But we at NU-Mad believe United should change the MANAGER ... not the players! The man looked at though he was going to burst into tears on Saturday.
The team were utter rubbish, but you look at McClaren and the man is well out of his depth in the Premier League.
Tactics? Can you tell me what system we actually play?
And the major concern is how the players die late in games, because they are not fit enough!
Every game we die around the 70th minute, and that is the biggest worry.
Leicester battled on for 90 minutes, Newcastle were dead on their feet with 20 minutes to go.
Mick Quinn ...
One thing you should never be able to question at a football club is the desire and application of the players - yet that is something that could certainly be levelled at Newcastle United over the weekend.
That performance against Leicester City was beyond unacceptable and, on the evidence of Saturday, it is going to take half-a-dozen committed players arriving in January to change that.
The lack of effort the players seemed to put in was just woeful - and on their home patch as well. There was no urgency or determination out on the field, particularly in the second-half, and that is a serious concern for me.
Alan Shearer tore into the Magpies on Match of the Day and you can see exactly why. I agree with everything he said, and then some.
The players just looked like they did not care.
It pains me to say that as a former professional footballer myself, but they really didn’t.
I’m starting to sound like the Victor Meldrew of The Chronicle because it seems like I keep moaning in this column every week but that’s because it is so frustrating and painful to watch.
Throughout my career I was always Mr Positive but I just cannot find anything encouraging about that display on Saturday. I’ve tried to, I really have, but I just can’t.
There were more than 50,000 fans at St James’ Park on Saturday and they paid to watch that pathetic attempt at a performance.
It’s not the result necessarily that was so frustrating - although that is obviously alarming - it was the complete lack of effort.
The whole team put in a weak and pathetic performance against the Foxes, and got what they deserved in the end result.
If I go through some of that team and how they played on Saturday - and over a prolonged period in all honesty - it just deeply, deeply concerns me.
Vurnon Anita is just not good enough, Fabricio Coloccini blows hot and then horrendously cold, Cheick Tiote doesn’t look interested at times, while Daryl Janmaat in recent weeks has, for me, looked like a player who just doesn’t want to be there.
I could go on and on through just about the whole squad, but one player whose performances have concerned me as well is Aleksandar Mitrovic.
He just looks lethargic and slow at the moment; he should be busting a gut to get involved in play and he just hasn’t been. Mitrovic should be scoring the goals to push Newcastle up the table but instead he is strolling around the pitch getting frustrated at himself and everyone else.
For me, Newcastle need to buy six players in January who actually want to give their all for shirt.
If a player isn’t doing that, then they need to go and someone who is willing to die for the cause needs to be brought to Tyneside instead.
Some of the players’ attitude on Saturday absolutely stunk.
They are professional footballers playing for a club with a proud history, in one of the best stadiums in the world and in front of some of the most incredible fans - and yet they play like that?
It is criminal, just criminal.
There was a five-letter word trending on Twitter in Newcastle on Saturday evening mentioned by Shearer on the BBC that I cannot repeat in this column for obvious reasons, but if I could then it would be my summation of the Magpies’ performance against Leicester.
That word perfectly sums up how they played.
It is unacceptable and January cannot come quick enough because, unless players are brought in who are going to die for that shirt, Newcastle are in massive trouble.
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 LEICESTER CITY 3
21. Rob Elliot
22. Daryl Janmaat
18. Chancel Mbemba
2. Fabricio Coloccini
3. Paul Dummett
7. Moussa Sissoko
8. Vurnon Anita
24. Cheick Tiote 20'
5. Georginio Wijnaldum
45. Aleksandar Mitrovic 62'
17. Ayoze Perez 81'
Subs
9. Papiss Cisse 62'
10. Siem de Jong 81'
11. Yoan Gouffran
15. Jamaal Lascelles
20. Florian Thauvin 20'
41. Freddie Woodman
42. Jamie Sterry
Jamie Vardy scored for the 10th game in a row to equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's Barclays Premier League record and maintain Leicester's remarkable challenge at the top of the table.
The Foxes forward shook off pre-match concerns over a hip injury and blasted home in first-half stoppage time to move level with ex-Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy's streak of scoring in consecutive fixtures.
Leonardo Ulloa laid on the record-equalling effort before heading home himself, and substitute Shinji Okazaki added another as Leicester's incredible season continued in a 3-0 success over Newcastle at St James' Park.
