Well, there can be no doubt now that Newcastle United have some serious problems under Matthias Jaissle, whose Magpies side have been condemned to another defeat in the Premier League.
Newcastle were always going to enter a transitional phase after so much upheaval this summer, but there’s no question that there are some rather concerning issues that may begin to threaten the 38-year-old German’s reign.
Jaissle must be allowed time to ring the changes, but he needs to iron out unnecessary creases quickly.
Where Newcastle went wrong vs Aston Villa
Newcastle trudged off the field at full-time, distraught. The Magpies have now lost back-to-back games in the Premier League. This was their first loss at St. James’ Park.
There are positives to take away, but Newcastle’s aggressiveness has been horribly outweighed by profligacy in the final third and an inability to control the flow of the match in midfield.
Sven Botman suffered a red card scare during the first half. The Dutch defender avoided purgatory, but his tough start to the campaign continues, having made five direct defensive errors across only seven Premier League games.
Jaissle is being let down by his players. In attack, Yoane Wissa‘s strong start to the season has proved to be a false dawn, with the Magpies star lacking authority and conviction.
How Yoane Wissa played vs Aston Villa
Last summer, Newcastle tried and tried to replace Alexander Isak up top, but were fruitless until the later stage of the window.
They ended up with Wissa, signing the experienced Premier League striker from Brentford for north of £50m. He was joined by Nick Woltemade, who has already been shovelled out to Juventus on loan.
Over the opening weeks of the season, Wissa appeared to be much-improved for the Magpies. Last season was a non-starter, but he has now faded, poor once again against Villa.
It’s fair to say that Newcastle could do with a more clinical and dynamic striker. A fit and on-form William Osula would do the trick, but the young star has been on the fringes this term, fighting against injury.
Late on, Wissa blew a fantastic side to draw Newcastle level, leaving Harvey Barnes incredulous at having not played him through. Jaissle has opted to tweak the DR Congo international’s role, dropping him deeper, but he’s not producing the right results.
Analyst Raj Chohan has already called him out. “He simply doesn’t have the intelligence & technical ability to play that role“, the BBC Sport contributor said. Now back at centre-forward, he’s still struggling, but there are Toon forwards out there who have been even worse this season.
Newcastle star is even making Wissa look good
It was an abject evening for the Magpies in front of goal. Chance after chance they squandered, and the fact Johan Manzambi netted the winner added insult to injury, with Aston Villa having hijacked Newcastle’s move for the springy Swiss midfielder.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo can safely say he wasn’t culpable for such wastefulness, though, having failed to take a single shot against Unai Emery’s outfit.
The Belgian arrived on Tyneside last summer as Newcastle’s marquee signing. He joined from Lille for £50m. There’s no question the versatile attacker has potential, but he lacks clarity and conviction, putting in another poor performance against the Villa.
Jaissle appears to be fed up with the 21-year-old’s anonymity as a striker. Fernandez-Pardo believes his best position is up top, but he has offered next to nothing in that berth, and this time, on the right, he still failed to impress, only completing seven passes and failing to create a single chance.
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Matias Fernandez-Pardo vs Aston Villa |
|
|---|---|
|
Match Stats |
# |
|
Minuted played |
56′ |
|
Goals + Assists |
0 + 0 |
|
Touches |
19 |
|
Shots (on target) |
0 (0) |
|
Accurate passes |
7/9 (78%) |
|
Chances created |
0 |
|
Crosses completed |
0/2 |
|
Succ. dribbles |
1/2 |
|
Ball recoveries |
1 |
|
Def. contributions |
1 |
|
Duels won |
4/9 |
He might be energetic and something of a pressing machine, but Fernandez-Pardo is on his way to being dropped, yet to acclimatise to life in the Premier League.
There is no question that Fernandez-Pardo has the potential to become a top Premier League forward, but once again, he’s flattered to deceive at the start of the Jaissle era.
Newcastle don’t have the time to ease the Belgian in over a number of months. They have to win at Crystal Palace next weekend, and there’s a strong case that Fernandez-Pardo shouldn’t be in the starting line-up.
