After three away games in a row, taking in the south coast, France and Turkey, the Eagles return to South London to host Newcastle United.
Ahead of the game, we had a chat with our pal Jake Jackman to find out about the season so far for the Toon, their summer business, new management, thoughts on the game and much more…
TEB: It’s been a mixed start to the season for Newcastle so far. What are your thoughts on results recently?
JJ: Results-wise, it has been roughly what I would have expected. It is a transition year for us after a huge summer of change, both in the dugout and in the squad. Patience and time were always going to be required, with some bumps along the way. However, the manner of the defeats to Leeds and Coventry is especially worrying. I’d have hoped for some better performances and a reason to buy into the new direction.
If you looked at the data, you’d think we are lucky to have the number of points we do have, and that is a concern. If anything, performances are getting worse and the same issues are on show each week. This weekend feels like a big moment for ‘Newcastle 2.0’, as the club has coined the new direction.
TEB: Has the summer transfer window solved any squad issues, or are there still areas which need improvement?
JJ: The jury is still out. On paper, we made some exciting signings. Nico Gonzalez has proven his quality with Manchester City and felt like a huge coup. Matias Fernandez-Pardo was highly rated, as were the likes of Aladji Bamba, Baz Toure and Sean Steur. This was a new direction taken by the club, focusing on younger players with higher potential in an attempt to compete within the financial regulations.
Last summer, we wasted an opportunity to rebuild when we had Champions League football to offer. Aston Villa have shown the value of making big changes when you are in a good moment. We still need improvement at centre-back and more creativity in attack, but I personally think the squad has potential. Although I am sympathetic to others in the fan base who think we’ve wasted a lot of money, it is too early to judge at this moment in time.
TEB: Did the departure of Eddie Howe come as a surprise to Newcastle fans? Is new boss Matthias Jaissle the right replacement?
JJ: Timing-wise, the departure of Eddie Howe was surprising. He’d started pre-season and was saying the right things in the media. However, last season it became evident that he needed a break and the team needed a fresh voice. It felt like it was a matter of when, not if, he moved on this season.
Like the squad, the jury is still out on Jaissle. The football hasn’t been great and he doesn’t seem to be learning from game to game. He is a young manager with very little experience, as Austria and Saudi Arabia aren’t exactly the usual breeding grounds for Premier League management. He’s also said some questionable things in the press.
Tactically, he is being outcoached and that is a worry. However, it is still early and he deserves more time. He took on a huge job after the sales we made in the summer. That said, it wouldn’t surprise me if it transpired that the job is too big for him.
TEB: It’s widely known that Newcastle’s current owners have deep pockets. However, due to financial rules, spending isn’t always easy. Is there a feeling of frustration at the lack of wiggle room for certain clubs within the current system?
JJ: There is some frustration within the fan base and the system does seem broken. If ourselves and Aston Villa are forced to sell key players at the first sign of trouble, it feels like the deck is stacked against any club that isn’t one of the traditional top six. It is also very annoying to see Elliot Anderson go for over £100 million and the club receive nothing from that.
However, the club haven’t helped themselves. We haven’t put the correct processes in place early enough and we gave too much power to Eddie Howe. Eddie was great and a club legend, but he hasn’t exactly left the club in a positive place. We’ve wasted a lot of money, so it feels a little silly to put too much blame on the rules rather than looking at ourselves.
The new direction this summer feels like a more sustainable one, but the club desperately needs to play regularly in Europe to move to the next level. We’ve had two Champions League campaigns but have yet to qualify for Europe in successive seasons, something Palace have managed, among others. This season, Europe feels a long way off for us.
TEB: Expectations for this season in the league and cup competitions?
JJ: There feels like there is opportunity in the Premier League this season due to the number of clubs involved in Europe that don’t usually find themselves there. Given the number of places available in England, I’d have hoped a European spot would be attainable, even in a transition season.
Based on our performances so far, even a Conference League spot feels fanciful. I hope we end the season having seen progression in our style of play and overall performance level, so we can have justified belief that future seasons will be successful. Finishing position feels irrelevant if we achieve that aim.
Our last few performances have sparked real concern, with relegation fears beginning to creep in.
TEB: Opinions on the Manchester City case?
JJ: I’ve tried to avoid most of the discussion. They deserve to be punished if found guilty, and it needs to be a strong deterrent to other clubs from doing the same. I guess if they are given a punishment that leads to relegation, it removes one relegation place, which helps our two clubs considering our performances.
It has left a stain on the sport and could have lasting consequences for the Premier League. We saw how similar cases in Italy contributed to Serie A losing some of its stature. The Premier League needs to ensure the same doesn’t happen in England.
TEB: Thoughts on Palace this season?
JJ: Palace look to be in a strange spot. The number of players trying to leave during the summer surprised me. Pierre Sage looks as out of his depth as Matthias Jaissle at the moment, although at least he has experience in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.
I think being out of Europe will limit how low our league position could be, which is something Palace have to contend with. I fear for Palace because the league looks very tight this year and recent performances haven’t been good enough. Even the win over Nottingham Forest felt like a false result considering the chances the visitors created in the first half.
All that being said, you still have some very good players. If Sarr and Mateta can re-engage themselves with the club, things could improve quickly.
TEB: Finally, predictions for the match against Palace and the final score?
JJ: This feels like a massive game for both managers given the beatings both teams have taken recently. A loss for either could push them closer to the sack.
I’d hope we can come to Selhurst Park and win, especially as it comes just days after a Europa League game for you.
I don’t have any confidence in that, though. We’ve been poor away from home for a long time. In the fixture last season, it felt like you weren’t particularly bothered about it and made several changes, but you still beat us. I don’t remember many good matches for us at Selhurst Park in recent years.
If it’s similar to Leeds and Coventry, then huge questions will be asked about Jaissle. Given the poor performances of both teams, I’ll predict a draw. A result that does nobody any favours.
There you have it. Many thanks to Jake for taking the time to share his thoughts ahead of what feels like a significant game for both clubs. With pressure building on both sides, Sunday’s encounter at Selhurst Park could prove pivotal in shaping the direction of their respective seasons.
