If you live and die by your recruitment, Newcastle United will learn that getting it wrong can leave you gasping for air.
Four players without a Premier League win, no goals from open play in almost seven hours and a sense that Eddie Howe’s best XI are weaker than they were two years ago.
Key players like Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson have aged and are increasingly absent, while others like Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are good players but turn 33 this season.
There hasn’t been the innovation and improvement needed in terms of play – which is why Howe faces a huge challenge to strengthen a team that has become a little stale.
Take Saturday. They were brilliant for 35 minutes but failed to score because they had a rusty striker in Alexander Isak who squandered two glorious chances on his return from injury. Why not bring in a more reliable replacement? In the meantime, they tried on the right wing, first with Jacob Murphy and later with Miguel Almiron. Apparently the quality is not there.
Newcastle are paying the price for poor recruitment with their wastefulness in front of goal
Why hasn’t a competent replacement been brought in to support Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson?
Anthony Gordon is the latest signing to really strengthen the team, signing in January 2023
Four players who arrived last summer for a combined £150million have failed to improve the first-team and this was evident in the 1-0 defeat to Brighton
The four players who signed for £150m in the summer of 2023 were all there, but have Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall improved the starting line-up? Not yet.
January marks two years since Anthony Gordon arrived and he was the last player to really improve the team’s level. Forget PSR, you just have to be smarter. Newcastle didn’t look at the ball and the result is this: they can’t put the ball in the net now.
The four players who signed for £150m in the summer of 2023 were all there, but have Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall improved the starting line-up? Not yet.
January marks two years since Anthony Gordon arrived and he was the last player to really improve the team’s level. Forget PSR, you just have to be smarter. Newcastle didn’t look at the ball and the result is this: they can’t put the ball in the net now.
After Brighton took the lead through the excellent Danny Welbeck on 35 minutes, Newcastle’s confident start slowly fizzled out. There was little belief on the pitch or in the stands that they would salvage a point in the final half hour, and that seemed unlikely after the aggression and attacking intent of the opening period.
When Manchester City go behind at home, it inspires them. Newcastle were lacking inspiration after their setback and, to put it more broadly, this feels like a club in need of some galvanisation. The squad needs an injection of life – and to rethink the mantra at the top: recruitment is the best way to revive it.
AGREEMENT FACTS AND ASSESSMENTS
Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope 6.5; Livramento 5, Schar 5.5, Burn 6.5, Hall 6 (Osula 90); Tonali 5.5 (Willock 65, 5), Guimaraes 7 (Almiron 85), Joelinton 6; Murphy 5 (Barnes 65, 5), Isak 4.5, Gordon 5.5 (Longstaff 85)
Subs not used: Kelly, Krafth, Miley, Vlachodimos
Booked: Hall, Brand
Manager: Eddy Howe6
Brighton (4-4-2): Bridge 7; Veltman 6.5, Dunk 6.5, Igor Julio 6, Kadioglu 6; Rutter 7 (Estupinan 72, 6), Baleba 7.5 (Wieffer 71, 5), Hinshelwood 6, Ayari 6 (Enciso 82); Ferguson 4.5 (Mitoma 60, 6), Welbeck 8 (Van Hecke 81)
Subs not used: Gruda, Moder, Lamptey, Steele,
Goals: Welbeck 35
Booked: Ayari, Hinshelwood
Manager: Fabian Hurzeler 6.5
Att: 52,220
MOM: Welbeck
Regarding: P Banks 5