Newcastle United is sleepwalking AGAIN as Saudi takeover talk stalls and Premier League reality bites

Manchester City toyed with Steve Bruce’s side and could surely have wracked up a cricket score, should they have willed it to be so.

And sadly, that’s the reality of Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United – no plan, no direction, no heart, no ambition. The 13-year hope vacuum continues to suck the life out of fans, matchday by matchday.

But we are told of bright new beginnings on the horizon – a set of Saudi knights on white horses ready to take the battle to those at the top of the English, and European game. Last night proved this team, as well as the club that crumbles around it, will need a lot more love and affection than some in warmer climes may well have realised.

Here our fan panel pick through the bones of what was another stark reality check for the Magpies.

Neil Mitchell – @geordiedentist

Much to say on that one?

“Awful game. Appalling effort. Takeover needed asap.

“Their substitute made it 5-0 – Aye, that multi million pound one. That's the gap we have to bridge.”

Steve Hastie – @oldheatonian

Fair to say you were far from impressed with that, Steve?

"As good as City appeared, we were woeful. How can a bunch of players show no collective heart. Call themselves professionals. Some in that team are conning a living.”

This club is crying out for a takeover, isn’t it?

“Very quickly. The stagnation is helping nobody. And that’s without going into the whole geopolitical mess that we are wrapped up in. When it comes to that, the truth, as usual, probably lies somewhere in the middle.”

Graeme Bell – @GraemeBell_NUFC

Did Steve Bruce get his tactics wrong against Man City… again?

“Newcastle had the chance to go out and play with a bit of freedom, no pressure now that Premier League safety assured. The reality was anything but, the worst part of all is that NUFC did not learn from the meeting 10 days ago.”

Steve Bruce explains his tactical switch here.

What went wrong?

“Gave the ball away far too many times, defensive errors that were too many to keep count of. Appalling from start to finish, yes City are a good side, NUFC made them look like they are invincible.

Did United miss their key players, as Bruce said?

"Lascelles was a huge miss, perhaps a bigger miss than ASM in a way. All in all just absolutely terrible and one to forget.”

Toon For Change fan group – @ToonForChange

Time for change at Newcastle United?

“We wrote the game off before a ball was kicked. It shows where we are as a club under Mike Ashley . We're just making up the numbers. The club is sleepwalking, again.

“Both teams playing without pressure but one team thrived and the other crumbled. Men against boys at times. It has shown the gulf in class between the two clubs. 14 weeks and counting for a decision from the Premier League for our new dawn.”