The Biggest Issue: Scoring or Defending?
After one of the easiest ten game starts in Premier League history Newcastle United sit in 12th place; 4pts below 6th place and 4pts above a relegation position.
At first glance that doesn't look too bad, but it masks grave concerns about where Newcastle are heading this season especially as that easy start will now give way to harder games against far better opposition.
The biggest concerns expressed by fans are the 4231 formation that Jaissle insists on using and lack of a consistent goalscorer, despite the fortune spent on Woltemade, Wissa and Pardo with most fans not convinced about Osula.
What Needs To Change?
My view is that the spotlight may be shining in the wrong direction.
And that can mean the solution to better results is not being lit up.
Boiled down to basics football is a simple game;
If the opposition don't score you gain at least one point.
If you score just one more than the opposition you take all three.
In a squad that is being hammered from all sides for a lack of quality are there any areas where some quality exists?
IMO there is; defence.
Hornicek is proving himself a capable keeper and all but one of the 16 PL goals that have flown past him he could do little about, but he has made many crucial saves.
At FB we have Dedic, Miley, Tino and Hall.
Not too shabby at all.
At CB, Schar, Thiaw, Burn and Botman.
Botman has made too many mistakes recently, but the other three are still very decent defenders despite two being in their 30's.
So...
Why are we conceding so many goals?
An average of 1.6 per game that has included two 4-1 thrashings away to Leeds and Coventry.
Well, defence starts as soon as the oppo get the ball.
The first line is the forward players, the next the midfield, and both should be working as a unit to close down space, get challenges in, and make it difficult to get at the last line; the defence.
That geezer on a galloping horse can see that hasn't happened in game after game this season.
Our 2,3, and 1 in Jaissle's system offer as much resistance as the capitulating Italian army did in the Second World War.
Mussolini ended up being strung up and there are already plenty of angry Toon fans wanting Jaissle to walk the plank straight out of SJP if he persists with his formation.
Give It Time?
One thing most fans are in agreement with is this... we don't have the players with the qualities to play 4231. So how will time make that formation better?
It might improve, but the bar is so low that doesn't mean it will be effective.
Being blunt; you can polish a turd and spray it with perfume, but it is still a turd.
3511
Hornicek
Schar Thiaw Burn
Dedic/Tino Steur Nico Jo Hall
Pardo
Osula
That's the formation and team I would play; the same as I suggested weeks ago.
It plays five of our best defenders but adds attacking drive from Dedic/Tino and Hall, gets bodies around Nico so his lack of pace isn't exposed, Jo provides the muscle, and up front we've got a proper 10 with pace supporting Osula.
The wingers?
Needs must; and if making us harder to score against and more difficult to beat means they warm the bench then so be it.
Too defensive?
I don't watch Newcastle to be entertained, that is way secondary.
I want to see us WIN.
I couldn't care less if we are bombarded with 85% possession and we win with an own goal in the last minute. I go home happy.
Lose, no matter how well we've played, and I am brassed off.
Jaissle needs to make us hard to score against and hard to beat.
If he doesn't, and quick, he'll be the loser.
My honest answer if we abandoned 4 2 3 1 and tried something else.
3 4 3 . Pace up top , 2 holding midfielders and 2 inverted wing backs , and the 3 CBs .
Our forwards are all counter attacking players plus the strikers in pardo and osula like to drift wide. So a 3 that interchanges in my view would be better served than a 2 with osula and wissa or pardo
Barry Paul Henry
11 minutes ago
Replying to
Northumbrianexile
I've been trying to say to Colin mate. We dont have the forwards to keep it tight and hope osula or whoever takes one of maybe 2 or 3 half chances a game.
So what formation and what players do we play Barry?
I agree on the problems being pointed out but we need solutions from the squad we have.
My 3511 formation and the players in it is a suggested solution based on fitting square pegs into square holes - it might not work but is it worth a try and if not, why not?
4231 will not, IMO, ever work consistently well because we don't have two quality players…
Watching various weekend TV coverage there were some staggeringly bad ref decsions.
Chelsea should have had a penal;ty at the mackems when scissored fould in the box.
Later Brobbey can be seen forcefully pulling a Chelsea defender by his arm to the ground and gets a penalty.
VAR is useless and clueless.
John J
That 10 second rule was introduced in the EPL this season mate
I don’t think we have the luxury of that choice, Rafa’s short blanket saying springs to mind in that we pull the blanket back to defend and our heads cold play more attackers and our feet are cold.
Bottom line is the squad is not fit for purpose whoever is the manager and whatever the system the manager plays, we have assembled a really poor squad while spending huge amounts of Money.
Forced to choose I would certainly pick defensive solidarity and hope that gets us survival.