Puzzling and Enchanting Newcastle Pursue Answer to Curb Chaos
Supporters of Newcastle United are progressively seeing Eddie Howe's outfit as an unreliable companion. On their day, they prove to be the ultimate entertainers, producing high-octane displays. Yet, in other matches, previously reliable players like their midfield linchpin and his teammates utterly do not show up.
Exacerbating this issue is a late-game strategy laced with a worrying tendency of chaos. Ahead of their Boxing Day to Old Trafford, the statistics paint a troubling story: the team has dropped thirteen vital Premier League points from leading positions this campaign and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 consecutive matches across all competitions. Earning victory at Old Trafford would constitute only their second league success on the road this season.
A Tale of Two Sides: Hope Among the Inconsistency
On the flip side, a loss has been tasted on one occasion in their previous 6 Premier League fixtures, and although sitting in a seemingly lowly eleventh spot, they remain a mere six marks behind the highly-prized Champions League places. Consider an upcoming two-part Carabao Cup last-four clash against Manchester City and a reasonable opportunity of progressing to the European Cup knockout phase, and it becomes easier to see the manager's guarded optimism.
“We don't just have difficulties,” said the team's head coach. “We have positives also. My glass is firmly positive at present. I realize everybody else may hold a different view, but I feel we're making progress.”
The challenge remains: can this group recapture – or perhaps surpass – the achievements of last season's Wembley triumph and European-qualifying standing? Balancing a packed calendar complicates.
Fatigue and Tactical Growing Pains
This fatigue may explain the inability to sustain a stellar first-half performance versus their London rivals, eventually letting slip a two-goal advantage to draw the game. Similarly, it could be the reason for a poor display in a painful defeat to local rivals the Black Cats, where the team appeared off the pace just days after a tough Champions League excursion.
While coaching is clearly Howe's forte, the relentless schedule of two games a week football has drastically cut into valuable coaching sessions. This slows the team's stylistic evolution to playing with summer signing their number nine leading the line, instead of the departed their former star. While immensely skilled, the German forward does not possess the equivalent electric counter-attacking pace or relentless pressing.
Indeed, the team's previously effective pressing game has sporadically malfunctioned. Injuries to key engine Joelinton have not helped, while high-profile arrivals Anthony Elanga and the English midfielder have found it tough settling since their combined £90m+ moves.
Shape Questions and Defensive Woes
If a move to a back three might theoretically assist the team, a worsening defensive injury crisis makes that unlikely. Important full-backs will be unavailable for the upcoming crucial matches, challenging the team's resilience.
At their high-tempo best, they seem virtually unplayable. The catch is sustaining that intensity for the entire 90 minutes. The go-to alternative approach of sitting back into a deep-lying counter-attacking shape has sometimes proven self-destructive.
“The Chelsea match descended into disorganized at two-all,” admitted the manager. “However we were trying to win. Our mentality is to always go out to win.”
The Way Forward: Prioritization
What appears required is a middle ground – one featuring superior ball control, a midfield adept of slowing the tempo, and a sensible readiness to sometimes accept a point. Yet, a ambition to compete on every fronts is pushing limited player numbers to their breaking point.
It may appear heretical to some, but a different strategy in the cup competitions in the initial stages could have alleviated the current fixture congestion. Amid vital Champions League and Premier League matches on the horizon, the need to carefully prioritize is becoming increasingly apparent.
The manager recognized the size of the challenge ahead. “When you're at a club of this size, the expectations are big. Every moment's pivotal. We have work to do in the league. We're in the Carabao Cup last four, we want to progress in the Europe and do well in the FA Cup.
“We're moving in the right direction, but we have lots of improvement to do to transform into the consistently winning team we want to be. Our capacity to put winning runs has eluded us so far.
“The objective is to attain those heights we are aware we're able to reach. The internal belief is that the assurance we can achieve it is growing. But now we have to demonstrate it. It's not all doom and gloom currently, but the next few weeks will shape a great deal.”