Newcastle Under Jaissle Face Pressure Ahead of Crystal Palace Clash
Newcastle's poor start under new boss Matthias Jaissle has fans concerned, with Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace seen as a potential turning point.
Newcastle United head to Selhurst Park on Sunday to face Crystal Palace looking to halt a run of three defeats in four games, including back-to-back 4-1 away losses at Leeds United and Coventry City. Last weekend's home defeat by Aston Villa was met with boos at the final whistle, and supporters have raised concerns about the team's lack of identity under new German boss Matthias Jaissle.
Jaissle, 38, arrived from Al-Ahli after leading the Saudi club to consecutive Asian Champions League titles, with Newcastle paying £9.5m in compensation. Charlotte Robson of the True Faith Newcastle United podcast said the pressure will seriously be on if Newcastle fail to get a result at Palace, while former defender John Anderson told BBC Sport that one good win could change a lot but that Jaissle seems set in his ways.
The wider context is a summer of upheaval. Eddie Howe stepped down at the end of July after five years in charge, during which he delivered the club's first major domestic trophy since 1955. Newcastle had already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham, and Bruno Guimaraes then joined Arsenal for £75m. Alan Shearer had warned of a tough season ahead, saying a club cannot keep selling its best players and expect to contend at the top.
Newcastle spent about £250m on signings, many aged 21 or under, and questions remain over how they have replaced Alexander Isak, who left for Liverpool 14 months ago in a British record £125m deal. Chris Sutton, who watched the Villa defeat for BBC Radio 5 Live, described Newcastle as chaotic under Jaissle, citing insufficient creativity in the final third and vulnerability at the back. The club have not kept a home clean sheet in their last 16 games in all competitions, and only Crystal Palace and Ipswich have conceded more Premier League goals than Newcastle's 14.
Newcastle sit on eight points from seven league games, with wins away at Tottenham and at home to newly promoted Hull City. Observer football correspondent Rory Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live that losing Gordon, Guimaraes, Tonali and Howe would probably produce such a return, noting the signings skewed young and relatively inexperienced. Robson believes patience is needed after the upheaval, and there is said to be no panic inside the club, with CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson applying calm. Fans, however, want to see improved performances, starting on Sunday.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
