🔗 Share this article Puzzling and Bewitching The Magpies Search for Solution to Curb Chaos Supporters of Newcastle United are progressively regarding Eddie Howe's side as an inconsistent ally. At their brilliant best, they can be the ultimate entertainers, delivering high-octane displays. But, in other matches, key players like their midfield linchpin and his teammates utterly go missing. Compounding the frustration is a second-half strategy laced with a worrying streak of chaos. Before their Boxing Day to Manchester United, the facts paint a troubling tale: they have squandered 13 vital top-flight leverage from winning positions this campaign and are without a clean sheet in 10 straight outings across all competitions. Securing victory at Old Trafford would constitute only their second domestic triumph on the travel this season. A Story of Two Sides: Hope Within the Unpredictability On the flip side, defeat has only come on one occasion in their last 6 Premier League encounters, and although sitting in a seemingly lowly 11th place, they remain a only six marks off the highly-prized top four. Factor in an impending two-part League Cup semi-final against Manchester City and a strong chance of moving on to the Champions League last 16, and it is simpler to appreciate the gaffer's cautious positivity. “It's not only about issues,” said the club's manager. “You can see positives too. I am firmly half full at present. I realize everybody else could have a opposing view, but my belief is we're making progress.” The question is: will this squad recapture – or perhaps eclipse – the successes of the previous campaign's cup glory and fifth-place standing? Juggling a hectic fixture list hinders. Fatigue and Strategic Growing Pains The resulting fatigue could explain the failure to maintain a superb first-half performance versus Chelsea, eventually surrendering a 2-0 lead to draw the game. Similarly, it is possibly the culprit for a subdued performance in a damaging defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland, where the team seemed sluggish just a short time after a tough Champions League away day. While on-field instruction is undoubtedly Howe's forte, the relentless schedule of two games a week matches has drastically cut into crucial practice time. This slows the team's tactical adaptation to operating with summer signing their number nine up front, instead of the departed their former star. While hugely gifted, the German forward has not shown the same searing breakaway pace or ferocious defensive work rate. In fact, the side's signature pressing game has at times broken down. Fitness issues to crucial cog Joelinton have not helped, while big-money signings the Swedish winger and Jacob Ramsey have had difficulties settling since their big-money transfers. Shape Debates and Defensive Crises If a switch to a three-man defense could arguably help the team, a worsening defensive injury crisis renders that unlikely. Key defenders will be absent for the next key matches, further testing the squad's depth. At their high-tempo best, they appear almost unstoppable. The problem is sustaining that level for the entire 90 minutes. The typical plan B of sitting back into a passive defensive formation has at times been counterproductive. “The Chelsea match became chaotic at 2-2,” conceded the manager. “However we were going for the victory. Our mentality is to always go out to secure the three points.” The Way Forward: Prioritization What appears required is a balanced approach – with superior ball retention, a midfield capable of dictating the pace, and a sensible willingness to sometimes accept a draw. Yet, a determination to compete on all fronts is pushing finite squad options to their breaking point. This might seem sacrilegious to some, but a different approach in the domestic cups earlier could have eased the current fixture congestion. With critical Champions League and league matches on the agenda, the need to strategically choose focus areas is growing ever more clear. The manager acknowledged the size of the challenge remaining. “Being involved a club of this size, the pressures are immense. Each game is critical. There is progress to be made in the league. We are 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 right direction, but we have a great deal of work to do to become the consistently successful team we want to be. Our capacity to put winning runs has deserted us this season. “The challenge is to reach that standard we know we're capable of. My feeling is that the assurance we can achieve it is growing. But nowadays we have to prove it. It's not all bad in this moment, but the upcoming fixtures will decide a lot.”
Supporters of Newcastle United are progressively regarding Eddie Howe's side as an inconsistent ally. At their brilliant best, they can be the ultimate entertainers, delivering high-octane displays. But, in other matches, key players like their midfield linchpin and his teammates utterly go missing. Compounding the frustration is a second-half strategy laced with a worrying streak of chaos. Before their Boxing Day to Manchester United, the facts paint a troubling tale: they have squandered 13 vital top-flight leverage from winning positions this campaign and are without a clean sheet in 10 straight outings across all competitions. Securing victory at Old Trafford would constitute only their second domestic triumph on the travel this season. A Story of Two Sides: Hope Within the Unpredictability On the flip side, defeat has only come on one occasion in their last 6 Premier League encounters, and although sitting in a seemingly lowly 11th place, they remain a only six marks off the highly-prized top four. Factor in an impending two-part League Cup semi-final against Manchester City and a strong chance of moving on to the Champions League last 16, and it is simpler to appreciate the gaffer's cautious positivity. “It's not only about issues,” said the club's manager. “You can see positives too. I am firmly half full at present. I realize everybody else could have a opposing view, but my belief is we're making progress.” The question is: will this squad recapture – or perhaps eclipse – the successes of the previous campaign's cup glory and fifth-place standing? Juggling a hectic fixture list hinders. Fatigue and Strategic Growing Pains The resulting fatigue could explain the failure to maintain a superb first-half performance versus Chelsea, eventually surrendering a 2-0 lead to draw the game. Similarly, it is possibly the culprit for a subdued performance in a damaging defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland, where the team seemed sluggish just a short time after a tough Champions League away day. While on-field instruction is undoubtedly Howe's forte, the relentless schedule of two games a week matches has drastically cut into crucial practice time. This slows the team's tactical adaptation to operating with summer signing their number nine up front, instead of the departed their former star. While hugely gifted, the German forward has not shown the same searing breakaway pace or ferocious defensive work rate. In fact, the side's signature pressing game has at times broken down. Fitness issues to crucial cog Joelinton have not helped, while big-money signings the Swedish winger and Jacob Ramsey have had difficulties settling since their big-money transfers. Shape Debates and Defensive Crises If a switch to a three-man defense could arguably help the team, a worsening defensive injury crisis renders that unlikely. Key defenders will be absent for the next key matches, further testing the squad's depth. At their high-tempo best, they appear almost unstoppable. The problem is sustaining that level for the entire 90 minutes. The typical plan B of sitting back into a passive defensive formation has at times been counterproductive. “The Chelsea match became chaotic at 2-2,” conceded the manager. “However we were going for the victory. Our mentality is to always go out to secure the three points.” The Way Forward: Prioritization What appears required is a balanced approach – with superior ball retention, a midfield capable of dictating the pace, and a sensible willingness to sometimes accept a draw. Yet, a determination to compete on all fronts is pushing finite squad options to their breaking point. This might seem sacrilegious to some, but a different approach in the domestic cups earlier could have eased the current fixture congestion. With critical Champions League and league matches on the agenda, the need to strategically choose focus areas is growing ever more clear. The manager acknowledged the size of the challenge remaining. “Being involved a club of this size, the pressures are immense. Each game is critical. There is progress to be made in the league. We are 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 right direction, but we have a great deal of work to do to become the consistently successful team we want to be. Our capacity to put winning runs has deserted us this season. “The challenge is to reach that standard we know we're capable of. My feeling is that the assurance we can achieve it is growing. But nowadays we have to prove it. It's not all bad in this moment, but the upcoming fixtures will decide a lot.”