Newcastle Fans Rip into ‘Atrocious’ Star After Win vs Crystal Palace: ‘Saddest Excuse of a Footballer I’ve Ever Seen’

Newcastle United secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at St James' Park on January 4, 2026, in the Premier League, boosting their mid-table position to 7-5-7 with 26 points, level with Tottenham but ahead on goal difference. Crystal Palace, suffering their fifth straight loss, slipped to 7-6-6 and 27 points, intensifying pressure on manager Oliver Glasner.[1][2][3]

Bruno Guimarães opened the scoring in the 71st minute with a clinical finish assisted by Lewis Miley, followed by Malick Thiaw's close-range tap-in from a corner in the 78th minute, sealing the win. Nick Woltemade replaced Yoane Wissa around the same time, while Palace made late changes with Chadi Riad Uche and Jaden Drakes-Thomas entering. Newcastle's 4-3-3 formation, featuring Nick Pope in goal, Lewis Hall, Fabian Schär, Thiaw, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, and Guimarães, dominated possession and chances.[2][3][4]

Fan fury targeted one player deemed "atrocious" throughout the match. Supporters unleashed on social media, branding the star the "saddest excuse of a footballer I’ve ever seen" for a string of poor touches, misplaced passes, and defensive lapses that nearly cost Newcastle despite the clean sheet. "Absolutely woeful—how is he still on the pitch?" vented one fan, while another called it "the worst performance in a win I've witnessed." Pundits echoed the criticism, noting the player's lack of impact in key moments, with stats showing minimal chances created and high error rates.[1][2][4]

Despite the win, the outburst highlights growing frustration amid Newcastle's inconsistent season. Eddie Howe praised the goals but sidestepped individual critiques post-match. Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta posed threats but couldn't break through, as Nick Pope made crucial saves. The result keeps Newcastle in the European hunt, while Palace faces a relegation scrap.[3][5]

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