🔗 Share this article Puzzling & Bewitching The Magpies Search for Remedy to Curb Disorder Fans of the Tyneside club are more and more seeing their manager's squad as an unreliable friend. When everything clicks, they transform into the ultimate thrill-seekers, delivering high-intensity performances. However, at other times, previously reliable figures like Sandro Tonali and his teammates completely do not show up. Adding to these problems is a late-game game management riddled with a worrying tendency of disorganization. Ahead of their holiday fixture to Manchester United, the statistics tell a sobering tale: the team has let slip 13 crucial top-flight points from leading positions this campaign and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 straight matches across all competitions. Claiming victory at their famous stadium would represent only their second-ever domestic triumph on the travel this year. A Story of Two Sides: Optimism Within the Inconsistency Conversely, defeat has been tasted on one occasion in their previous six league fixtures, and despite occupying a seemingly lowly eleventh spot, they remain a mere six marks away from the highly-prized Champions League places. Add in an upcoming two-legged League Cup last-four clash against the reigning champions and a reasonable opportunity of advancing to the European Cup last 16, and it becomes simpler to see the gaffer's guarded hope. “Our issues aren't limited to problems,” remarked the team's boss. “You can see strengths as well. My glass is decidedly optimistic currently. I realize others could have a different view, but in my view we're getting better.” The challenge is: can this collection of players recapture – or perhaps eclipse – the achievements of last season's Wembley triumph and European-qualifying finish? Juggling a hectic calendar hinders. Exhaustion and Tactical Teething Problems This heavy-leggedness may account for the inability to maintain a brilliant first-half showing versus Chelsea, ultimately surrendering a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2. Likewise, it could be the culprit for a subdued performance in a painful loss to arch-rivals the Black Cats, where the side seemed sluggish just days after a demanding European excursion. While coaching is clearly Howe's forte, the constant grind of two games a week matches has drastically reduced valuable coaching hours. This hinders the team's tactical adjustment to operating with summer signing their number nine leading the line, rather than the now departed Alexander Isak. While immensely skilled, Woltemade lacks the equivalent searing counter-attacking pace or intense defensive work rate. Indeed, the side's signature pressing game has at times failed. Injuries to vital component Joelinton have been a factor, while high-profile arrivals Anthony Elanga and the English midfielder have found it tough settling since their big-money transfers. System Debates and Defensive Woes While a change to a three-man defense could theoretically help the cause, a full-blown defensive absence list makes that difficult. First-choice defenders will be missing for the next key matches, further testing the squad's resources. At their high-tempo peak, they seem virtually unplayable. The catch is maintaining that level for the entire match. The go-to plan B of dropping deep into a deep-lying defensive formation has sometimes proven counterproductive. “That game became disorganized at 2-2,” admitted the manager. “However we were going for the victory. Our mentality is to always try to secure the three points.” The Way Forward: Pragmatism What seems necessary is a pragmatic solution – involving better ball control, a midfield adept of dictating the tempo, and a realistic willingness to occasionally accept a draw. However, a ambition to compete on every fronts is stretching limited player options to their limit. It may seem unthinkable to some, but a different strategy in the domestic cups in the initial stages could have eased the current fixture pile-up. With vital Champions League & Premier League matches on the horizon, the necessity to strategically prioritize is becoming ever more obvious. The manager acknowledged the size of the journey ahead. “When you're at a club of this size, the expectations are enormous. Each game is crucial. We have work to do in the Premier League. We are in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, we want 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 work to do to transform into the regularly successful side we envision. The ability to string together sequences of victories has deserted us this season. “The task is to attain those levels we are aware we're able to reach. I believe that the confidence to do that is growing. But now we have to demonstrate it. It ain't all bad in this moment, but the coming period will shape a great deal.”
Fans of the Tyneside club are more and more seeing their manager's squad as an unreliable friend. When everything clicks, they transform into the ultimate thrill-seekers, delivering high-intensity performances. However, at other times, previously reliable figures like Sandro Tonali and his teammates completely do not show up. Adding to these problems is a late-game game management riddled with a worrying tendency of disorganization. Ahead of their holiday fixture to Manchester United, the statistics tell a sobering tale: the team has let slip 13 crucial top-flight points from leading positions this campaign and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 straight matches across all competitions. Claiming victory at their famous stadium would represent only their second-ever domestic triumph on the travel this year. A Story of Two Sides: Optimism Within the Inconsistency Conversely, defeat has been tasted on one occasion in their previous six league fixtures, and despite occupying a seemingly lowly eleventh spot, they remain a mere six marks away from the highly-prized Champions League places. Add in an upcoming two-legged League Cup last-four clash against the reigning champions and a reasonable opportunity of advancing to the European Cup last 16, and it becomes simpler to see the gaffer's guarded hope. “Our issues aren't limited to problems,” remarked the team's boss. “You can see strengths as well. My glass is decidedly optimistic currently. I realize others could have a different view, but in my view we're getting better.” The challenge is: can this collection of players recapture – or perhaps eclipse – the achievements of last season's Wembley triumph and European-qualifying finish? Juggling a hectic calendar hinders. Exhaustion and Tactical Teething Problems This heavy-leggedness may account for the inability to maintain a brilliant first-half showing versus Chelsea, ultimately surrendering a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2. Likewise, it could be the culprit for a subdued performance in a painful loss to arch-rivals the Black Cats, where the side seemed sluggish just days after a demanding European excursion. While coaching is clearly Howe's forte, the constant grind of two games a week matches has drastically reduced valuable coaching hours. This hinders the team's tactical adjustment to operating with summer signing their number nine leading the line, rather than the now departed Alexander Isak. While immensely skilled, Woltemade lacks the equivalent searing counter-attacking pace or intense defensive work rate. Indeed, the side's signature pressing game has at times failed. Injuries to vital component Joelinton have been a factor, while high-profile arrivals Anthony Elanga and the English midfielder have found it tough settling since their big-money transfers. System Debates and Defensive Woes While a change to a three-man defense could theoretically help the cause, a full-blown defensive absence list makes that difficult. First-choice defenders will be missing for the next key matches, further testing the squad's resources. At their high-tempo peak, they seem virtually unplayable. The catch is maintaining that level for the entire match. The go-to plan B of dropping deep into a deep-lying defensive formation has sometimes proven counterproductive. “That game became disorganized at 2-2,” admitted the manager. “However we were going for the victory. Our mentality is to always try to secure the three points.” The Way Forward: Pragmatism What seems necessary is a pragmatic solution – involving better ball control, a midfield adept of dictating the tempo, and a realistic willingness to occasionally accept a draw. However, a ambition to compete on every fronts is stretching limited player options to their limit. It may seem unthinkable to some, but a different strategy in the domestic cups in the initial stages could have eased the current fixture pile-up. With vital Champions League & Premier League matches on the horizon, the necessity to strategically prioritize is becoming ever more obvious. The manager acknowledged the size of the journey ahead. “When you're at a club of this size, the expectations are enormous. Each game is crucial. We have work to do in the Premier League. We are in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, we want 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 work to do to transform into the regularly successful side we envision. The ability to string together sequences of victories has deserted us this season. “The task is to attain those levels we are aware we're able to reach. I believe that the confidence to do that is growing. But now we have to demonstrate it. It ain't all bad in this moment, but the coming period will shape a great deal.”