You are ‘not fit to wear the shirt’ as Newcastle fans explode vs Man City

Newcastle United supporters appear to be losing patience with Yoane Wissa after the striker’s disappointing cameo during the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.

Eddie Howe’s side started brightly at St James’ Park on Saturday, 7 March, and took the lead after 18 minutes when Harvey Barnes fired the hosts ahead, sending the home crowd into celebration. However, the momentum quickly shifted as Pep Guardiola’s side showed their quality and control.

Savinho equalised just before half-time to bring the visitors back into the contest. After the break, City turned the game firmly in their favour, with Omar Marmoush scoring twice to complete a dominant comeback and secure a 3-1 victory for the reigning champions, sending them through to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

With the cup exit confirmed, Newcastle must now quickly shift focus to a huge European challenge, as they prepare to face FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, 10 March. However, many supporters are already voicing concerns about who should lead the line in that crucial fixture, with several fans hoping Wissa is not handed the starting role.

Wissa struggles during substitute appearance

Wissa, who previously starred for Brentford FC, came on with around 30 minutes remaining after replacing William Osula. At that stage of the match, Newcastle were already chasing the game, and supporters were hoping the forward could provide some spark in attack.

Instead, the striker endured another frustrating outing. His brief appearance failed to make an impact, and his lack of influence on the game quickly drew criticism from the home crowd.

Many supporters took to social media to express their frustration, with some questioning whether he deserves to wear Newcastle’s famous number nine shirt. The criticism has intensified as Wissa has now gone eight appearances without registering either a goal or an assist for the Magpies.

The struggles in front of goal have not been limited to Wissa either. Fellow forward Nick Woltemade has also found it difficult to consistently deliver in attack, increasing pressure on Newcastle’s forward line during a difficult period for the team.

Concerning statistics highlight poor display

The numbers from Wissa’s substitute appearance further underline his lack of impact. During his 30 minutes on the pitch, the 29-year-old recorded just four touches of the ball and completed only two passes. He also lost three duels and committed two fouls, one of which resulted in a booking from the referee.

Additionally, he surrendered possession once and struggled to impose himself physically or technically against City’s defence. For many supporters, those statistics summed up what has been a disappointing spell for the forward since arriving on Tyneside.

Pressure growing ahead of the summer window

With performances continuing to fall short of expectations, the pressure is mounting on Howe to find a solution in attack. Newcastle’s difficulties in the transfer market have been widely discussed, and some supporters believe the club’s recruitment decisions have contributed to their current struggles.

Reports have suggested that Newcastle may already be looking at alternative striking options ahead of the summer transfer window. Former scout Mick Brown recently indicated that Howe could be planning to replace Wissa, a move that would likely be welcomed by sections of the fanbase after the striker’s latest performance.

As Newcastle prepare for their upcoming clash with Barcelona, the spotlight will once again be on Howe’s attacking choices—and whether Wissa will be given another opportunity to prove himself.