Newcastle United's 2024/25 season so far has been quite disappointing. While they were off to some quick points in the initial games, the Magpies club now struggles for points in the PL campaign. With their recent loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Eddie Howe's side finds itself in the 12th position, having been winless from the last 5 PL matchdays.
Veteran star's sloppy display against Chelsea might trigger a move away from Newcastle
While clearly, the clash against Chelsea ended up against Newcastle's favor, the fixture has indicated some key aspects on which the club needs to improve. Although so far this season, poor finishing upfront has been cited as the sole reason for them fending off points, the matchday proved the side needs major improvisations in their defense as well. In the fixture, the veteran duo, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, was much troubled by Chelsea's attack force, with the Toon stars looking much off to halt the opposition.
In particular, star center-back Fabian Schar, who has been one of the most consistent performers for Newcastle this season, recorded his worst display against the Blues. Being directly dribbled past by Pedro Neto in Chelsea's go-ahead goal buildup, apart from being unable to halt Cole Palmer, Schar looked terrible alongside Burn, who wasn't any good either.
Clearly, in an attempt to man-mark Chelsea's forward stars, the Magpies' defenders ended up giving plenty of space to Palmer, who exploited their defense completely. While certainly, as a result, the Tyneside club cost some crucial points, it seems that the disastrous performance from veteran star Schar could have serious repercussions on his Newcastle future.
Not to mention, the 32-year-old center-back's contract is set to expire next summer, and there have been speculations among the hierarchy members about whether to renew him or not. Given the fact that the club's star defenders, Sven Botman and Lascelles, would be back by the next summer in any case, chances could arise in Schar's exit. Moreover, although he had been delivering so far, the loss at such a critical stage in their season might aggravate the club's decision on his future.
Overall, the loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has raised major concerns for Newcastle United. Apart from the obvious ones, the club's star defender, Fabian Schar, faces uncertainties about his future, given the veteran's disastrous performance against Chelsea. While Newcastle fans would hope that situations improve in Schar's favor, it remains to be seen if the defender has a future away from St. James Park.