The End Of A Miserable PL Season Was... Miserable

Newcastle put in a flat, tired performance at Craven Cottage, limping to a 2-0 defeat against Fulham. It was a result that dragged us down to a 12th-place finish in the Premier League.

A miserable end to a miserable PL season.

Only the relegated teams lost more games

There are many stats that can be paraded by fans and pundits to make a case for a hugely underachieving PL season but for me one stands out...

Eddie Howe and the team suffered 17 defeats. Almost a defeat every other game.

To put that into perspective, only the three relegated teams—West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves lost more matches this year.

For a club that started the season with top-six ambitions as a minimum, that is a sobering pill to swallow.

And the concern is it followed a similar pattern from last season.

Despite qualifying for the CL we lost 12 games, drawing just 5, but winning 21 - a winning total beaten on by Arsenal and Man City this season.

My concern going into this season was that Eddie's style of play meant that we either won or lost a game, rarely coming away with a draw and a point.

The key to another CL qualification and a top 4/5 finish was to maintain the win rate - or very close to it - and turn some of those defeats into draws.

And what happened?

The win rate dropped from 21 to 14, defeats increased from 12 to 17, and just like last season's 5 draws no team drew fewer games than our 7.

In short, we have been too easy to beat for two successive seasons and rarely have whatever is needed to grind out draws, especially away from home.

IMO the single biggest task facing Eddie next season is making us harder to beat.

We can talk the proverbial hind legs off a donkey going into detail about tactics, formats, players etc., etc., etc.,... but the fact is Eddie's management is now leading to a high and unacceptable loss rate.

If we lose more than two of our opening ten games next season - and definitely if we lose four or more - Eddie's position has to come under serious threat.

Reasons, not excuses

Top targets choosing other clubs, last minute signings with no pre-season training, and a squad cripplimg imjury list on top of a four competition pronged exhausting fixture list were all given as reasons for our poor PL performances.

But, they can't be used as excuses.

The difference between a reason and an excuse is that an excuse is a 'get out of jail' attempt at explaining away under performance. "I'm not to blame guv".

I'm not accusing Eddie of making excuses, I don't believe he has overplayed that card.

But what I am saying is that the reasons mentioned above confront all managers to one degree or another.

The best managers alter formations, tactics and team selection to minimise the effects and if Eddie has one acknowleded flaw it is a lack of flexibility.

He has largely persisted with 4-3-3 even if that has meant players playing out of position, constantly juggling the front three, or making like for like - and often far too late - substitutions.

If you keep doing the same thing, you'll get the same results.

The Silver Lining: Good runs in the CL & LC

It wasn't all bad.

Our adventure in the Champions League and fighting our way through the group stages and intermediate rounds to reach the Round of 16 was a massive achievement.

Getting through to the semi-final of the Carabou Cup - albeit with a relatively easy run - was a valiant attempt to retain the trophy.

Losing to Barcelona and Man City is no disgrace other than to highlight how far away we are from being in that elite company.

Who says we don't need a big overhaul?

The 'onward and upwards' trend since PIF took the helm has stopped in it's tracks.

And make no mistake...

Next season could be no better, and even worse, than this one.

I say that because we will almost certainly lose two or more of our top players - Gordon, Tino, Tonali and Hall are all in that category. Willock is also likely to leave.

If Wolt, Wissa and Elanga stay and their form doesn't improve massively the weakness in attacking options will still be there next season.

In Murphy, Burn, Jo, Pope and Schar (if he stays) we have ageing players who won't be getting any better and who could suddenly find their form dropping off.

And, despite the efforts put into young player recruitment and development, there is no one seriously knocking hard on the door for a first team starting place.

My bet is that the mood in the camp is anything but positive and that almost every player has a reason to doubt where there future lies next season.

Add all of that up and if the management and recruitment team don't get this summer's in and out transfer decsions spot on...

Any aspirations or expectations of a top 6 spot next season could be as far fetched as winning the league by 2030.

So, IMO, we do need a massive overhaul.

That doesn't mean a huge turnover of players, although there are definitely big decisions to be made both in and out.

It means a massive overhaul of the coaching set up, formations, tactics, and in game management.

That doesn't mean ditching some of the coaches, or ditching everything we currently do on the training pitch.

It means an overhaul and rethink of every single aspect of management that identifies strengths, and expecially weknesses, sets a new agenda and targets, and holds everyone accountable for their responsibilities in moving the club forward.

A massive summer lies ahead.

Top managers - and by that I mean all involved not just Eddie Howe - rise to this type of challenge. Also rans buckle under the pressure.

In the next few months we'll find out which category NUFC's management team are in.

Let's hear your thoughts on this season and what you feel needs to be done to give us genuine hope for a far better 26/27 season.

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