Newcastle United endured another painful afternoon in the Tyne–Wear derby, and the fallout has been loud, emotional, and unavoidable. A flat 1–0 defeat to Sunderland did more than cost three points.
It reopened familiar wounds and raised serious questions about performances, selection, and direction. Few voices carried more weight after the final whistle than Alan Shearer’s, and the club legend did not hold back.
He described Newcastle’s display as lifeless and unacceptable, calling it “pathetic” given the magnitude of the occasion. For a derby that should ignite passion, fight, and urgency, Newcastle delivered the opposite.
Shearer’s frustration was not only aimed at the collective. Eddie Howe’s team selection also came under fire, with Anthony Elanga singled out for criticism.
The Swedish winger, signed for a significant fee in the summer, struggled badly and looked short of confidence, impact, and purpose. In a match that demanded bravery and intensity, Elanga failed to impose himself, leaving Newcastle short on the flanks and predictable in attack.
Elanga’s inclusion raised eyebrows even before kick-off. It was only his seventh start of the season, and his lack of rhythm showed. His overall campaign has been disappointing, with just one assist from 16 Premier League appearances.
That return is a sharp drop from his final season at Nottingham Forest, where he produced goals and assists regularly and earned praise as a special talent. Since his move to Tyneside, that spark has faded, and the derby performance felt like a low point.
Against Sunderland, Elanga offered very little. He registered no shots, no successful dribbles, and no meaningful delivery into the box. For a winger expected to stretch play and create danger, his numbers told a worrying story.
The decision to start him in such a high-pressure fixture now looks baffling, especially when compared to the impact made by Jacob Murphy after coming off the bench.
Murphy, despite playing fewer minutes, brought more energy, directness, and aggression. He pressed harder, won duels, and at least attempted to move Newcastle forward. The contrast between the two players was stark and only added to the sense that Howe got this call wrong on the day.
Below is a simple comparison of how both players performed in the derby, which highlights why the criticism has been so strong.
| Stat Category | Anthony Elanga | Jacob Murphy |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 59 | 31 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 0 | 0 |
| Touches | 27 | 24 |
| Accurate Passes | 13/19 (68%) | 11/15 (73%) |
| Key Passes | 0 | 1 |
| Successful Dribbles | 0/2 | 1/1 |
| Duels Won | 0/4 | 2/3 |
Even in a limited cameo, Murphy showed more fight. He may not always be spectacular, but he has built a reputation for stepping up in big moments and contributing when the team needs urgency.
That reliability makes Elanga’s continued selection harder to justify, especially when Newcastle are crying out for width with purpose.
However, Murphy may not be the only answer. Newcastle’s recruitment strategy has also focused on the future, and one name quietly gaining attention is Antonio Cordero.
The 19-year-old winger arrived this summer after his contract expired at Malaga, a move that flew under the radar but was considered a coup behind the scenes. Newcastle moved quickly to secure his signature ahead of European giants, a clear sign of how highly he is rated.
Cordero’s numbers in Spain suggest real potential. Across his time with Malaga, he produced seven goals and nine assists from wide areas, playing a key role in their push toward promotion.
His pace, work rate, and willingness to take on defenders have drawn comparisons to players like Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy, both of whom thrive on direct running and intensity.
Here is a snapshot of Cordero’s recent profile compared to Elanga’s current output this season.
| Player | Age | Goals (Recent Season) | Assists (Recent Season) | Playing Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Elanga | 23 | 0 | 1 | Direct winger |
| Antonio Cordero | 19 | 7 | 9 | High-energy, direct |
| Jacob Murphy | 30 | 2 | 1 | Hard-working winger |
Cordero’s current loan spell in Belgium has not yet caught fire, with limited minutes and no goal contributions so far. Still, young players often need time to settle, and Eddie Howe has a strong record of developing youth when given the chance. Lewis Miley’s rapid rise is proof that age is not a barrier if the talent and mentality are right.
For Elanga, time is starting to work against him. While he is still young and capable of turning things around, patience is wearing thin. Performances like the one against Sunderland do not just hurt results, they damage trust. In a squad fighting for consistency and identity, passengers cannot be afforded.
Eddie Howe now faces a clear choice. Persist with a struggling senior player in the hope that confidence returns, or take a braver step by rewarding effort, energy, and potential. With fixtures piling up and pressure mounting, the next decisions could define both Elanga’s future at Newcastle and Howe’s own standing at St James’ Park.
