Time To Call In The Trusted Lieutenants

Last week Dan Burn commented that Newcastle had gone from one of the oldest starting teams in the PL to the youngest. It was a telling comment.

You can bet Big Dan, and the likes of Schar and Murphy, all three passionately steeped in black and white and big voices in the squad, will have plenty of opinions on how Jaissle's 4231 and team selections are panning out.

And the fact is, as three defeats in our last four games have proved including two 4-1 thumping's, there is precious little gold dust in a Newcastle pan that is currently brimming with coal dust.

From Looking At Fourth...

To Looking At The R Word In 6 Days

A win against Coventry would have taken us into 4th position in the PL.

Just a few short days later, and after two turgid performances and two defeats, talk of the dreaded R word is being voiced by those fans becoming increasing concerned and disillusioned about where Newcastle are heading under new manager Jaissle.

There are still fans, understandably, who are saying we need to give Jaissle more time to find the best players to suit his 4231 system and that injuries have weakened his choices.

Maybe, but games come thick and fast in the PL and as the last six days have proven points and PL places can be lost just as quickly.

We've gained just three points from our last twelve, shipped ten goals, and our next three games are away to Crystal Palace and Fulham and at home to Everton.

An easy run? Not the way we are playing currently.

I don't have confidence in a result against any team and if a poor side like Coventry can tank us 4-1, experienced PL sides like the next three we face will have no fear of us.

If we don't get into gear fast, in just three short weeks we could be looking at a full blown crisis of confidence throughout the club, our manager, the squad and the fanbase.

It's not as if we are playing Arsenal, City and Chelsea in our next three matches, it's three 'bread and butter' PL teams and if we continue our performances of late there won't be any jam coming our way to sweeten the concerns that many fans are already feeling.

Call In The Lieutenants

Jaissle said early doors that he wanted an open discussion group mentality among the squad... well IMO now is the time to get the honest opinions of Burn, Schar and Murphy.

Those three have fought, won and lost battles over the years and know the PL and the established players at the club inside out.

They know the strengths and weaknesses of those established players, and they'll know who can and who can't perform in Jaissle's 4231.

My concern is that our manager is blaming 'individual mistakes' for our results when it is plain to most fans that the individual making the most mistakes is Jaissle with his formation and team selection.

OK, injuries have hampered player options, but that doesn't excuse some of the baffling starting 11's he has put out over the last four games when, even during the win over Hull, we have continued to display the same weaknesses that have been evident in practically every game this season.

4231 may or not be the right system going forward, but currently it is taking the club backwards and we need a system that suits the squad we have now.

That's why I believe Burn, Schar and Murphy, whether they are asked to or not, should now voice their opinions on where we are at and where to go now - because including cup games Jaissle has had enough time to show that 4231 can work; but it clearly is not.

The boos ringing out at the end of last night's match are a clear sign that the natives are getting restless, not because they don't understand that Jaissle has a big job on his hands, but because they don't understand how he is going about it.

If we continue in the same vein and get turned over in our next three games the natives will be far more than restless - they'll start throwing spears and looking for scalps.

And Jaissle's head will be the first one targeted.

I desperately want our young manager to succeed, as I am sure most fans do.

But he desperately needs to listen to advice, take heed of it, and at the very least make us difficult to beat instead of the gift that keeps giving goals and points away.

Performances are now secondary.

Whatever it takes...

We just need points, and fast.

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