Putting out the XI he did means McClaren must make this list as a "villain", simply because he gave the Magpies very little opportunity to ever get a foothold in the game. A back four of Gael Bigirimana, Lubomir Satka, Shane Ferguson and Rolando Aarons was never likely to be able to deal with a set-piece bombardment - particularly seeing as the first-choice defence hasn't been able to over the last few years either - and so it proved. Yes McClaren was protecting his senior defenders - Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini - from picking up injuries on the 4G plastic pitch, but that still did not justify playing both Jamaal Lascelles and Mike Williamson. Lascelles and Williamson may have struggled in the opening three pre-season matches, but they are actually defenders - and therefore should have played. It was simply poor management from McClaren to allow that back four to play together, even if this was a "meaningless" friendly.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
