Newcastle United: Are We Expecting Too Much, Too Soon?

After the result at Everton which followed on from two 4-1 defeats at Leeds and Coventry Newcastle, and especially manager Matthias Jaissle, are coming under increasing scrutiny on where this season is heading.

Many fans have already lost the positive feelings they had when our young manager and young new signings arrived at SJP and over the past few days that has been evident on the blog where dissatisfaction with performance and results is widespread.

There is no doubt that expectations at Newcastle United have changed dramatically since the Saudi-backed takeover in 2021.

For years, Newcastle supporters were simply hoping for a team that could compete, show some ambition and give us something to look forward to on a Saturday afternoon.

Now, anything less than a challenge for European football can feel like a disappointment.

But have our expectations moved ahead of reality?

A Cup Winning & CL Qualifying Squad Decimated

We covered yesterday how dramatic the expectation fall was from the cup winning season of 24/25 to where we are now.

The quality heart has been ripped out of the squad and replaced by players who haven't stepped up to the mark and in truth most are actually no better than the 'second level' of players we had under Eddie Howe.

Boiling all of the factors discussed on the blog recently down to one overarching fact, there you have it...

If a squad with Trippier, Bruno, Tonali and Gordon could only finish 12th in the PL last year, and we accept that recent signings are nowhere near their quality, what realistic expectations can we have for this season with a new manager inexperienced in the PL?

How Much Is Jaissle To Blame?

Matthias Jaissle has inherited a situation where expectations are high and patience is becoming increasingly scarce.

He also inherited a depleted squad and five young signings and it is clear that the only new players he currently trusts are Hornicek and his two preferred signings Nico and Dedic.

Supporters naturally want immediate improvement, particularly after disappointing performances and results.

But changing a team's playing style, establishing new ideas and getting the best out of individual players takes time.

That doesn't mean a manager should be immune from criticism.

If performances are poor, supporters have every right to question tactics, team selection and substitutions.

However, there is a difference between demanding improvement and expecting an overnight transformation.

Have We Become Too Impatient?

I remember when Newcastle supporters simply wanted to see a team giving everything for the black-and-white shirt.

Of course, we still expect that.

But these days we also want attractive football, consistent results, European qualification and evidence that the club is moving towards competing for major honours.

Those ambitions are perfectly understandable.

The question is whether those expectations are now realistic given how dramatic the halt in our development has been over the past 12-14 months.

We've gone from believing we could be heading for a title challenge to some fans being concerned about relegation in what seems the blink of an eye.

That - whatever we all agreed might lead to 'ups and downs' this season - means the reality is it's hard to be patient when the downs arrive - especially with two 4-1 away defeat and a 3-1 cup exit at Everton.

Another factor in the mix is this;

Last season our PL form was uninspiring and a big let down and even before the player and Eddie Howe exits there was plenty of negativity in where the club was heading.

Us fans were already seeing our dreams being shattered after Isak departed, new signings failed to impress, and the team's progress in the PL stuttered to finishing outside of any European qualification - and saw Sunderland complete a double.

Has Jaissle Copped Some Of The Backlash?

IMO, yes.

That isn't to say he doesn't deserve to be under the spotlight for some of the decisions he's made, but despite it all we are 8th in the PL and two points better off than we were at this stage last season under Eddie.

Beat Everton on Monday night and we'll be in a solid top 10 position at least.

Jaissle's demeanour in his pressers and after match interviews is that of a confident guy who believes he is still on the right track.

That has given the impression to some fans that he is arrogant and stubborn but leaders who don't have belief in the direction they are taking aren't what the troops need.

And, he has listened to the troops, which led to a return of the old guard against Palace and Everton which secured an away win but also an exit from the EFL cup.

So, my point is this;

What is a realistic expectation for this season?

Where did we expect to be after 10 games, more than a quarter into the season?

Are we right to be as critical as we are with the club in 8th position in the PL?

Over to you.

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