Kieran Trippier: Newcastle deserve the boos - but we haven’t given up on Eddie Howe

Kieran Trippier will leave Newcastle United at the end of the season, but the veteran defender isn't going quietly.

After the dismal display against Bournemouth on Saturday, Keiran Trippier was the one who faced the cameras and fronted up to the negativity.

Trippier said that he will take the criticism, and at one point seemed to stop himself from calling out his teammates.

It seems that after a few days to reflect, the 35-year-old still hasn't calmed down as he's been speaking to Sky Sports' Keith Downie and has admitted that the players deserve all the stick they're getting.

Kieran Trippier put the onus on players

Newcastle's players have been booed off the pitch in their last few games for simply not being good enough and continuing a run of defeats.

In response to this criticism, Trippier told Sky Sports’ Keith Downie that he understands the fans' frustrations, but denied claims that his teammates have given up. 

“We know it’s been a rough time for us recently. But it’s my responsibility as a senior player to try take the criticism away from the younger players. The manager has given us clear game plans but it’s up to us to start executing it. We need to get wins - and fast.

“As players you can’t think like that (whoever will be here next season). Whatever happens at the end of the season happens, but I’m not thinking like that. Players should not be thinking like that, things will take care of themselves if players leave.

“I’m not seeing that amongst my teammates, what I see is a group low in confidence maybe. But what an opportunity to go to Arsenal and win.

”Yeah it hurts. We know we aren’t putting in the performances that the fans demand. We hear the boos, we deserve them. Nine defeats at home is unacceptable. All I can say is there’s five games left and we need to start winning.”

Our players need to listen to Trippier

We're sure none of this will come as a surprise to his teammates when they read it, as we imagine he's told them this in no uncertain terms behind the scenes, too.

What matters now is that those players who have gone missing of late listen to what he's saying and act on it. 

We're almost ready to give them a free hit on Saturday as nobody is really expecting us to win at the Emirates, but Arsenal aren't exactly firing on all cylinders right now, so in truth, this is a great time to play them, and that's how the players should be looking at it.