OPINION
Ask any Newcastle United fan what they want this season, and the majority of them would answer with Premier League survival.
However, that prospect seems a distant reality for the Magpies at the moment, as they currently sit at the bottom of the table on just two points.
Relegation seems like a very real possibility at the moment, and there is no doubt that Rafa Benitez needs to address some underlying issues within his team in order to get them firing again.
One way that could help them onto the road to success is by heeding the advice of John Barnes.
Talking to the Chronicle, he said: “The lack of harmony at Newcastle means they are where they are. They have got a very good manager, I think the players are good enough to keep them where they are but I think they really need to get the harmony right and that is what has been letting them down.
“I think if you look at the players they have, they are good enough to be doing better than what they are. But that is the harmony I am talking about when everybody is pulling in the same direction.
“But the lack of harmony is harming the whole environment. They have good enough players to be in a better position.”
He is right – although Newcastle have the players who have the ability to keep them up, the harmony amongst everyone is seriously hampering their chances of league success.
They do not seem to be playing as a team, and this is actually incredibly worrying.
The faster they address the lack of unity within the side, the faster they will get results – but until then, they will remain at the bottom of the league.
Yes, United have been extremely unlucky with the run of games that they have had – but seeming as they do not face any of the top six until Boxing Day, there are certainly no excuses.
Addressing the harmony within the team is of the utmost importance for the manager, and once he does, then Newcastle’s luck will turn around in the blink of an eye.
Over to you, Rafa.
