Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer did not pull any punches on Sunday. He watched Sunderland complete a famous league double over his beloved club at St James’ Park. Brian Brobbey scored a 90th-minute winner to seal a stunning comeback. Sunderland won 2-1 after Anthony Gordon gave Newcastle an early lead.
Shearer’s verdict cuts deep on Brian Brobbey and Newcastle’s £17m problem
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer made his frustration crystal clear. He called Brobbey the best player on the pitch for Sunderland. He pointed directly to the £17 million fee Sunderland paid Ajax for the striker. Shearer contrasted this sharply with the huge sums Newcastle spent on forwards in the summer.
Shearer refused to accept mid-week fatigue as an excuse. He dismissed the idea that a 7-2 thrashing by Barcelona earlier in the week left players too tired for a derby. He firmly said he did not buy it. Shearer described the second half as “pretty damning.” He accused Eddie Howe of getting his tactics wrong. Shearer warned that a long international break would bring only pain, anger, and serious questions for the manager. Howe himself accepted responsibility for the defeat. Shearer also named Brobbey in his Premier League Team of the Week. This was a small but pointed move that carried weight given the context of the goal.
“Brian Brobbey was the best player for Sunderland. £17million he cost, and you compare that to Newcastle’s recruitment in the summer and what they paid on forwards, and there lies the problem. That’s been a huge problem for Newcastle, the inconsistency.” (Via Chronicle).
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The 24-year-old Dutch international joined Sunderland from Ajax in September 2025. He cost £17 million and signed a contract until June 2029. The Netherlands squad has used him sparingly so far. However, his Premier League form makes a serious case for more minutes.
He has played 22 league matches this season and scored six goals. His non-penalty expected goals (npxG) per 90 minutes puts him in the top 92nd percentile of all Premier League players. His strengths include physicality, aggressive pressing, and hold-up play. Brobbey knows how to bully centre-backs and creates chances from limited service. His main weakness is volume. Six goals from 22 matches show a striker who contributes well but does not dominate the scoring charts. Yet, for £17 million, Sunderland found enormous value.
By comparison, Newcastle spent close to £125 million on Wissa and Woltemade. Meanwhile, Ramsey and Elanga have contributed just two goals between them. Their combined cost exceeded £90 million. Shearer’s argument focuses less on Brobbey’s brilliance and more on Newcastle’s structural failure. A summer without a sporting director or CEO led to frantic, expensive, and ineffective recruitment.
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Sunderland have now gone 11 consecutive Premier League Tyne-Wear derbies without defeat. This is the longest run in the fixture’s history. Newcastle’s problem runs much deeper than any single striker. The Brobbey comparison will sting the Magpies faithful because it is so efficient. Sunderland found a physical, technical forward with Champions League experience for a bargain. Newcastle United likely spent that much on agent commissions alone. Until the Magpies fix their recruitment process, no amount of talent will hide the cracks in the club’s foundation.