It meant Claudio Ranieri's men moved above lunchtime leaders Manchester United and set up a showdown between the two next week when Vardy can eclipse Van Nistelrooy's record against the Dutchman's old employers.
Any concerns over the hip problem that forced Vardy to miss England's friendlies were allayed in the opening five minutes when Chancel Mbemba clattered into his side and the Leicester forward bounced straight back up.
From the resulting corner he was given his first sight of goal, but Aleksandar Mitrovic hurled himself in front of the effort to stop it going any further.
Riyad Mahrez's trickery was causing the hosts issues and he then broke to the Newcastle byline before pulling back for Ulloa, whose try was blocked by Vurnon Anita before the ball span away from Vardy.
After Danny Simpson made a last-ditch intervention to thwart Mitrovic, Mahrez skipped beyond Vurnon Anita and released Vardy six yards out. Goalkeeper Rob Elliot's left foot denied the striker then, but the moment everyone was expecting soon arrived.
France international Moussa Sissoko, playing just eight days after being in the Stade de France when the terror attacks hit Paris, lost the ball inside Leicester's half and it found its way to Vardy. He rolled a pass into Ulloa and drifted off the flank as he stayed onside and collected the return ball, knocked it past Sissoko and rifled inside Elliot's near post for an historic goal.
It was his 13th of the campaign and a strike which earned him a warm round of applause from the home faithful as he walked off at the break, a reception which came in contrast to the one afforded those in black and white.
A frustrating first half for Mitrovic extended after the interval when he failed to connect with Sissoko's pull across the six-yard box despite getting between both Foxes centre-backs.
However, the Magpies midfield continued to leave huge swathes of space for Mahrez and Vardy to operate in, the two combining again for the latter to lash against the crossbar after brushing off Mbemba.
The warning was not heeded and a second Leicester goal soon followed when Mahrez was given time to stand up a cross to the back post, where an unmarked Ulloa planted a header beyond Elliot.
It triggered more boos from the home faithful, who might have been appeased had Georginio Wijnaldum's header found its way past Danny Drinkwater and Kasper Schmeichel on the line.
They were saved more Vardy-inflicted woe when the England international was replaced with 13 minutes to go, but there was still time for Leicester to record a third goal.
Simpson's effort from Marc Albrighton's pass was saved by Elliot and although Okazaki could not force a header home at first, he eventually rammed it over the line to round off a fine afternoon for the high-flying Foxes.
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NEWCASTLE UNITED
Fri 10th July
Gateshead FC 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (Cisse pen)
(First half): Darlow, Janmaat, Haidara, Lascelles, Williamson, Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Cisse, Sissoko, De Jong. (Second half): Woodman, Bigirimana, Satka, Good, Ferguson, Tiote, Obertan, Aarons, Perez, Armstrong, Riviere.
Tue 14th July
Club Atlas (MEX) 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Sissoko)
Krul (Darlow 46); Janmaat (Bigirimana 72), Williamson, Lascelles, Haidara (Ferguson 72); Anita, Colback; Sissoko (Obertan 72), de Jong (Perez 72), Gouffran (Aarons 72); Cisse (Armstrong 72).
Sat 18th July
Sacramento Republic FC (USA) 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (og)
Krul (Woodman 46), Janmaat, Williamson, Lascelles (Taylor 46), Haïdara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Obertan (Aarons 69), de Jong (Perez 69), Cissé (Wijnaldum 69).
Tue 21st July
Portland Timbers (USA) 4 Newcastle Utd 3 (Wijnaldum, Aarons 2)
Darlow (Woodman 46), Bigirimana, Satka, Ferguson, Aarons; Abeid (Anita 65), Wijnaldum (Janmaat 46), Gouffran (De Jong 76), Sissoko (Obertan 46), Ayoze, Cisse (Armstrong 46).
Sun 26th July
Sheffield United 2 Newcastle Utd 2 (Wijnaldum, de Jong)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Taylor (Lascelles 69), Haïdara, Anita (Obertan 59), Colback, Sissoko (Abeid 80), Wijnaldum (De Jong 73), Perez (Aarons 45), Cissé (Armstrong 80)
Wed 29th July
York City 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Perez)
Darlow (Elliot HT); Bigirimana, Lascelles, Satka, Ferguson; Abeid, Gouffran; Aarons (Kemen 59), De Jong, Perez; Mitrovic (Suddick 70)
Sat 1st August
Newcastle Utd 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1
Krul, Janmaat (Mbemba 62), Williamson, Taylor, Haïdara, Anita (De Jong 75), Colback, Sissoko (Perez 81), Obertan (Aarons 62), Wijnaldum, Cissé (Mitrovic 62).
