Dan Burn: The boos won’t help Newcastle or our new signings

Dan Burn has admitted the growing frustration at St James’ Park is making life more difficult for Newcastle United, warning that boos can have an impact on new signing still adjusting to life on Tyneside.

The 34-year-old was speaking to the club's official media channel after Monday night’s 1-0 defeat to Everton, which featured boos at half-time and full-time following such a pitiful display. 

Burn admits boos are affecting Newcastle players

Burn understands why supporters are becoming increasingly frustrated, having spent years watching Newcastle himself in his younger years.

However, he fears the boos will only make life more difficult for the current squad, particularly those who are young, inexperienced and new to the club.

“I understand the frustration. I’ve been a season ticket holder and I understand what to expect from a Newcastle team, but it doesn’t make it easier to play here when you’ve got that.

“There are lads who’ve probably not experienced that before. You can feel that little bit of nervous energy and I think that transmits onto the field.”

It is a revealing admission from one of the senior figures in the dressing room, who knows what it's like to be on the other side of the hoardings as a former season ticket holder.

Burn is not questioning the right of fans to voice their displeasure, but his comments underline how the atmosphere can become another challenge for players who are already struggling for confidence or still settling in.

Boos highlight wider issue at Newcastle?

I don’t think the boos at St James’ Park are necessarily aimed solely at Jaissle, the players or the latest poor performance. There is a much wider frustration building among Newcastle supporters, and it goes beyond what has happened over the course of one or two matches.

There is a growing feeling that the team has gone backwards over the past 12 months. Performances have regressed, results have become increasingly inconsistent and supporters are understandably concerned about the direction the club is heading.

The boos at full-time are perhaps the most obvious way for fans to make those feelings known. They are not necessarily calling for one individual to be held responsible, but expressing their disappointment with what they believe has been a wider decline.

There appears to be a disconnect developing between the manager, the players and the supporters, with frustration growing on all sides. And, like anything in football, that unrest will only settle if results on the pitch improve.