team who knows that despite all the effort, doesn’t have the quality to compete. Rafa Benitez looks, and speaks, like a manager at the end of his tether. Newcastle United looks like a club destined for more hardship to come.
Mike Ashley’s absence from the match also speaks a deafening silence of how important the competition is. It’s a pity he wasn’t in attendance – it could have provided him with some foresight on how come May when Newcastle may well bite the relegation bullet, the opportunity to invest in a playing squad had passed and his investment was hurtling toward the Championship from the Premier League once more.
Groundhog Day occurred on Saturday 26th of January as the FA cup disappeared into the rearview mirror at St. James’ Park for another year. One can only hope Mike Ashley doesn’t realize it’s not summer yet and disappear into the shadows again. The magic of the FA cup may no longer grace the pitch of St. James’, but the message that arose from the torn up grass was one of arguably more importance: Investment is needed, and fast.