Sunday August 9
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Cisse, Wijnaldum)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Colback, Anita (Tiote, 67); Sissoko, Wijnaldum (De Jong, 81), Obertan; Cisse (Mitrovic, 75). Subs not used: Darlow, Taylor, Aarons, Perez.
Saturday August 15
SWANSEA CITY 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko (45' Taylor), Wijnaldum, Obertan (82' Mitrovic), Cisse (54' Aarons). Subs: Williamson, Perez, Tiote, Darlow
Saturday August 22
MANCHESTER UTD 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Mbemba, Taylor, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Perez (78' Tiote), Wijnaldum, Obertan (69' Thauvin), Mitrovic (88' Cisse).
Subs: Williamson, de Jong, Aarons, Darlow
Tuesday August 26
NEWCASTLE UTD 4 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 (Thauvin, Janmaat, de Jong, Williamson
Darlow, Janmaat, Lascelles, Williamson, Haidara (78' Toney), Tiote, Gouffran, Aarons, de Jong, Thauvin (65' Mitrovic), Perez (72' Colback).
Subs: Dummett, Wijnaldum, Mbemba, Elliot.
Saturday August 29
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (72' Perez), Sissoko (78' Cisse), Wijnaldum, Thauvin (87' de Jong), Mitrovic
Subs: Obertan, Tiote, Darlow, Taylor
Monday September 14
WEST HAM UTD 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (60' de Jong), Colback, Sissoko, Wijnaldum (79' Aarons), Thauvin (60' Perez), Cisse Subs: Gouffran, Obertan, Lascelles, Darlow
Saturday September 19
NEWCASTLE UTD 1 WATFORD 2
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara (80' Aarons), Wijnaldum, Colback, Thauvin (88' Obertan), Sissoko, Perez, Cisse (45' de Jong)
Subs: Williamson, Anita, Lascelles, Elliot
Wednesday September 23
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 SHEFF WED 1 (League Cup)
Krul, Janmaat (45' Mbabu), Lascelles, Williamson, Mbemba, Anita, Wijnaldum, Thauvin (45' Perez), Sissoko, Obertan (71' Toney), de Jong
Subs: Coloccini, Gouffran, Elliot, Barlaser
Saturday September 26
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 2 (Perez, Wijnaldum)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Mbabu, Sissoko (90+2' de Jong), Colback (54' Obertan), Anita, Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic (85' Toney)
Subs: Williamson, Lascelles, Thauvin, Elliot
Saturday October 3
MANCHESTER CITY 6 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Mitrovic)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Mbabu (53' Lascelles), Sissoko (66' Tiote), Anita, Gouffran (66' Thauvin), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic, Perez
Subs: Williamson, Cisse, de Jong, Elliot
Sunday October 18
NEWCASTLE UTD 6 NORWICH 2 (Wijnaldum 4, Perez, Mitrovic)
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett (65' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote (45' Anita), Colback, Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic (88' Cisse)
Subs: de Jong, Lascelles, Thauvin, Woodman
Sunday October 25
SUNDERLAND 3 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett (78' Thauvin), Sissoko, Tiote (45' Lascelles), Colback (49' Anita), Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Cisse, de Jong, Haidara, Woodman
Saturday October 31
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 STOKE CITY 0
Elliot, Janmaat (83' Lascelles), Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote (71' de Jong), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic, Perez
Subs: Cisse, Gouffran, Haidara, Thauvin, Woodman
Saturday November 7
BOURNEMOUTH 0 NEWCASTLE UTD (Perez)
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (90+3' Mbabu), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic (63' Cisse), Perez (77' Thauvin)
Subs: de Jong, Gouffran, Lascelles, Woodman
Saturday November 21
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 LEICESTER CITY 3
Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote (20' Thauvin), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic (62' Cisse), Perez (81' de Jong)
Subs: Gouffran, Lascelles, Woodman, Sterry
Saturday November 28
15:00 Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
Sunday December 6
16:00 Newcastle United v Liverpool
Sunday December 14
16:00 Tottenham v Newcastle United
Saturday December 19
17:30 Newcastle United v Aston Villa
Saturday December 26
17:30 Newcastle United v Everton
Monday December 28
15:00 W Brom v Newcastle United