Micah Richards has argued that Newcastle United made a major error in their draw with Luton yesterday.
Newcastle were quite awful defensively against the newly promoted team, but Richards has uncovered something that he believes should be a major issue for Newcastle supporters.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Richards was surprised that no one was assisting Dan Burn out defensively despite him being beaten repeatedly down the left side.
Richards says Newcastle were ‘not good enough’ vs Luton
It was a performance that demonstrated a lot of heart and fight to earn a point after falling behind 4-2 in the second half, but it will give Eddie Howe something to ponder about moving forward.
Burn was often outpaced by Chiedozie Ogbene as Luton spotted a major hole in Newcastle’s defence and exploited it effectively.
It wasn’t so much Burn that Richards struggled with during the game, but rather the lack of assistance from several Newcastle players, as the left-back was left ‘alone’ several times, causing serious problems for the squad.
In that regard, Newcastle are sorely missing Joelinton, who would frequently cover for Burn down the left, but his long-term injury puts the squad in a difficult situation.
On the broadcast, Richards stated, “He had a rough time. I chose him because, while we all know he isn’t the fastest, he could use some help from his wingers.
“He gets into situations where you either become tight or drop off; he doesn’t either, but he does require some assistance. It happened several times throughout the game.
“To be honest, Burn has done exceptionally well, but in today’s game, he was completely isolated. It’s difficult to be inside there. It’s simply not good enough.
Newcastle fans can take one positive from a disappointing afternoon
Burn had a fantastic game against Fulham a week ago and against Villa on Tuesday, at least until Leon Bailey came on, but it’s crucial to understand his strengths and flaws.
Newcastle were clearly suffering against Luton and sought to influence the game by putting on Tino Livramento, which they did in the 64th minute.
Burn will continue to play a vital role in this team, but the left-back position should be Livramento’s to lose given his performance in his first-team appearances.
The former Southampton player has proven to be a quality player on both the defensive and attacking ends, and he gives Newcastle so much more in games like these.
