🔗 Share this article Puzzling & Enchanting Newcastle Seek Answer to End Chaos Supporters of the Tyneside club are more and more seeing their manager's squad as a fickle companion. At their brilliant best, they prove to be the undisputed thrill-seekers, delivering breathtaking displays. Yet, at other times, previously reliable figures like their midfield linchpin and his teammates completely do not show up. Adding to these problems is a second-half strategy riddled with a distinct tendency of chaos. Ahead of their trip to Manchester United, the numbers paint a sobering story: they have dropped thirteen precious Premier League leverage from winning positions this term and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 straight matches across all competitions. Claiming victory at their famous stadium would constitute only their second league success on the travel this season. A Tale of Two Sides: Optimism Within the Erraticism On the flip side, a loss has only come on one occasion in their most recent 6 league encounters, and although sitting in a seemingly lowly 11th place, they remain a only 6 marks behind the highly-prized Champions League places. Factor in an upcoming two-legged League Cup last-four clash against the reigning champions and a reasonable chance of progressing to the Champions League knockout phase, and it becomes simpler to understand the gaffer's cautious positivity. “It's not only about problems,” said the club's manager. “We have positives also. The perspective here is very much positive currently. I realize others could have a different take, but my belief is we are getting better.” The question remains: can this group recapture – or perhaps exceed – the successes of last season's Wembley triumph and fifth-place standing? Juggling a congested schedule makes this difficult. Weariness and Tactical Growing Pains This heavy-leggedness could be the reason behind the inability to maintain a brilliant first-half showing versus Chelsea, eventually letting slip a 2-0 lead to draw the game. Similarly, it could be the culprit for a lackluster performance in a painful loss to local rivals Sunderland, where the team looked off the pace just a short time after a tough European excursion. Although coaching is clearly the manager's forte, the relentless grind of two games a week matches has drastically limited crucial coaching hours. This slows the squad's tactical adaptation to operating with summer signing Nick Woltemade leading the line, rather than the departed Alexander Isak. While immensely talented, Woltemade lacks the same searing counter-attacking pace or ferocious defensive work rate. In fact, the team's signature pressing game has sporadically broken down. Injuries to key cog the Brazilian midfielder have exacerbated matters, while expensive signings Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey have found it tough settling since their big-money moves. System Questions and Defensive Crises If a change to a 3-5-2 could theoretically help the team, a full-blown defensive absence list renders that difficult. Important full-backs will be absent for the upcoming key fixtures, straining the team's depth. At their energetic best, they seem almost unstoppable. The catch is maintaining that fervor for the entire match. The typical alternative approach of sitting back into a deep-lying counter-attacking shape has sometimes proven counterproductive. “That game descended into disorganized at two-all,” said the manager. “But we were going for the victory. Our mentality is to always go out to secure the three points.” The Way Forward: Prioritization What appears called for is a balanced approach – with superior possession retention, a engine room capable of slowing the pace, and a sensible willingness to occasionally settle for a point. Yet, a desire to challenge on all fronts is testing thin squad resources to their limit. It may sound sacrilegious to some, but a different strategy in the cup competitions earlier could have alleviated the current fixture pile-up. With critical Champions League & league matches on the horizon, the necessity to carefully choose focus areas is becoming ever more apparent. Eddie Howe recognized the scale of the challenge remaining. “Being at a club of this size, the demands are immense. Every moment's crucial. There is progress to be made in the Premier League. We are in the Carabao Cup last four, we want to go through in the Europe and do well in the FA Cup. “The direction is in the correct path, but we have plenty of improvement to do to transform into the regularly successful side we want to be. The ability to string together sequences of victories has eluded us so far. “The challenge is to attain that standard we know we're able to reach. The internal belief is that the self-belief to achieve it is returning. But now we have to show it. It's not all bad currently, but the next few weeks will decide much.”
Supporters of the Tyneside club are more and more seeing their manager's squad as a fickle companion. At their brilliant best, they prove to be the undisputed thrill-seekers, delivering breathtaking displays. Yet, at other times, previously reliable figures like their midfield linchpin and his teammates completely do not show up. Adding to these problems is a second-half strategy riddled with a distinct tendency of chaos. Ahead of their trip to Manchester United, the numbers paint a sobering story: they have dropped thirteen precious Premier League leverage from winning positions this term and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 straight matches across all competitions. Claiming victory at their famous stadium would constitute only their second league success on the travel this season. A Tale of Two Sides: Optimism Within the Erraticism On the flip side, a loss has only come on one occasion in their most recent 6 league encounters, and although sitting in a seemingly lowly 11th place, they remain a only 6 marks behind the highly-prized Champions League places. Factor in an upcoming two-legged League Cup last-four clash against the reigning champions and a reasonable chance of progressing to the Champions League knockout phase, and it becomes simpler to understand the gaffer's cautious positivity. “It's not only about problems,” said the club's manager. “We have positives also. The perspective here is very much positive currently. I realize others could have a different take, but my belief is we are getting better.” The question remains: can this group recapture – or perhaps exceed – the successes of last season's Wembley triumph and fifth-place standing? Juggling a congested schedule makes this difficult. Weariness and Tactical Growing Pains This heavy-leggedness could be the reason behind the inability to maintain a brilliant first-half showing versus Chelsea, eventually letting slip a 2-0 lead to draw the game. Similarly, it could be the culprit for a lackluster performance in a painful loss to local rivals Sunderland, where the team looked off the pace just a short time after a tough European excursion. Although coaching is clearly the manager's forte, the relentless grind of two games a week matches has drastically limited crucial coaching hours. This slows the squad's tactical adaptation to operating with summer signing Nick Woltemade leading the line, rather than the departed Alexander Isak. While immensely talented, Woltemade lacks the same searing counter-attacking pace or ferocious defensive work rate. In fact, the team's signature pressing game has sporadically broken down. Injuries to key cog the Brazilian midfielder have exacerbated matters, while expensive signings Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey have found it tough settling since their big-money moves. System Questions and Defensive Crises If a change to a 3-5-2 could theoretically help the team, a full-blown defensive absence list renders that difficult. Important full-backs will be absent for the upcoming key fixtures, straining the team's depth. At their energetic best, they seem almost unstoppable. The catch is maintaining that fervor for the entire match. The typical alternative approach of sitting back into a deep-lying counter-attacking shape has sometimes proven counterproductive. “That game descended into disorganized at two-all,” said the manager. “But we were going for the victory. Our mentality is to always go out to secure the three points.” The Way Forward: Prioritization What appears called for is a balanced approach – with superior possession retention, a engine room capable of slowing the pace, and a sensible willingness to occasionally settle for a point. Yet, a desire to challenge on all fronts is testing thin squad resources to their limit. It may sound sacrilegious to some, but a different strategy in the cup competitions earlier could have alleviated the current fixture pile-up. With critical Champions League & league matches on the horizon, the necessity to carefully choose focus areas is becoming ever more apparent. Eddie Howe recognized the scale of the challenge remaining. “Being at a club of this size, the demands are immense. Every moment's crucial. There is progress to be made in the Premier League. We are in the Carabao Cup last four, we want to go through in the Europe and do well in the FA Cup. “The direction is in the correct path, but we have plenty of improvement to do to transform into the regularly successful side we want to be. The ability to string together sequences of victories has eluded us so far. “The challenge is to attain that standard we know we're able to reach. The internal belief is that the self-belief to achieve it is returning. But now we have to show it. It's not all bad currently, but the next few weeks will decide much.”