Newcastle v Bayer Leverkusen: Jaissle’s St James’ Park Debut
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Newcastle United return to St James’ Park today for what should be their toughest remaining test of pre-season, with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen providing the opposition.
The game kicks off at 3pm and will give supporters their first opportunity to see Matthias Jaissle take charge of Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Time for a Response
Newcastle arrive on the back of a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Everton at Murrayfield, following the encouraging 2-1 victory over Valencia in Jaissle’s first game.
Results aren't everything in pre-season, but the Everton performance highlighted some of the work still required—particularly defensively.
Jaissle has made it clear that he wants Newcastle to retain the high-intensity identity supporters have become accustomed to, while admitting his players aren't yet capable of maintaining that level for the full 90 minutes
.
Today's match should give us another indication of how quickly his ideas are taking shape.
Players Have Something to Prove
There is also the transfer situation hanging over the squad.
Jaissle is still assessing the players available to him while Newcastle consider further additions before the window closes.
With the new Premier League season approaching quickly, opportunities to impress the new manager are running out.
Young players including Aladji Bamba, Bazoumana Touré and Sean Steur have already been handed opportunities during pre-season, while Yoane Wissa will be hoping to build on his two goals against Valencia.
More Than Just a Friendly
Newcastle face Strasbourg tomorrow in their final friendly, but today's game against Leverkusen should provide the more significant test.
Fans will be watching for improved defensive organisation, greater intensity and, perhaps most importantly, signs that Jaissle is beginning to settle on his preferred starting XI.
With the Premier League opener against Liverpool now just over a week away, we're rapidly moving beyond experimentation.
We also need to see a cutting edge in attack that failed to materialise even during our opening dominant session against Everton.
Possession and good movement counts for nowt if you don't score.
Just as against Everton, I'm expecting a competitive game with both teams looking to impress their managers ahead of the coming season.
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I look at the squad and when i dismiss the new signings , how many am i happy with as starters and how many am i happy to have as back up etc.
Starters
Schar,burn ,hall,livramento ,thiaw,miley ,ramsey .
Thats 6 players. No wingers or strikers or a keeper currently.
Back up
Joelinton ,barnes ,murphy ,elanga ,wissa , osula .
Thats 12 players excluding the new boys in the whole squad . The 6 I named cant even do a 6 a side team as its made up of defenders and midfielders.
Botman ,woltemade ,willock could be sold tomorrow and i wouldnt bat an eye lid.
Another thing to keep in mind... deadlines are magnets. A lot will get done all over the league(s) last week of August.
these split squad games are really just trying to get as many players a full 90 minutes.
Leverkeusen made a bunch of subs in the 2nd half and we didn't until very late.
But lack of creativity in attack and seems no killer instinct at the moment.
Also a few poor performances and some others that were decent.
I think mwe'll know where we stand by end of September. We have 2 weeks before the windows closes and not expecting anything from first 2 matches.
That was pretty poor to say the least, not quite sure what system we were playing, because we didn’t press very good, we definitely were,nt aggressive in our game , players couldn’t put two passes together. My main disappointment is not the new players but the existing players, I.e. Botman,Elanga, Ramsey, Barnes, Wolvermade just to name a few, they have not showed any signs they have moved up from last season at all. There seems no leadership at all throughout the squad, does anyone know why our team never loses their temper or gets angry or even shouts at their colleagues. Also Wolvermade, I,ve always given him the benefit of doubt, but he’s actually terrible, can’t run, can’t jump…