Under-fire Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has been handed an ultimatum over his tenure: change tactics or face getting into more difficulty. The Magpies have lost four of their last five games, with only a strong second-half showing against Crystal Palace providing a positive result as his style of play and coaching come under scrutiny.
Booed off after Everton defeat
Newcastle were booed off on Monday night as they sank to a dismal defeat against Everton. The home side failed to control the game, did not get a shot on target until the 85th minute and generally disappointed the Toon faithful at St James' Park.
Jaissle's 'vertical football' philosophy has come under criticism, with many observers suggesting the direct approach is stifling creativity and attacking threat. However, Jaissle came out after the Everton defeat and insisted he had not told the players to fire as many long balls at the opposition defence.
Pundit urges patience but demands change
Pundit Ashley Young believes Jaissle needs time as he tries to rebuild a team that has lost leaders on the pitch and in the dressing room, but says the tactics have to change if the German is to reverse the fortunes.
"I think he's going to be disappointed," Young said on Overlap Daily about the Everton game. "And you've even seen quotes from him saying that they played too much long ball. What they worked on during the week didn't come out in the game, and I think it's been hard for the fans, for him."
"When you get rid of basically the nucleus of the team, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, you've got Kieran Trippier that we played with. You've got leaders like that. When you lose that and, of course, they've brought in players, younger players, it's going to take time to adjust."
High-intensity style questioned
Young also questioned whether the team can maintain its high-intensity approach. "It's a style of football that is high intensity. They are front footed, literally at times 3-1-6. It's all go; but I don't think they can maintain that for 90 minutes. So, there's going to have to be a change."
He added that the club has not replaced Alexander Isak. "Nick Woltemade came in and he looked all right when he first came in. Then, obviously, he's gone out on loan. Yoane Wissa's been injured. He's come back. They looked all right. When you don't replace a striker like that in a team, and we know, when you don't got a focal point scoring goals, the confidence at the top end of the pitch, it's going to be difficult, whatever."
Elanga's return from injury
Anthony Elanga was the forward who came closest to scoring against Everton, his effort hitting the post and spinning back off the goalline. However, it was the only real moment of note from the winger, who struggled to make an impact on his first start after returning from injury.
Elanga was one of the bright sparks in the first few weeks of the season but will need time to get back to full fitness and trust his body after a hamstring injury, says Young. "I think it's mental and psychological, because, like you say, if you tear a hamstring or you tear a groin or whatever, you're then thinking to yourself, even during the week in training, oh, have I just felt something there?" he added via SkyVegas. "Then you get into a game, and a manager will say to you, right, we want to play counter-attacking football. Literally, we get it and you've just got to go. And you've seen Anthony Elanga, the way he does, he is rapid. I know playing against him, I've got to give myself 10 or 20 yards, because I know if he gets going, I need that head start before he goes. So, it's odd, because when you want to go straight away and you've had an injury, it's always playing on the back of your mind. It's always there. It is hard. It's tough."
