Newcastle United are preparing for a difficult sequence of fixtures after the November international break, but there is a view that head coach Matthias Jaissle will thrive during this period. Opta revealed earlier this week that Newcastle have statistically had the easiest opening 10 fixtures of any Premier League side this season. With Jaissle's team sitting in 12th place after that run, there are concerns they could drop further down the table over the next four games.
Upcoming Fixtures
When United return from the international break, they will face table-toppers Arsenal at St James' Park before travelling to second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion a week later. They then welcome Manchester United and fierce rivals Sunderland to St James' Park within five days. This run could prove decisive for the former RB Salzburg and Al Ahli head coach.
Big-Game Pedigree
In Saudi Arabia, Jaissle's team thrived in big matches against other PIF-owned clubs, including Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and local rivals Al Ittihad, and his good record in those games earned him favour with the club's fans. When Al Ahli attempted to replace Jaissle midway through his second season with former AC Milan and Juventus boss Max Allegri, supporters created an online petition to keep him.
Jaissle went on to win back-to-back Asian Champions Leagues before joining Newcastle, but his methods have not fully won over supporters given the performances seen from his side, which won just one of their last six games between the previous international break and this one. With Newcastle as close to the top six as they are to the relegation zone, the season could go either way, but Jaissle will point to his record in Saudi as reason for optimism heading into this tough run.
Fan Support
Saudi football expert Mohammed Qoutb told Chronicle Live: "The fans rallied behind Jaissle, and this is one quality he had with Al Ahli, the connection between him and the local fans. And this was, I think, established through big performances against big clubs. So when we talked about the derby against Al Ittihad, they always did well."
"Against Al Hilal and against Al Nassr, these are the games that matter. These are the games that the fans always turn up to, and he did really well. He impressed with his tactics and his way to plan for these games. So the fans rallied behind him on social media. They even started a campaign to sack the sporting director and the CEO, and Jaissle had made it clear that he needed players at this point."
Qoutb added that the club was still in the Champions League and mid-season signed winger Galeno from FC Porto, with the final phase of the Champions League held in Jeddah, their local hometown. He noted that Galeno and Saudi international striker Firas Al-Buraikan came to Al Ahli, and the club made the Asian Champions League its sole objective for the rest of the season. Jaissle de-registered Roberto Firmino from the squad eligible for the Saudi League, dedicating him specifically for the Asian Champions League, and the club went on to win the competition, beating Al Hilal in the semi-final.
"So this gave him the authority to do whatever he wants with Al Ahli. He's treated like a king in Al Ahli and it's amazing how his fortunes have shifted massively from a guy who was on the edge of being sacked to a man who was treated like royalty in town in less than three or four months," Qoutb said.
"So the main element is him smartly playing along the lines of yes, we're underdogs, we're not spending as much, we're still coming back from the second division and we need time. And fans buying into it through performances at big games. And I think so much would change for Jaissle, if he manages to win the Sunderland derby, for example. That's something Newcastle fans struggled with last season, to see Sunderland coming from the Championship and winning home and away. If he manages to get one of these big wins, I think so much will change."
