Newcastle 2 Bournemouth 2: Still Much Work To Do

Before the game my view was that this could be a tactical battle between Matthias Jaissle and Marco Rose as both tried to impose their playing style on the game.

And it was Marco Rose who came out tops.

Do We Have A Midfield?

It may seem a strange question but ,like that old detective Columbo... something is troubling me.

Jaissle's 4-2-3-1 system and the players we have used leaves us, IMO, short of a properly functioning midfield especially when the oppo have the ball and are attacking.

Take yesterday; we had Miley and Nico in the two, with Barnes, Willock and Elanga in front of them.

Playing with a two puts a great deal of rdefensive esponsibility on the three when we don't have the ball and that's one quality neither of the two wingers have and nor is Willock blessed with a great deal of it either.

Marco Rose had clearly done his homework and reacted by pushing his backline high up the pitch, crowding the midfield, and pressing hard every time we had the ball.

Result? We all saw that, especially in the first 20 minutes, when Bournemouth swarmed all over us with hardly a tckle or challenge to halt their progress towards our goal.

OK, both of their goals had a slice of luck, literally in the case of the second, but no sensible fan could say their lead wasn't predictable and deserved.

Barnes Goal Might Have Saved A Rout

Pulling a goal back so quickly with that fantastic strike from Barnes after Bournemouth had gone two up put the brake on what I believe could have been a really tough day for the Toon.

Had we not scored, I believe the Cherries would have had the tactical and organisational nous to take total control of the game against what had become a disorganised and slightly bewikdered Newcastle team.

Prior to the goal, and still after, Bournemouth's crowding of the midfield and non stop high press was leading to stray passes and long hoofs galore fron a Toon team that was getting more rattled by the minute.

Barnes goal gave the lads some hope and inspiration, got the crowd roaring, and within seconds took Bournemouth from a position of total control and confidence to having to be wary of yet again conceding an equaliser after going ahead,

It's Early Days But The PL Is Ruthless

Five points and no defeats in a tough first three games is a tremendous return and far better than many fans expected from new boy Jaissle and his band of new players.

But, in the PL weaknesses are quickly identified by the oppo and ruthlessly exploited.

It's the reason why so many promoted teams start well only to hit a brick wall when their tactics and deficiencies are sussed , countered, and their early form then suffers.

In just three PL games we have already allowed the oppo to take over 80 shots and that stat IMO is entirely down to the space we are conceding in midfield from a 4-2-3-1 system that is still in its infancy and with players who may not be totally right for it.

It is telling that our best spell in the match, during the last 20 minutes, came when our starting CF Wissa dropped into the 10 role and his hard controlled surging runs carried us forward and for the first period of the game put Bournemouth under real pressure.

However, conceding an average of close to 30 shots every game is a dam that is just waiting to burst, as it was close to yesterday until Barnes stemmed the tide.

This is where the time on the training pitch without the burden of being in Europe is so important.

IMO Jaissle has much to think about and, if he is the top manager we believe he is, then I'm sure he will use that time to work out the system and just as importantly the right players to close those midfield spaces that are currently threatening defeats.

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