There are nights on Tyneside when the noise alone feels capable of dragging the ball into the net. Nights forged by history, sacrifice, and an unspoken contract between club and supporter: give everything, or expect nothing in return. Newcastle United is not a place for half-measures. It never has been. From the Gallowgate roar to the scars of near-misses and heartbreak, this is a club that demands sweat, courage, and nerve above all else.
So when that sacred bond is tested — when a player hides rather than rises — the backlash is swift and merciless. Pride runs too deep here for excuses. And on a bitter Carabao Cup semi-final night against Manchester City, the patience of the Newcastle faithful finally snapped. What followed was not just disappointment. It was outrage, disbelief, and a growing sense that one man is simply not built for this club.
Newcastle’s 2–0 defeat to Manchester City may go down as a tactical setback on paper, but emotionally it felt far worse. This was a semi-final under the lights, a moment that demanded bravery. While City took their chances through Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki, Newcastle were left staring at missed opportunities — opportunities that fell repeatedly to the club’s £55 million summer gamble, Yoane Wissa.
And he wasted them. Casually. Painfully. Repeatedly.
Five minutes into the game, Jacob Murphy handed Wissa a golden invitation to ignite St James’ Park. One-on-one. Space to think. Time to strike. The result? A hopeless effort blasted over the bar, draining belief from the stands before it had time to breathe. Against Manchester City, that is unforgivable. Against Manchester City in a semi-final, it is criminal.
The second half offered no redemption. Another clear opening. Another moment where composure was required. Trafford saved, the woodwork intervened — and once again, Newcastle were left wondering how a £55 million striker could look so utterly unthreatening. Wissa drifted through the match like a stranger, anonymous, timid, and alarmingly detached from the chaos around him.
Eleven touches. Three shots. Two big chances missed. Sixty percent pass accuracy. Numbers that scream inadequacy, not adaptation. This was not a striker leading the line — this was a passenger hoping the storm would pass without exposing him further.
At St James’ Park, that does not go unnoticed.
As frustration boiled over, the reaction was savage. The crowd’s mood turned icy, and social media erupted with fury that had been simmering since his arrival.
“Wissa is absolutely useless.”
“This guy is a complete waste of money.”
“He hides when it matters.”
These were not isolated outbursts. They were a collective verdict. Supporters did not see a player short on confidence — they saw one short on courage.
“£55 million and he can’t hit the target in a semi-final.”
The most damning criticism cut deeper than missed chances. Fans questioned his mentality, his hunger, and his right to wear the shirt at all.
“He doesn’t understand this club.”
That accusation stings because Newcastle United is more than a project. It is an identity. Players who fail to grasp that reality are quickly exposed, no matter the price tag. Eddie Howe tried to protect Wissa by withdrawing him after 69 minutes, but the damage was already done. His replacement, Nick Woltemade, offered more presence in minutes than Wissa managed all night — a fact not lost on a furious fanbase.
Injuries can excuse rust. Adaptation can excuse inconsistency. But invisibility on nights like this? That is harder to forgive.
Newcastle now face an uphill battle in the second leg, but the bigger storm is internal. Trust has eroded. Belief has fractured. And Wissa’s name is rapidly becoming synonymous with everything supporters fear about modern transfers: inflated fees, hollow performances, and players shrinking when the badge demands bravery.
On Tyneside, legends are made by standing tall under pressure. Right now, Yoane Wissa is doing the opposite — and Newcastle fans are making it very clear they have seen enough.
