Newcastle ‘remain committed’ to Matthias Jaissle despite a Steve Bruce-era mood descending on St James’ Park under the new Magpies boss.
Newcastle paid Al Ahli £8.3m in the summer to release Jaissle from his contract and bring him in as the replacement for Eddie Howe.
A summer overhaul saw Sandro Tonali, Bruno Gumaraes and Anthony Gordon all leave the club and Newcastle commit around £300m on eight young players, none aged over 24.
They’ve endured a predictably tough start to the season with so many new players and a manager fresh to the Premier League.
After a promising start which saw them win four of their opening seven games, losing just one, they’re now on a run of four defeats in five which has ramped up the pressure on Jaissle.
But The Athletic report that Jaissle’s position ‘is not under immediate threat’ and the hierarchy ‘remain committed’ to the 38-year-old, though ‘this should not be mistaken for contentment with the team’s present form and the manner of their recent performances’.
Jaissle accused the team of not following the “plan” after Monday’s defeat to Everton, and reports of ‘confusion’ over the coach’s instructions followed.
The manager backtracked on those comments in his pre-Fulham press conference, suggesting there had been a “misinterpretation” thanks to a “language barrier”.
In reference to CEO David Hopkinson coining the phrase “Newcastle 2.0” following an all-change summer, The Wor Flags supporters group insisted after the latest defeat to Everton that ‘This is Newcastle 0.2 not 2.0… Pathetic’ on social media, while the nufc.com website harked back to the Steve Bruce days.
“Watching this game brought it home to us that the disconnect between those on and off the pitch is at a level we’ve not endured since the (Steve) Bruce-era COVID lockout days. Deeply troubling,” they said.
Hopkinson, sporting director Ross Wilson and performance director James Bunce ‘have been analysing and reviewing what is happening’ and ‘continue to back’ Jaissle and a supportive approach is the best way forward.
The Athletic report adds:
‘An adjustment period had always been factored in given the deliberate shift towards youth, but in private there is an acknowledgement that certain performances have not been good enough.
‘There is no panic, though, they insist. Newcastle have 11 points after nine matches, just one fewer than their total at this stage last season. While they are not satisfied with that tally, decision-makers remain convinced Jaissle and their signings will improve. Positive results should follow is the theory.’
When asked if he feels under pressure ahead of the trip to Fulham on Saturday, Jaissle said: “The nice part is I got even more the feeling from within the club how committed they (the hierarchy) are and that’s something really important in a week where there are rumours. This is something we cannot influence; that was good to feel. But I try not being distracted.
“That just shows me that everyone believes in the long-term project and that everyone is also aware and realistic about the journey and where we are right now.”
Although he preached patience, Jaissle accepted he needed to “improve things” and “we have some aspects where we need to do better”.
“There’s a lot of storm at the moment,” Jaissle said. “I try to handle the things we can handle, what I can influence and try to be the eye in the storm.”
