🔗 Share this article Baffling & Bewitching Newcastle Seek Answer to End Chaos Fans of the Magpies are more and more seeing their manager's squad as an unreliable ally. When everything clicks, they can be the very thrill-seekers, producing breathtaking performances. Yet, at other times, previously reliable players like Sandro Tonali and his teammates completely go missing. Adding to this issue is a second-half approach suffused by a worrying tendency of disorganization. Ahead of their trip to Old Trafford, the facts paint a troubling story: the team has let slip thirteen vital top-flight leverage from leading positions this season and are without a shutout in 10 consecutive matches in every tournament. Securing a win at their famous stadium would constitute only their second league triumph on the travel this year. A Tale of Two Sides: Hope Within the Inconsistency On the flip side, a loss has been tasted once in their last six Premier League fixtures, and although sitting in a seemingly lowly eleventh position, they are a only 6 points away from the highly-prized top four. Factor in an looming two-part Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City and a decent opportunity of moving on to the European Cup knockout phase, and it becomes easier to see the gaffer's cautious optimism. “We don't just have difficulties,” remarked the club's boss. “There are assets as well. The perspective here is very much half full currently. I realize outside observers may hold a divergent opinion, but in my view we're getting better.” The puzzle is: can this collection of players recreate – or perhaps surpass – the successes of last season's Wembley triumph and European-qualifying finish? Juggling a packed schedule hinders. Fatigue and Tactical Adjustments The resulting tiredness may account for the inability to sustain a superb first-half showing against their London rivals, eventually squandering a 2-0 lead to draw the game. Similarly, it is possibly the reason for a subdued display in a damaging loss to arch-rivals Sunderland, where the side appeared sluggish just days after a demanding Champions League excursion. While coaching is undoubtedly the manager's specialty, the relentless schedule of twice-weekly matches has drastically limited crucial practice hours. This impedes the squad's stylistic adaptation to operating with summer signing Nick Woltemade up front, rather than the departed Alexander Isak. While immensely gifted, Woltemade has not shown the same searing breakaway pace or intense pressing. In fact, the team's previously effective high press has at times broken down. Injuries to key engine Joelinton have not helped, while expensive arrivals the Swedish winger and the English midfielder have struggled settling since their combined £90m+ moves. Formation Dilemmas and Injury Crises If a move to a 3-5-2 might arguably benefit the cause, a full-blown defensive absence list renders that problematic. First-choice defenders will be unavailable for the upcoming key fixtures, straining the team's resources. When playing at their high-tempo best, they look almost unplayable. The catch is sustaining that fervor for the full 90 minutes. The often-seen alternative approach of dropping deep into a passive counter-attacking formation has at times been counterproductive. “That game became chaotic at 2-2,” conceded the coach. “But we were trying to win. Our mentality is to always go out to win.” The Road Forward: Pragmatism What seems called for is a middle ground – involving better possession retention, a engine room capable of slowing the pace, and a sensible willingness to sometimes accept a draw. However, a determination to challenge on all competitions is stretching limited squad numbers to their breaking point. This might seem heretical to some, but a different approach in the cup competitions in the initial stages could have eased the present fixture pile-up. Amid vital European and league matches on the horizon, the necessity to strategically choose focus areas is growing ever more obvious. The manager recognized the size of the challenge ahead. “Being involved a club of this size, the demands are big. Each game is crucial. There is progress to be made in the league. We're in the Carabao Cup last four, we aim to progress in the Champions League and do well in the FA Cup. “We're moving in the right direction, but we have lots of work to do to become the regularly successful team we aspire to be. Our capacity to put winning runs has escaped us this season. “The challenge is to reach those levels we are aware we're able to reach. My feeling is that the assurance to do that is growing. Yet now we have to prove it. It ain't all doom and gloom right now, but the next few weeks will shape a lot.”
Fans of the Magpies are more and more seeing their manager's squad as an unreliable ally. When everything clicks, they can be the very thrill-seekers, producing breathtaking performances. Yet, at other times, previously reliable players like Sandro Tonali and his teammates completely go missing. Adding to this issue is a second-half approach suffused by a worrying tendency of disorganization. Ahead of their trip to Old Trafford, the facts paint a troubling story: the team has let slip thirteen vital top-flight leverage from leading positions this season and are without a shutout in 10 consecutive matches in every tournament. Securing a win at their famous stadium would constitute only their second league triumph on the travel this year. A Tale of Two Sides: Hope Within the Inconsistency On the flip side, a loss has been tasted once in their last six Premier League fixtures, and although sitting in a seemingly lowly eleventh position, they are a only 6 points away from the highly-prized top four. Factor in an looming two-part Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City and a decent opportunity of moving on to the European Cup knockout phase, and it becomes easier to see the gaffer's cautious optimism. “We don't just have difficulties,” remarked the club's boss. “There are assets as well. The perspective here is very much half full currently. I realize outside observers may hold a divergent opinion, but in my view we're getting better.” The puzzle is: can this collection of players recreate – or perhaps surpass – the successes of last season's Wembley triumph and European-qualifying finish? Juggling a packed schedule hinders. Fatigue and Tactical Adjustments The resulting tiredness may account for the inability to sustain a superb first-half showing against their London rivals, eventually squandering a 2-0 lead to draw the game. Similarly, it is possibly the reason for a subdued display in a damaging loss to arch-rivals Sunderland, where the side appeared sluggish just days after a demanding Champions League excursion. While coaching is undoubtedly the manager's specialty, the relentless schedule of twice-weekly matches has drastically limited crucial practice hours. This impedes the squad's stylistic adaptation to operating with summer signing Nick Woltemade up front, rather than the departed Alexander Isak. While immensely gifted, Woltemade has not shown the same searing breakaway pace or intense pressing. In fact, the team's previously effective high press has at times broken down. Injuries to key engine Joelinton have not helped, while expensive arrivals the Swedish winger and the English midfielder have struggled settling since their combined £90m+ moves. Formation Dilemmas and Injury Crises If a move to a 3-5-2 might arguably benefit the cause, a full-blown defensive absence list renders that problematic. First-choice defenders will be unavailable for the upcoming key fixtures, straining the team's resources. When playing at their high-tempo best, they look almost unplayable. The catch is sustaining that fervor for the full 90 minutes. The often-seen alternative approach of dropping deep into a passive counter-attacking formation has at times been counterproductive. “That game became chaotic at 2-2,” conceded the coach. “But we were trying to win. Our mentality is to always go out to win.” The Road Forward: Pragmatism What seems called for is a middle ground – involving better possession retention, a engine room capable of slowing the pace, and a sensible willingness to sometimes accept a draw. However, a determination to challenge on all competitions is stretching limited squad numbers to their breaking point. This might seem heretical to some, but a different approach in the cup competitions in the initial stages could have eased the present fixture pile-up. Amid vital European and league matches on the horizon, the necessity to strategically choose focus areas is growing ever more obvious. The manager recognized the size of the challenge ahead. “Being involved a club of this size, the demands are big. Each game is crucial. There is progress to be made in the league. We're in the Carabao Cup last four, we aim to progress in the Champions League and do well in the FA Cup. “We're moving in the right direction, but we have lots of work to do to become the regularly successful team we aspire to be. Our capacity to put winning runs has escaped us this season. “The challenge is to reach those levels we are aware we're able to reach. My feeling is that the assurance to do that is growing. Yet now we have to prove it. It ain't all doom and gloom right now, but the next few weeks will shape a lot.”