🔗 Share this article Puzzling & Mesmerizing Newcastle Seek Answer to Halt Disorder Supporters of the Tyneside club are increasingly viewing Eddie Howe's outfit as an unreliable friend. On their day, they prove to be the undisputed thrill-seekers, producing high-octane performances. Yet, on other occasions, once-dependable players like Sandro Tonali and his teammates utterly do not show up. Compounding the frustration is a second-half game management riddled with a worrying element of chaos. Ahead of their Boxing Day to Manchester United, the numbers paint a sobering picture: they have squandered thirteen vital top-flight points from leading situations this season and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 straight games in every tournament. Earning victory at Old Trafford would be only their second-ever domestic triumph on the travel this season. A Tale of Two Sides: Hope Among the Inconsistency In contrast, a loss has only come once in their previous six league fixtures, and despite occupying a seemingly lowly eleventh place, they remain a only six points off the highly-prized top four. Add in an looming two-part Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City and a reasonable opportunity of progressing to the European Cup last 16, and it is simpler to see the gaffer's cautious optimism. “Our issues aren't limited to issues,” said the club's head coach. “You can see positives too. My glass is very much half full currently. I realize everybody else could have a opposing take, but I feel we are making progress.” The puzzle remains: will this squad match – or perhaps exceed – the achievements of the previous campaign's Wembley triumph and fifth-place standing? Managing a congested schedule hinders. Weariness and Tactical Growing Pains The resulting fatigue may be the reason behind the inability to sustain a superb first-half performance versus Chelsea, ultimately letting slip a two-goal advantage to draw the game. Similarly, it is possibly the explanation for a lackluster display in a damaging defeat to local rivals the Black Cats, where the team looked off the pace just a short time after a tough European away day. While coaching is clearly Howe's specialty, the relentless grind of two games a week matches has radically reduced valuable coaching sessions. This impedes the team's tactical evolution to playing with summer signing Nick Woltemade up front, rather than the departed their former star. While hugely talented, the German forward has not shown the equivalent blistering counter-attacking speed or relentless defensive work rate. Indeed, the team's signature pressing game has occasionally broken down. Fitness issues to crucial component the Brazilian midfielder have exacerbated matters, while big-money signings Anthony Elanga and the English midfielder have found it tough adapting since their big-money moves. Formation Debates and Defensive Crises If a move to a 3-5-2 could arguably assist the team, a severe defensive injury list makes that unlikely. First-choice full-backs will be missing for the next key matches, further testing the squad's resources. At their energetic peak, they appear virtually unplayable. The problem is sustaining that level for the full match. The go-to plan B of sitting back into a passive counter-attacking formation has at times been counterproductive. “The Chelsea match descended into anarchic at two-all,” said the coach. “However the intention was going for the victory. Our mentality is to always try to secure the three points.” The Road Forward: Practicality What appears called for is a middle ground – with better ball control, a engine room capable of slowing the tempo, and a sensible readiness to occasionally accept a point. Yet, a desire to compete on all fronts is pushing thin player resources to their limit. This might sound sacrilegious to some, but a different approach in the cup competitions earlier could have eased the present schedule congestion. Amid vital Champions League and league matches on the agenda, the need to carefully prioritize is growing ever more obvious. The manager recognized the scale of the journey ahead. “Being involved this club, the expectations are big. Each game is pivotal. We have work to do in the league. We're in the League Cup last four, we aim to progress in the Europe and do well in the FA Cup. “We're moving in the correct path, but we have a great deal of improvement to do to become the consistently winning side we want to be. Our capacity to string together winning runs has escaped us so far. “The challenge is to hit those levels we know we're capable of. I believe that the self-belief to achieve it is returning. But nowadays we have to demonstrate it. It ain't all doom and gloom in this moment, but the coming period will determine much.”
Supporters of the Tyneside club are increasingly viewing Eddie Howe's outfit as an unreliable friend. On their day, they prove to be the undisputed thrill-seekers, producing high-octane performances. Yet, on other occasions, once-dependable players like Sandro Tonali and his teammates utterly do not show up. Compounding the frustration is a second-half game management riddled with a worrying element of chaos. Ahead of their Boxing Day to Manchester United, the numbers paint a sobering picture: they have squandered thirteen vital top-flight points from leading situations this season and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 straight games in every tournament. Earning victory at Old Trafford would be only their second-ever domestic triumph on the travel this season. A Tale of Two Sides: Hope Among the Inconsistency In contrast, a loss has only come once in their previous six league fixtures, and despite occupying a seemingly lowly eleventh place, they remain a only six points off the highly-prized top four. Add in an looming two-part Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City and a reasonable opportunity of progressing to the European Cup last 16, and it is simpler to see the gaffer's cautious optimism. “Our issues aren't limited to issues,” said the club's head coach. “You can see positives too. My glass is very much half full currently. I realize everybody else could have a opposing take, but I feel we are making progress.” The puzzle remains: will this squad match – or perhaps exceed – the achievements of the previous campaign's Wembley triumph and fifth-place standing? Managing a congested schedule hinders. Weariness and Tactical Growing Pains The resulting fatigue may be the reason behind the inability to sustain a superb first-half performance versus Chelsea, ultimately letting slip a two-goal advantage to draw the game. Similarly, it is possibly the explanation for a lackluster display in a damaging defeat to local rivals the Black Cats, where the team looked off the pace just a short time after a tough European away day. While coaching is clearly Howe's specialty, the relentless grind of two games a week matches has radically reduced valuable coaching sessions. This impedes the team's tactical evolution to playing with summer signing Nick Woltemade up front, rather than the departed their former star. While hugely talented, the German forward has not shown the equivalent blistering counter-attacking speed or relentless defensive work rate. Indeed, the team's signature pressing game has occasionally broken down. Fitness issues to crucial component the Brazilian midfielder have exacerbated matters, while big-money signings Anthony Elanga and the English midfielder have found it tough adapting since their big-money moves. Formation Debates and Defensive Crises If a move to a 3-5-2 could arguably assist the team, a severe defensive injury list makes that unlikely. First-choice full-backs will be missing for the next key matches, further testing the squad's resources. At their energetic peak, they appear virtually unplayable. The problem is sustaining that level for the full match. The go-to plan B of sitting back into a passive counter-attacking formation has at times been counterproductive. “The Chelsea match descended into anarchic at two-all,” said the coach. “However the intention was going for the victory. Our mentality is to always try to secure the three points.” The Road Forward: Practicality What appears called for is a middle ground – with better ball control, a engine room capable of slowing the tempo, and a sensible readiness to occasionally accept a point. Yet, a desire to compete on all fronts is pushing thin player resources to their limit. This might sound sacrilegious to some, but a different approach in the cup competitions earlier could have eased the present schedule congestion. Amid vital Champions League and league matches on the agenda, the need to carefully prioritize is growing ever more obvious. The manager recognized the scale of the journey ahead. “Being involved this club, the expectations are big. Each game is pivotal. We have work to do in the league. We're in the League Cup last four, we aim to progress in the Europe and do well in the FA Cup. “We're moving in the correct path, but we have a great deal of improvement to do to become the consistently winning side we want to be. Our capacity to string together winning runs has escaped us so far. “The challenge is to hit those levels we know we're capable of. I believe that the self-belief to achieve it is returning. But nowadays we have to demonstrate it. It ain't all doom and gloom in this moment, but the coming period will determine much.”