Excitement is bubbling around St James’ Park, but so is uncertainty.
For a large section of the fanbase, there is still a period of recovery following the departures of Eddie Howe and Bruno Guimarães within a week of each other. Two figures who had become so central to the identity of this Newcastle side are suddenly gone.
Matthias Jaissle now takes the reins, with the German an intriguing appointment. At 38, he arrives with an impressive CV, having won Austrian league titles with RB Salzburg before guiding Al-Ahli to successive Asian Champions League triumphs.
His teams are built around intensity, pressing, and attacking with purpose, which is an exciting prospect for any football fan. However, the caveat to that is that if you asked most Newcastle fans where the team will finish this season, the answers would be as diverse as they come.
Encouraging signs have been shown during pre-season, particularly in the way the team is attempting to press from the front. But there have also been concerns defensively, with the side winning just two of their seven pre-season matches, although it is important to note that Jaissle has only been in charge for four of those games.
New start for Newcastle
The defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg last weekend on home soil highlighted some of the structural problems still needing attention, which is not necessarily a criticism of Jaissle, but a reflection of the scale of change at the football club, which is showing on the grass.
With the transfer window entering the latter stages, Jaissle must receive significant backing over the next few weeks.
A creative number ten feels essential, whilst an older, experienced, or Premier League-proven midfielder, ideally capable of playing as a six, would give this young squad some much-needed authority.
The club and Sporting Director Ross Wilson can’t be accused of not being proactive this summer, with both incomings and outgoings, but now the calibre of the next arrivals matters.
Recruits Bazoumana Touré and Sean Steur have already shown plenty to get excited about, but the club need to demonstrate that their recruitment strategy can combine potential with proven quality.
The arrival of Amar Dedić perhaps hints at a subtle shift. Rather than solely chasing future potential resale value, Newcastle have recently targeted players whom Jaissle knows, understands, or specifically wants
The Borussia Dortmund model has been mentioned repeatedly, but even the yellow wall needs experienced players in its ranks.
A statement signing would certainly lift the mood. With a reported move for Manchester City’s Nico González, he’s the type of transfer that would provide precisely that sort of boost whilst addressing a glaring midfield need.
But ultimately, Jaissle cannot be judged properly after a handful of matches.
Newcastle supporters know this better than most. Think back to Rafa Benítez. Even when the relationship between the manager and Mike Ashley’s board was strained and was impacting results, his name continued to ring around St James’ Park because supporters understood what they had in the dugout. There was a belief that he was fighting for the same things the fans were every week.
We saw something similar with Howe last season. Results were poor, yet the stands continued to back him and chant his name on a Saturday.
Jaissle deserves the same opportunity. He has the background. He plays front-foot football. He is energetic, animated, and frankly, a little bit of a loon on the touchline. The ingredients all Newcastle fans embrace.
What is important is that Jaissle remains positive and energetic. Performances will matter just as much as results in those early weeks, as he looks to establish his ideas and begin building his own team.
One decision that seems right and organic is presenting the captaincy to Dan Burn. The lad from Blyth understands what’s expected; he understands the supporters, and as an England international, can set the standards both on and off the pitch. For a new manager finding his feet, having someone like Burn alongside him could prove invaluable.
And that is ultimately the underlying point. Jaissle needs time to settle into the North-East, comprehend what the club means to its supporters, and put his own stamp on the team.
Newcastle United, both in the stands and in the boardroom, need to give him that time.