Former Newcastle United winger Chris Waddle has said head coach Matthias Jaissle 'needs a Plan B' but must be 'given time' to implement his vision after a damaging week for the club. Waddle believes the team needs to pick up results, regardless of performances, to change the mood around St James' Park.
Jaissle suffered back-to-back defeats last week for the first time as Newcastle boss. United were beaten 4-1 at newly promoted Coventry City before a first home defeat of the campaign against Aston Villa. That left Newcastle in the bottom half of the table heading into the weekend, with criticism focused on Jaissle's system, the ease with which opponents have played through them, and worrying underlying defensive numbers.
Waddle's Verdict on Jaissle's Style
Speaking to Chronicle Live on behalf of NetBet casino UK, Waddle said: "He needs a Plan B. He is obviously asking his team to play with a high intensity, pressing the opposition and playing on the front foot, but you can’t do that for the whole game."
"We’ve seen it a few times where they’ve come flying out in the first half, but then after 20 or 25 minutes they look tired, they go flat and there doesn’t seem to be another style of play for them to turn to," Waddle added. "It’s going to come down to results, not performances. You can play well, but if you lose then people will still criticise you. From what I’ve seen so far they’re not a bad side, they’re just lacking experience."
Bottom Half Expectations
Waddle suggested a recalibration of expectations is needed this season, with a bottom-half finish more likely than European qualification. "He has maintained the front-footed style of football, which is obviously what the fans want, rather than reverting to playing more defensive and trying to nick goals on the counter," he said. "The fans prefer that style, but I don’t necessarily think it’s going to produce positive results."
"They have to give him time. He’s working with a lot of young players and they will take time to come good. The squad is still a good one, but I think they’ll be competing in the bottom half rather than the top half this season," Waddle concluded.
Upcoming Fixtures
Newcastle will look to return to winning ways on Sunday when they face struggling Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, before travelling to Everton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Thursday.
