Matthias Jaissle's biggest challenge as Newcastle United head coach this season will be getting belief back into the club's supporters after a bruising summer, according to former Magpies boss Ruud Gullit.
Gullit fears it is going to be a difficult first season at the helm for the former RB Salzburg and Al-Ahli boss, who is a little over two weeks into his role after succeeding Eddie Howe earlier this month.
Key players such as Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier have all left the club, while the Magpies have made six summer signings all aged 24 or under.
Gullit's verdict on Newcastle's instability
Gullit says the 'instability' he is seeing on Tyneside is 'difficult' for him to watch, with a lot of unknowns and uncertainty heading into the new season.
"I feel for Newcastle and their supporters," Gullit told NY Sports Day. "Eddie Howe did an incredible job restoring pride, delivering a trophy, and qualifying for the Champions League – exactly what that fanbase deserved."
"But the grand narrative of the owners signing the world's elite players hasn't materialised, key players have departed, and there's widespread uncertainty surrounding the club's direction."
"Because of the summer that Newcastle have had, the biggest challenge will be getting that belief back into the fans; the city."
Allardyce draws comparison with Leeds
Gullit added: "Newcastle are going to be in for a really difficult season. They’ve recruited a lot of young players without Premier League experience while losing their best players – it’s going to be tough for them and the manager."
Another former Newcastle boss, Sam Allardyce, fears the situation is similar to when Leeds United appointed former RB Salzburg boss Jesse Marsch.
"On the appointment of Matthias Jaissle, the internal factor is that the Saudis own the football club," Allardyce told BOYLE Sports and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football. "Someone’s persuaded the owners that this lad is good enough to work at Newcastle United."
"I often think that if you want to be a big coach and develop your career at a young age, but take a job at the Saudi Pro League, what does that say about you? He’s just going for the money."
"He was also at Red Bull Salzburg before. We saw how the Red Bull ownership scenario ended up at Leeds when they appointed Jesse Marsch, who was doing great but then become a disaster at Leeds. Coming to the Premier League is a whole new world with what you have to cope with, and coping with the Newcastle fans too."
