Newcastle star looks like their biggest downgrade since Ben Arfa to Murphy

Five games into his first Premier League campaign in the dugout and Matthias Jaissle can have few complaints. After such a major transition in the summer, with the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes leaving, many expected Newcastle United to be lingering in the bottom half.

So far, though, there have been plenty of signs that Jaissle is the man for the job, with eight points from a possible 15 leaving the Magpies within touching distance of the European places.

REUTERS/Lee Smith

That’s not to say there aren’t any problems, though. One summer signing is already feeling the frustration of those at St James’ Park and looks as though he may well be their biggest downgrade since a certain Hatem Ben Arfa to Jacob Murphy.

Why Newcastle went from Ben Arfa to Murphy

In many ways, it feels like yesterday when Alan Pardew was in the dugout at St James’ Park. The veteran manager can now be seen advertising Uber Eats, but there was a time when he was headbutting David Meyler and watching Ben Arfa do what he had the ability to do better than most.

It simply wouldn’t be an international break without mentioning the tricky Frenchman. It is mandatory to watch his individual goal against Bolton Wanderers and that becomes even more important as this three-week period commences.

In terms of pure talent, Newcastle were always going to struggle when asked to replicate Ben Arfa. He was involved in 29 goals in 82 appearances under Pardew, but left in a whimper in 2015 following a loan spell at Hull City.

And when their magician bowed out, those at St James’ Park suddenly saw their Premier League status disappear – suffering relegation just one year later in 2016.

It took until the following year for another winger to arrive, as Jacob Murphy came through the door fresh from Norwich City – completing a move worth around £12m.

With no disrespect to Murphy, who has since become a reliable player in his own right on Tyneside, he was never the right profile or quality to replace Ben Arfa.

He lacked the same magic and certainly didn’t bring output to cover that. In fact, it took Murphy until the 2024/25 campaign to score eight goals in one Premier League campaign – his best return. He’s been a Newcastle player since 2017.

What’s more concerning, however, is the fact that Newcastle may have just made the same mistake nearly ten years later.

Newcastle have signed another big downgrade

On paper, it would be easy to see why Newcastle targeted Matias Fernandez-Pardo late on in the window if they kept hold of certain players and if Nick Woltemade had worked out. Neither of those things happened, though.

REUTERS/Lee Smith

Instead, they signed a player who is yet to reach the peak of his powers and have asked him to replace what some may consider the irreplaceable at St James’ Park.

Fernandez-Pardo is quick without conviction. He is the version of Anthony Gordon that initially arrived from Everton, but there is no other stars for the new arrival to hide behind or patience to use these days. Newcastle, for all that they’ve lost, remain an ambitious club and need their £51m arrival to perform.

Whilst it has only been three Premier League games, it’s already becoming difficult to see what Fernandez-Pardo will offer right away. After all, this is a player who wasn’t exactly known for his output at LOSC Lille.

Though he impressed last season, the Belgian only scored eight league goals. If he is to lead the line for Jaissle with Yoane Wissa, then that number simply has to improve.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Numbers against Hull City suggest that he’s not a player who can become an out-and-out No.9, either. In 74 minutes, Fernandez-Pardo took just 16 touches, with only one of those coming inside the area. Meanwhile, the majority of his heat map showed time spent out wide on the left-hand side.

The 21-year-old is a willing channel runner, but that is not what Jaissle needs if he is to turn a fine start into a respectable first season in charge.