Matthias Jaissle received a harsh reminder of the magnitude of his mission at Newcastle United within the first seconds of his first match at St James' Park last Saturday. The Magpies were hosting Bayer Leverkusen, an opponent they had faced in the Champions League in December (2-2 in Leverkusen). But the situation had changed dramatically: Ibrahim Maza opened the scoring for Leverkusen in a flash from the Gallowgate End, capitalizing on a hazardous clearance by Lukas Hornicek, Newcastle's newly signed goalkeeper. The home side equalized at halftime through Malick Thiaw before Victor Boniface secured all three points late in the game. The club activated a release clause for Hornicek.
On Sunday, Will Osula scored in another disappointing draw against Strasbourg, ending the match with a shootout defeat. These two matches revealed more about the team's shortcomings than its strengths, according to Jaissle. The Magpies played two friendly matches over the weekend, packed with lessons.A glaring lack of creativity
Ibrahim Maza embodied Newcastle's problem: the lack of creativity that has plagued the Magpies for years. The Algerian operated in constant space, as if he knew exactly where his teammates were at all times. The club had been tracking Maza since his teenage years at Hertha Berlin, while Eddie Howe was criticized for his lack of ingenuity in his play. Jaissle has also lost Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimarães, two players capable of bringing that dimension. The German coach favors a 4-2-3-1 system with a number 10, a role Maza perfectly fit. If Newcastle were to try to sign him today, his cost would be three to four times higher than a year ago. After a summer marked by significant upheaval in Tyneside, the club not only needs three or four experienced players to strengthen key positions but also recruits capable of galvanizing the squad and the supporters. Five years after the Saudi sovereign wealth fund's takeover, the project struggles to convince despite recent political changes in the Middle East.Unconvincing friendly matches
Evaluating a team during friendly matches remains tricky, as the results hold no value. Yet fielding the same group of players twice in a row just before the start of the competitive season seems counterproductive. Both teams were composed mostly of young players from the youth academy, making it difficult to draw any tactical conclusions after the changes. "We needed to space out the matches," Jaissle explained on Saturday. "First, because it’s not reasonable to play the players twice in a row. But above all, in the last friendly matches, we need to see everyone for 90 minutes, with different approaches. Some players need an extra day of training, particularly those who returned later or after an injury. There are many aspects to consider, and it has nothing to do with a starting eleven or not."
Over the two days, Jaissle had to contend with several realities. Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, signed in an emergency by Howe to replace Alexander Isak in 2025, are not yet perfectly in sync. Wissa appears sharper than ever in the black-and-white jersey, but the expected level remains very low. Woltemade, meanwhile, still seems unsuited to his position despite the club’s and the player’s goodwill. A separation between the two may become necessary. As for Will Osula, he embodies the club’s offensive uncertainty: every touch of the ball can be magical or disastrous, perfectly symbolizing the current era at St James’ Park.
A last-minute signing to avoid crisis
Despite the club’s insistence on the imminent arrival of a new player, such as Benfica full-back Amar Dedic who is expected to be officially announced this week, these signings won’t be enough. A player like Maza would have an immediate impact on the team and give Jaissle’s side a much-needed boost. For now, with Liverpool and the season opener less than a week away, Newcastle appears under-equipped and is playing catch-up. The task looks even more daunting in the coming weeks.
"Someone like Maza would have immediately reignited the team and given everyone a lift," the article points out. "But for now, with Liverpool and the season kickoff less than a week away, Newcastle is behind and must make up ground."
