Newcastle United legend Malcolm Macdonald has slammed the current squad.

Supermac wrote in the Evening Chronicle: "United were scintillating in the first-half of the season with a string of wonderful results, beating the likes of Manchester United, Spurs and Chelsea.

"Yet in 2014 they have racked up defeat after defeat with shoddy, listless displays.

"Why? Do you realise that, apart from Yohan Cabaye, it is the same bunch of players now as then.

"I know Cabaye is quality and has been missed but one man's disappearance cannot result in the club going into freefall.

"No, what it says to me - and I've been both player and manager - is that this lot don't care. When calm seas become a little choppy they stack their hand. Too many of them have stopped playing and to hell with the management and fans."