Current Scenario:Rant

[Curian]

I'm genuinely perplexed as to why Newcastle are struggling compared to so-called lesser teams who are picking up wins. The sluggish start has left me puzzled, especially after all the hype around our squad.
Here's my take:
* Striker Crisis & Squad Uncertainty
The lack of a proper squad structure from PIF has really hurt us. We've relied far too heavily on a single striker, and selling too early without adequate replacements was a mistake.
* Transfer Window Pressures
Financial Fair Play has tied our hands, and rival clubs have taken advantage of our weakened position in the market.
* Morale & Tactical Turbulence
Off-field distractions have seeped into performances. Eddie is doing his best, but the Isak saga is about more than just him throwing his toys out of the pram. The real issue is the lack of structure above Eddie since losing Dan Ashworth and Darren Eales (or Mitchell and the other guy). Even when they were here, there were frustrations with them not always backing Eddie's vision.

And that's what frustrates me most: watching other teams, without superstar squads, manage to grind out results while we seem stuck in limbo.
Rant over.

ps Just watched Palace win 3-0 against Villa away!!

[Jammy89]

The Isak situation is what has done this.

I think with him we put 3 past Villa to.

We certainly put a couple past LiVARpool before they score.

I think once the transfer window has closed we'll actually push on and start our season properly.

Post window we'll also have the above Eddie people in as well - Wilson I think starts tomorrow as well as DOF.

Edit - good rant though and I agree with much of it.

[Zippity]

Agree with both of you, lads.

As I said elsewhere, everything has stemmed from Isak's behaviour.

That being said, we were awful against Leeds and, whilst that sort of performance is always going to happen at some point in the season, the contrast to the Liverpool game was stark enough to, indeed, be confusing.

Mind, people calling out Elanga need to give their heeds a wobble.

[OwdBillCook]

Well, as I said on the match thread, I'm also genuinely perplexed. Such a different vibe between the Liverpool and Leeds games.

But I was similarly perplexed for the early part of last season. Where had "intensity is our identity gone"?
Then, I reckoned it was a deliberate strategy to avoid our appalling injury record in the previous season.

Were the players told to back off a bit for the Leeds game, so we didn't pick up unnecessary injuries or yellow/red cards?
Dunno. Obviously.

[Ragatino]

It's been a trend under Howe.

The team was not great the first half of the season last season or the one before. The year before due to injuries and additional fixtures.

Last season all the off field noise of the end of Ashworth, Howe for England, Amanda & Mehrdad's leaving, the bombastic introduction to Mitchell.

It does appear that Howe's teams and season strategy is a slow build to a peak over the Christmas period with an excellent back half of the season.

We finish like a freight train. The earlier we can build that momentum this season the better.

The off field noise has been appalling all summer and there is defo a hangover for the first 3 matches.

The window closing will calm things down and the squad can settle.

Big Nick on board will be a huge boost for everyone. Regardless of what happens with the meatball.

back end of September things will start to click and the Champions league will be a huge boost in performances and determination

[OwdBillCook]

To be fair, like most I was thinking that this transfer window was shaping up to be a total disaster.
Then, late in the game, no it isn't. We've signed some top-drawer players.

But we needed them, ideally, early doors. And Isak to tell us he wanted out early doors.

Instead, we have a mess with Isak. Plus a squad that is strengthened pretty much as much as I had hoped, but with little time for the new guys to integrate and to learn what Eddies tactics are all about. It seems that Eddie likes to keep new signings away from the firing line as much as possible - to give them time for the team's style to become second nature before they're in the thick of things. Seems reasonable to me, as long as you don't overdo it and keep players out of the first team too long. Thanks to Isak this isn't possible up front. Thanks to injury and a sending off, I guess Elanga was asked to do more than he was ready for. Certainly can't blame the guy if he didn't click immediately. Who would??

[OwdBillCook]

Talking about Isak, then Wow.
The BBC seem totally, utterly clueless. They reckon that the visit by the Chairman was " an attempt to provoke a change of heart from the Swede, who has staged a one-man rebellion to move to Anfield, but it has fallen on deaf ears"

Dear me, have they not twigged who they're dealing with here?? My experience with the Saudis is virtually historical compared to Raga's. But I remember a lot from my 3 year job in Saudi in the 1970s, and I doubt if much has changed.
The Saudis are a proud people (some would say arrogant). They have a society structured such that only very able people get to be in charge.
(In my time, there were very interesting examples of how lesser mortals do not rise to the top. In the Ministry of Agriculture in Jeddah, there was one guy in particular who caught my eye. He rolled up at 0800 every day without fail. He sat at his desk - doing nothing I could see apart from reading a newspaper. He drank tea at the appropriate intervals. Then, at 1400 he went home. I was never certain if he did anything productive at all. No matter, he was employed and always would be regarded as an underling.
I was a bit surprised, initially, at the contrast between him and the guys in charge. They were well educated, very sharp, and well motivated.
All this with a Saudi take on it. Agree something - your word was your bond. Try to fool them - you're taking a risk and you'll only get away with it once.
Also, the top people had vision. This was back in the early 1970s. I was out there to try do develop fisheries in the Red Sea and the Gulf. It didn't happen as hoped. But, back then, the Saudis knew that oil wasn't going to sustain them forever. They had to diversify. Fisheries proved a dead end, unfortunately. As the PIF have proved, other things are far from dead ends.

For the PIF, Newcastle is a pawn in their greater portfolio, because football itself is just a pawn. As a way into English football, Newcastle is their chosen gateway. It's possible that they didn't fully appreciate how the Premiership's financial chicanery would hold them back - but I think that their goal is long, not short term, and that people trying to piss on them will only make them more determined.
My (dated) experience of the Saudis is that they are proud, intelligent, educated, savvy - and also practical. They will hold you to your word, they willcome down hard if you cheat - but they will not cut off their own noses to spite their faces.

I can see no way that the Chairman "attempted to provoke a change of heart" from Isak, but had to run away empty handed because his pleas "fell on deaf ears".
Dear me.
Our owners are not Far-Eastern fly-by-nights. Nor Chicago gangsters. These guys are the real deal. You might think Donald Trump is spouting bull****. You might think Keir Starmer is talking crap. You might think Nigel Farage is anathema.
Fine - you're probably right.
Our owners? Intelligent people who want Saudi to be a key player in the world when the oil runs out. That's it. No hidden agendas here, I believe. Self-preservation for the ruling family, which also results in self-preservation for the Saudi people.
And Newcastle United is a tiny part of that plan. But important enough for the Chairman to visit.
All I can think is that the Chairman told Isak that Newcastle is an important part of their plan. And that Alexander Isak is as important as a dog turd. Maybe not so explicitly....

Also, the Saudis can be pragmatic when necessary, so I wouldn't totally rule out selling Isak. After all, we need the income!!. But if it is to Lverpool, then I reckon no way at all.

[Ragatino]

It's really disappointing that the appears Newbury have been belittled by all the foul tactics and the financial croockery if PSR.

This is not a completion it's a theifdom.