Have Newcastle gone stale? – Issues to fix and major weakness exposed

Watching Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Brighton, two things became obvious as we showed no sign of mounting a comeback in what can only be described as a miserable second half display.

1. Are we becoming too predictable and 2. why on earth have we not signed a new right-winger when it’s been a glaring weakness in our side for far too long.

 Fabian Hürzeler threw everyone for a loop when the team sheets were published. Mitoma benched, Minteh absent and the team set up in a 4-4-2 with the rarely-seen-through-injury Evan Ferguson starting up front with the in-form Danny Welbeck.  

The German also made the first substitution of the match on 60 minutes in a proactive move to try and change the game. When Welbeck departed via injury, he sent on a central defender and shifted to a three at the back with four wingers/attackers playing across the frontline instead of a striker. 

When Eddie Howe made a double change on 65 minutes (Willock and Barnes for Tonali and Murphy) it all felt so stale, so predictable, like those changes would’ve been made no matter what the game situation. Isak couldn’t hit a barn door with a horse’s **** on Saturday afternoon, but he played the full 90 and Osula only got five minutes in another predictable move. Stop Gordon cutting inside onto his right foot = no threat.

I’m pleased that Eddie didn’t get the England job and I’m desperate for him to do well for Newcastle, but we seem, from the outside looking in, to be so easily found out by the opposition. It’s worrying. Too many of our star players aren’t performing, we’re still working to find balance in midfield, we’re struggling to fit Gordon and Barnes into the same side, we’re working with one fit striker – who looks short on confidence – and we’re facing the after effects of a summer that saw us stand still. 

Then to the right-wing and Jacob Murphy. This point is going to try to be as constructive as possible, but he was atrocious yesterday and I struggle…

Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/10/21/has-eddie-howes-newcastle-gone-stale-issues-to-fix-and-major-weakness-exposed/

Author : Jonathan Young

Publish date : 2024-10-21 11:59:22

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