Alan Shearer on Newcastle - "I hope I'm wrong, but I just get the feeling..."

Alan Shearer feels 'something doesn't look right' at Newcastle United, fearing something may be up behind the scenes.

Our former No.9 feels we were 'second best' when it was 11 vs 11 against Southampton and described our display against Bournemouth as "pretty awful" aside from a bright opening 10 minutes and good spell in the second half after Howe made changes.

Shearer is concerned by the body language, lack of spark or energy, questioning why we look a shadow of the all-action side Eddie Howe demands when we're so early into the new season.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, he said: 'Newcastle were lucky...I don't know,  I hope I'm wrong, but I just get the feeling as if there's, something doesn't look right, you know? I don't get the feeling that it's all perfect at the football club.

'Last week, there was lack in energy, there was lack in a spark. Even when it was 11 v 11, but it was a great result against Southampton. But even, even 11 v 11, they were second best. So I was thinking they've had a week to work on things but then today, apart from the first 10 minutes in the first half, I thought they were pretty awful. I didn't like what I was seeing.

'The body language was really poor from a lot of the players. Then he [Eddie Howe] made changes and for 10 or 15 minutes in the second half, they were the better team, they got the goal. But I expect a lot more from [them]. Eddie is always about the energy and the pressure and everything, I didn't see any of that.'

It has been a turbulent summer and poor transfer window so far. Not only have we had no signings that improve our best 11, we've had the Dan Ashworth saga (leading to the late appointment of Paul Mitchell), a chaotic end to June's PSR deadline, Amanda Staveley's exit and uncertainty around Howe's future, with the delegation of power questioned as Mitchell's arrival was met with strong England links.

Thankfully, we're still unbeaten after four points from a possible six over our opening two games, but it feels like a huge week for the club - both on and off the pitch.