Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar discarded a tactical note from head coach Matthias Jaissle in the closing stages against Everton, as the manager attempted a late switch to salvage the game. The note indicated Jaissle was ready to commit six players forward, but the former Switzerland international quickly dropped it to the floor.
One of the half-dozen players instructed to overload Everton, Bazoumana Toure, had handed Schar the paper before creating a late chance for Yoane Wissa. Toure was told to operate on the left with Jacob Murphy on the right wing, while Wissa and William Osula led the line as a front two, supported by Jacob Ramsey and Harvey Barnes behind them.
Lack of Cutting Edge Leaves Newcastle 13th
A lack of precision at the decisive moment left Newcastle in 13th place in the table. Tensions surfaced after the match in Jaissle's press conference, where he admitted the players were not following his instructions.
After the bold plan fell short, Jaissle said: "We were not brave enough to break the line and play on the ground. We saw it in training, but there was almost nothing to see from these aspects in the game. In possession, this was not the level we wanted to see."
Good training performances offer little consolation to supporters, but Jaissle will continue to push his philosophy. Seeing his tactical note abandoned will not sit well behind the scenes, though he is working with a squad that is not his own. Until he gets a chance to work through at least one transfer window, it is difficult to blame the German head coach entirely.
Controversial Winner and Ramsey Red Card
After a VAR offside check, the officials appeared to overlook the fact that Thierno Barry had elbowed Schar on his way through before scoring the winner. That left Newcastle's bench furious with referee John Brooks and his team, and Jaissle did not hold back in his post-match comments.
He said: "In my eyes it is clearly a foul so a disallowed goal. Everything comes together. There's a foul then we are not awake and they can penetrate our box. Also a referee decision where I think he was wrong."
Jacob Ramsey was sent off for the second season running in a big game at St James' Park, earning an unwanted record. He became the first substitute to be sent off since Jonjo Shelvey's appearance from the bench in the first game of the PIF era during the 3-2 loss to Spurs. There were just 86 seconds between Ramsey's first (95:57) and second (97:23) yellow card. Ramsey was also sent off for two yellows against Manchester United last season.
