Fans of the Magpies are increasingly regarding their manager's squad as an inconsistent friend. When everything clicks, they prove to be the undisputed life of the party, delivering high-intensity displays. Yet, on other occasions, previously reliable individuals like their midfield linchpin and his teammates simply go missing.
Compounding this issue is a late-game game management laced with a pronounced tendency of panic. Ahead of their holiday fixture to Manchester United, the facts paint a concerning tale: the team has dropped thirteen crucial top-flight leverage from leading positions this term and are without a clean sheet in 10 consecutive matches in every tournament. Claiming a win at Old Trafford would constitute only their second domestic success on the road this year.
On the flip side, defeat has only come once in their previous six league encounters, and although occupying a seemingly lowly eleventh place, they are a mere six marks off the coveted top four. Add in an looming two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against the reigning champions and a reasonable chance of progressing to the European Cup knockout phase, and it becomes easier to see the gaffer's guarded optimism.
“We don't just have issues,” said the team's head coach. “You can see positives too. My glass is firmly positive right now. I understand outside observers may hold a different opinion, but I feel we are getting better.”
The puzzle persists: can this squad match – or even surpass – the successes of the previous campaign's Wembley triumph and European-qualifying standing? Juggling a hectic schedule makes this difficult.
The resulting heavy-leggedness might be the reason behind the inability to maintain a superb first-half performance versus their London rivals, eventually surrendering a 2-0 advantage to tie 2-2. Similarly, it is possibly the culprit for a subdued display in a painful loss to arch-rivals the Black Cats, where the side looked sluggish just a short time after a tough Champions League away day.
Although coaching is undoubtedly Howe's strength, the constant schedule of two games a week matches has radically reduced crucial training hours. This slows the team's stylistic adjustment to playing with new striker their number nine up front, rather than the now departed Alexander Isak. While hugely skilled, the German forward lacks the same blistering breakaway speed or ferocious defensive work rate.
Indeed, the side's previously effective pressing game has sporadically malfunctioned. Fitness issues to crucial engine the Brazilian midfielder have not helped, while high-profile arrivals Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey have struggled settling since their combined £90m+ moves.
While a move to a 3-5-2 could theoretically assist the cause, a worsening defensive absence list makes that problematic. Key full-backs will be unavailable for the upcoming key matches, straining the team's resources.
When playing at their energetic best, they seem almost unstoppable. The issue is sustaining that intensity for the full 90 minutes. The go-to plan B of sitting back into a deep-lying counter-attacking shape has at times been counterproductive.
“That game descended into anarchic at 2-2,” admitted the coach. “However we were trying to win. We always try to secure the three points.”
What appears necessary is a middle ground – with superior ball control, a midfield capable of controlling the tempo, and a sensible willingness to sometimes accept a point. However, a ambition to challenge on all fronts is testing limited squad options to their breaking point.
It may appear sacrilegious to some, but a more selective approach in the cup competitions in the initial stages could have alleviated the present schedule congestion. With critical Champions League and Premier League matches on the horizon, the necessity to carefully choose focus areas is becoming increasingly obvious.
The manager acknowledged the scale of the challenge remaining. “Being involved this club, the demands are big. Every moment's critical. We have work to do in the league. We are in the League Cup last four, we aim to progress in the Champions League and perform in the FA Cup.
“We're moving in the right direction, but we have lots of work to do to become the consistently winning team we want to be. The ability to put winning runs has escaped us so far.
“The challenge is to hit those levels we know we're able to reach. My feeling is that the self-belief to achieve it is coming back. Yet now we have to prove it. It ain't all bad in this moment, but the upcoming fixtures will decide much.”
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