Matthias Jaissle lays the foundations for Newcastle’s revival despite attacking struggles

An analysis suggests Matthias Jaissle has begun laying the foundations for Newcastle United to improve, despite inconsistent results and persistent attacking problems. The team are eighth in the Premier League, two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea, after losing key players such as Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier.

Newcastle’s defensive indicators have improved after a difficult start. According to data from Gradient Sports, the team’s rankings in duels and tackles rose from nineteenth and nineteenth over the first four weeks to seventh and sixth over the next four weeks. Their positioning rating also improved, from thirteenth to third. The ranking for the centre-backs’ average performance rose from sixteenth to eighth, that for the full-backs from fourth to first, and that for aerial duels from eighth to first. However, Sven Botman made five errors leading to shots, the highest number in the league this season, according to the source.

The improvement extended to midfield, where Lewis Miley took on greater responsibility after the departures of Guimarães and Tonali. His rating rose by an average of 11.15 points between the two periods being compared, while Nico González’s rating increased by 9.20 points. By contrast, the wingers’ average performance ranking fell from ninth to eighteenth, while the forwards’ ranking rose from nineteenth to eighteenth. Newcastle ranked sixteenth for expected goals per match and chance quality, and shared thirteenth place for shots.

The analysis attributes some of the attacking weakness to the departures of Alexander Isak and Gordon, arguing that their replacements have not filled the void. It also notes that Jaissle has yet to settle on a starting line-up or develop an attacking system that creates clear chances.

Newcastle’s most recent match against Crystal Palace offered some positive signs, as Jaissle made five changes after three defeats in four matches. Dan Burn and Fabian Schär helped Newcastle keep their first clean sheet in two months, while Jacob Murphy and Amar Dedić set up goals for William Osula and Harvey Barnes. González also played in a more advanced position and was more involved in building attacks. After a quiet first half, the team scored twice in the first 13 minutes of the second half.

However, the analysis warns against treating the win over Palace as a turning point, citing Newcastle’s defeat to Everton on Thursday as a reminder that the team remain inconsistent. It describes the side as being in a transitional phase after the departure of key players, and argues that turning the improvement into a sustained challenge for European qualification depends on becoming more effective in the final third.