🔗 Share this article Bewildering & Bewitching The Magpies Seek Answer to Halt Disorder Supporters of the Magpies are increasingly regarding their manager's outfit as a fickle ally. When everything clicks, they can be the ultimate thrill-seekers, unleashing high-octane displays. But, in other matches, previously reliable figures like Sandro Tonali and his teammates utterly do not show up. Exacerbating these problems is a second-half game management riddled with a distinct streak of panic. Ahead of their Boxing Day to Old Trafford, the statistics tell a sobering story: they have let slip thirteen vital Premier League leverage from leading situations this term and are without a clean sheet in 10 consecutive games across all competitions. Securing a win at Old Trafford would be only their second domestic success on the travel this year. A Story of Two Sides: Hope Within the Unpredictability In contrast, a loss has been tasted once in their previous 6 league encounters, and although sitting in a modest eleventh spot, they remain a only 6 marks behind the highly-prized Champions League places. Add in an looming two-part League Cup last-four clash against Manchester City and a reasonable prospect of moving on to the European Cup last 16, and it is easier to understand the gaffer's cautious optimism. “We don't just have problems,” said the club's head coach. “We have positives too. The perspective here is decidedly optimistic currently. I realize others could have a different take, but I feel we are getting better.” The puzzle is: will this group match – or perhaps eclipse – the achievements of last season's cup glory and European-qualifying finish? Balancing a congested fixture list makes this difficult. Fatigue and Systemic Teething Problems The resulting fatigue could be the reason behind the failure to maintain a superb opening 45-minute performance against Chelsea, eventually surrendering a two-goal advantage to draw the game. Similarly, it is possibly the reason for a subdued performance in a damaging loss to local rivals Sunderland, where the team appeared lethargic just days after a grueling Champions League away day. While on-field instruction is clearly the manager's strength, the constant grind of two games a week matches has severely cut into valuable practice sessions. This hinders the team's stylistic adaptation to playing with new striker their number nine leading the line, instead of the departed Alexander Isak. Although extremely skilled, the German forward lacks the equivalent blistering counter-attacking pace or intense pressing. In fact, the side's previously effective pressing game has sporadically malfunctioned. Injuries to key component Joelinton have exacerbated matters, while high-profile arrivals the Swedish winger and Jacob Ramsey have struggled settling after their combined £90m+ moves. System Debates and Injury Crises If a switch to a back three could arguably help the team, a severe backline injury list renders that problematic. Important full-backs will be missing for the upcoming crucial fixtures, further testing the squad's resources. At their high-tempo best, they seem almost unplayable. The issue is maintaining that intensity for the entire 90 minutes. The go-to alternative approach of sitting back into a passive counter-attacking formation has at times been counterproductive. “The Chelsea game became chaotic at two-all,” said the coach. “However the intention was going for the victory. We always try to secure the three points.” The Path Forward: Prioritization What seems necessary is a balanced approach – with superior possession retention, a engine room adept of dictating the tempo, and a sensible willingness to sometimes accept a draw. Yet, a desire to challenge on all competitions is pushing limited player numbers to their breaking point. This might appear sacrilegious to some, but a more selective approach in the cup competitions earlier could have eased the current fixture congestion. Amid vital European and Premier League matches on the agenda, the need to carefully choose focus areas is becoming increasingly clear. Eddie Howe recognized the size of the journey ahead. “Being at a club of this size, the demands are immense. Each game is critical. We have work to do in the league. We're in the Carabao Cup last four, we aim to go through in the Europe and do well in the FA Cup. “The direction is in the correct path, but we have a great deal of improvement to do to transform into the regularly successful side we aspire to be. The ability to put sequences of victories has escaped us this season. “The task is to reach those levels we know we're capable of. I believe that the self-belief we can achieve it is coming back. Yet now we have to show it. It ain't all doom and gloom currently, but the next few weeks will determine much.”
Supporters of the Magpies are increasingly regarding their manager's outfit as a fickle ally. When everything clicks, they can be the ultimate thrill-seekers, unleashing high-octane displays. But, in other matches, previously reliable figures like Sandro Tonali and his teammates utterly do not show up. Exacerbating these problems is a second-half game management riddled with a distinct streak of panic. Ahead of their Boxing Day to Old Trafford, the statistics tell a sobering story: they have let slip thirteen vital Premier League leverage from leading situations this term and are without a clean sheet in 10 consecutive games across all competitions. Securing a win at Old Trafford would be only their second domestic success on the travel this year. A Story of Two Sides: Hope Within the Unpredictability In contrast, a loss has been tasted once in their previous 6 league encounters, and although sitting in a modest eleventh spot, they remain a only 6 marks behind the highly-prized Champions League places. Add in an looming two-part League Cup last-four clash against Manchester City and a reasonable prospect of moving on to the European Cup last 16, and it is easier to understand the gaffer's cautious optimism. “We don't just have problems,” said the club's head coach. “We have positives too. The perspective here is decidedly optimistic currently. I realize others could have a different take, but I feel we are getting better.” The puzzle is: will this group match – or perhaps eclipse – the achievements of last season's cup glory and European-qualifying finish? Balancing a congested fixture list makes this difficult. Fatigue and Systemic Teething Problems The resulting fatigue could be the reason behind the failure to maintain a superb opening 45-minute performance against Chelsea, eventually surrendering a two-goal advantage to draw the game. Similarly, it is possibly the reason for a subdued performance in a damaging loss to local rivals Sunderland, where the team appeared lethargic just days after a grueling Champions League away day. While on-field instruction is clearly the manager's strength, the constant grind of two games a week matches has severely cut into valuable practice sessions. This hinders the team's stylistic adaptation to playing with new striker their number nine leading the line, instead of the departed Alexander Isak. Although extremely skilled, the German forward lacks the equivalent blistering counter-attacking pace or intense pressing. In fact, the side's previously effective pressing game has sporadically malfunctioned. Injuries to key component Joelinton have exacerbated matters, while high-profile arrivals the Swedish winger and Jacob Ramsey have struggled settling after their combined £90m+ moves. System Debates and Injury Crises If a switch to a back three could arguably help the team, a severe backline injury list renders that problematic. Important full-backs will be missing for the upcoming crucial fixtures, further testing the squad's resources. At their high-tempo best, they seem almost unplayable. The issue is maintaining that intensity for the entire 90 minutes. The go-to alternative approach of sitting back into a passive counter-attacking formation has at times been counterproductive. “The Chelsea game became chaotic at two-all,” said the coach. “However the intention was going for the victory. We always try to secure the three points.” The Path Forward: Prioritization What seems necessary is a balanced approach – with superior possession retention, a engine room adept of dictating the tempo, and a sensible willingness to sometimes accept a draw. Yet, a desire to challenge on all competitions is pushing limited player numbers to their breaking point. This might appear sacrilegious to some, but a more selective approach in the cup competitions earlier could have eased the current fixture congestion. Amid vital European and Premier League matches on the agenda, the need to carefully choose focus areas is becoming increasingly clear. Eddie Howe recognized the size of the journey ahead. “Being at a club of this size, the demands are immense. Each game is critical. We have work to do in the league. We're in the Carabao Cup last four, we aim to go through in the Europe and do well in the FA Cup. “The direction is in the correct path, but we have a great deal of improvement to do to transform into the regularly successful side we aspire to be. The ability to put sequences of victories has escaped us this season. “The task is to reach those levels we know we're capable of. I believe that the self-belief we can achieve it is coming back. Yet now we have to show it. It ain't all doom and gloom currently, but the next few weeks will determine much.”