This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

Speaking on "The Last Word with Stan Collymore" podcast, the former Liverpool striker has revealed Newcastle are heading for relegation this season following their abject showing at the weekend.

What did he say?

The Magpies suffered a 5-0 humiliation at the hands of Brendan Rodgers' Leicester side, and reports since the debacle have claimed the players will be holding a meeting to try and sort the situation out.

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However, Collymore has slammed the side for their performance, and insisted they committed the ultimate sin on a football pitch.

He said: "One **** performance, two or three good ones, another diabolical one. That is heading one way and that will be relegation.

"The biggest criticism you can ever make of a football team is that they didn’t try. At Norwich, the narrative was that Newcastle United didn’t try. I'm accusing Newcastle United - their players - of not trying against Leicester City.

"Make no mistake about this if Newcastle had 12 men on the pitch, never mind ten, they could have been 5-0 down."

Betrayal

To be accused of downing tools, and "not trying" as Collymore alludes to, is perhaps the biggest slight you could make on a footballer's character. Whether you're playing Sunday league football with your mates or matching up against the best in a World Cup final, there is no point playing football at anything less than 100%.

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Instead, the Magpies' display has raised severe questions of whether they're committed to the cause. Steve Bruce already had a difficult job on his hands in trying to replace Rafa Benitez, but when his players let him down as they did so against Leicester, then he really has no hope.

If they don't buck up their performances, Newcastle look set for a really rough season indeed. The least the club's fans deserve is the players trying their best. Anything below that level is unacceptable. On Sunday, the Magpies stooped lower than anyone could have imagined, and if Collymore's verdict is correct, it is the ultimate betrayal of the fans who dedicate their time and money to the club they love so much.