π Share this article Bewildering & Bewitching The Magpies Pursue Answer to Halt Chaos Fans of the Magpies are more and more seeing the team's side as a fickle friend. At their brilliant best, they prove to be the very life of the party, producing high-intensity exhibitions. But, in other matches, key players like their midfield linchpin and others simply go missing. Adding to these problems is a second-half strategy riddled with a distinct tendency of panic. Ahead of their Boxing Day to Old Trafford, the numbers paint a troubling tale: the team has squandered 13 crucial Premier League leverage from winning situations this campaign and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 consecutive games in every tournament. Securing a win at Old Trafford would be only their second-ever league triumph on the road this year. A Tale of Contrasts: Optimism Amidst the Unpredictability In contrast, a loss has only come once in their most recent six league fixtures, and despite sitting in a seemingly lowly 11th position, they are a only 6 points away from the highly-prized Champions League places. Add in an looming two-legged League Cup semi-final against Manchester City and a decent opportunity of progressing to the European Cup knockout phase, and it is simpler to appreciate the manager's cautious hope. βIt's not only about problems,β said the club's manager. βWe have assets too. My glass is firmly positive at present. I realize outside observers could have a different opinion, but in my view we are getting better.β The question remains: will this collection of players match β or perhaps eclipse β the heights of last season's Wembley triumph and European-qualifying standing? Juggling a hectic schedule makes this difficult. Weariness and Strategic Teething Problems This tiredness might account for the failure to uphold a superb first-half performance versus Chelsea, eventually squandering a two-goal lead to tie the game. Similarly, it could be the reason for a poor display in a painful defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland, where the side looked lethargic just a short time after a grueling European excursion. Although coaching is clearly the manager's specialty, the relentless schedule of two games a week matches has drastically cut into crucial coaching time. This hinders the team's stylistic adjustment to playing with summer signing their number nine up front, instead of the now departed Alexander Isak. While immensely talented, the German forward lacks the same electric counter-attacking speed or ferocious defensive work rate. In fact, the team's previously effective high press has occasionally malfunctioned. Injuries to vital cog Joelinton have been a factor, while big-money arrivals the Swedish winger and Jacob Ramsey have had difficulties settling since their big-money transfers. Formation Debates and Injury Woes If a change to a back three might theoretically benefit the cause, a severe defensive absence list makes that difficult. Key full-backs will be missing for the next key matches, challenging the team's depth. When playing at their ferocious peak, they seem almost unplayable. The problem is maintaining that intensity for the full match. The often-seen plan B of sitting back into a passive defensive formation has sometimes been counterproductive. βThe Chelsea game descended into anarchic at 2-2,β conceded the manager. βBut the intention was going for the victory. Our mentality is to always try to win.β The Path Ahead: Pragmatism What appears necessary is a balanced approach β involving better ball retention, a midfield adept of slowing the tempo, and a realistic willingness to occasionally settle for a point. Yet, a desire to challenge on all competitions is testing finite squad numbers to their limit. This might appear unthinkable to some, but a different approach in the domestic cups earlier could have eased the present schedule pile-up. Amid critical Champions League and Premier League matches on the horizon, the necessity to strategically choose focus areas is growing ever more clear. The manager recognized the size of the journey ahead. βBeing at a club of this size, the expectations are big. Every moment's pivotal. There is progress to be made in the league. We're in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, we want to progress in the Europe and perform in the FA Cup. βThe direction is in the right direction, but we have a great deal of improvement to do to transform into the consistently successful team we want to be. Our capacity to put winning runs has deserted us this season. βThe objective is to attain that standard we are aware we're able to reach. I believe that the confidence we can do that is coming back. Yet now we have to prove it. It's not all bad currently, but the upcoming fixtures will determine a great deal.β
Fans of the Magpies are more and more seeing the team's side as a fickle friend. At their brilliant best, they prove to be the very life of the party, producing high-intensity exhibitions. But, in other matches, key players like their midfield linchpin and others simply go missing. Adding to these problems is a second-half strategy riddled with a distinct tendency of panic. Ahead of their Boxing Day to Old Trafford, the numbers paint a troubling tale: the team has squandered 13 crucial Premier League leverage from winning situations this campaign and are yet to keep a clean sheet in 10 consecutive games in every tournament. Securing a win at Old Trafford would be only their second-ever league triumph on the road this year. A Tale of Contrasts: Optimism Amidst the Unpredictability In contrast, a loss has only come once in their most recent six league fixtures, and despite sitting in a seemingly lowly 11th position, they are a only 6 points away from the highly-prized Champions League places. Add in an looming two-legged League Cup semi-final against Manchester City and a decent opportunity of progressing to the European Cup knockout phase, and it is simpler to appreciate the manager's cautious hope. βIt's not only about problems,β said the club's manager. βWe have assets too. My glass is firmly positive at present. I realize outside observers could have a different opinion, but in my view we are getting better.β The question remains: will this collection of players match β or perhaps eclipse β the heights of last season's Wembley triumph and European-qualifying standing? Juggling a hectic schedule makes this difficult. Weariness and Strategic Teething Problems This tiredness might account for the failure to uphold a superb first-half performance versus Chelsea, eventually squandering a two-goal lead to tie the game. Similarly, it could be the reason for a poor display in a painful defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland, where the side looked lethargic just a short time after a grueling European excursion. Although coaching is clearly the manager's specialty, the relentless schedule of two games a week matches has drastically cut into crucial coaching time. This hinders the team's stylistic adjustment to playing with summer signing their number nine up front, instead of the now departed Alexander Isak. While immensely talented, the German forward lacks the same electric counter-attacking speed or ferocious defensive work rate. In fact, the team's previously effective high press has occasionally malfunctioned. Injuries to vital cog Joelinton have been a factor, while big-money arrivals the Swedish winger and Jacob Ramsey have had difficulties settling since their big-money transfers. Formation Debates and Injury Woes If a change to a back three might theoretically benefit the cause, a severe defensive absence list makes that difficult. Key full-backs will be missing for the next key matches, challenging the team's depth. When playing at their ferocious peak, they seem almost unplayable. The problem is maintaining that intensity for the full match. The often-seen plan B of sitting back into a passive defensive formation has sometimes been counterproductive. βThe Chelsea game descended into anarchic at 2-2,β conceded the manager. βBut the intention was going for the victory. Our mentality is to always try to win.β The Path Ahead: Pragmatism What appears necessary is a balanced approach β involving better ball retention, a midfield adept of slowing the tempo, and a realistic willingness to occasionally settle for a point. Yet, a desire to challenge on all competitions is testing finite squad numbers to their limit. This might appear unthinkable to some, but a different approach in the domestic cups earlier could have eased the present schedule pile-up. Amid critical Champions League and Premier League matches on the horizon, the necessity to strategically choose focus areas is growing ever more clear. The manager recognized the size of the journey ahead. βBeing at a club of this size, the expectations are big. Every moment's pivotal. There is progress to be made in the league. We're in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, we want to progress in the Europe and perform in the FA Cup. βThe direction is in the right direction, but we have a great deal of improvement to do to transform into the consistently successful team we want to be. Our capacity to put winning runs has deserted us this season. βThe objective is to attain that standard we are aware we're able to reach. I believe that the confidence we can do that is coming back. Yet now we have to prove it. It's not all bad currently, but the upcoming fixtures will determine a great deal.β