Macdonald urges Magpies to go for silverware

Newcastle legend Malcolm Macdonald has urged his former club to target cup glory to provide Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer with the perfect send-off.

United have not won a single trophy since 1969 and last lifted a domestic prize 14 years earlier when the FA Cup came to St James’ Park for the final time.

Qualification for the Champions League has become the main focus, not just on Tyneside but in the upper reaches of the Premiership in recent years, but Macdonald believes a piece of silverware next season would allow both Robson and Shearer to retire at the end of next season with something to show for their efforts.

The Magpies slipped out of the Carling Cup to First Division West Brom in the third round last season and, despite an excellent win at Southampton in the FA Cup, bowed out at Liverpool in the fourth round.

Their run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup rekindled hopes of glory until Marseille got in the way, and the hunger remains as keen as ever.

“If they want to change that – if Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer want to go out as winners – then they must hit the jackpot in the FA Cup or Carling Cup,” said Macdonald.

“They have to be their prime targets because that’s where they have the best chance of success.

“Bobby has to forget putting out an under-strength side in the League Cup as he did against West Brom at home when he lost. Newcastle can’t afford to play that game as others can.

“When you look at the Carling Cup in the season just ended, it illustrates the opportunity Newcastle lost. Middlesbrough versus Bolton was hardly a glamour final between two huge clubs, was it? And Millwall reached the FA Cup final.

“All that puts not just Newcastle, but the whole of the top half of the Premiership to shame.

“Not winning a trophy has hung like an albatross round United’s neck for years. There have been far too many promises. I know. I was here, remember. Now the spell has to be broken and Robson and Shearer can go out as heroes.”

To do that, however, Macdonald believes Robson must once again invest this summer and invest well to ensure that there is enough quality in the squad to mount a serious bid for honours after fourth, third and fifth-place finishes in the league in the last three seasons.

“They have to aim for the championship even though the odds are heavily stacked against them,” argued Macdonald.

“And if they don’t want to lose any more ground on Arsenal, never mind challenge, that means buying right now, not on the cheap but quality players - and they cost.

“Newcastle have to gauge the players they sign against those Arsenal already have. Are they as good? Because rank and file won’t get you up the quality ladder.

“United dropped from third to fifth last season but, just as importantly, reaped 13 points less – 56 points to 69. That’s a shocking indictment.

“The fans became disillusioned, not only because Champions League football was lost, but because the team weren’t playing attractive football as they had been.

“The Geordies have always demanded to be entertained if they weren’t to win anything.”

Macdonald also believes that United need to look closer at the injury problems which have sidelined key players for long periods and see if there is any thing they can do to keep them fit.

“They have big-time players like Jonathan Woodgate, Craig Bellamy and Kieron Dyer who are always injured, and that’s a massive problem,” he told the Evening Chronicle.

“That must be looked in to – everything from the medical side to the warm-up exercises undertaken or not undertaken.

“It’s going to be a tough ride next term and whether or not it’s successful will depend to a great extent on what is done in the next few months.”