adminNewcastle United have been hit with a major and potentially devastating warning just days before the new Premier League season gets underway after Sky Sports delivered a damning assessment of the Magpies’ preparations.
The latest assessment from the British broadcaster has raised serious questions about whether Newcastle are genuinely ready for what could be another difficult campaign on Tyneside.
Sky Sports have been reviewing the pre-season preparations of all 20 Premier League clubs ahead of the new campaign, and Newcastle’s situation has been singled out as particularly concerning.
It has been an extraordinary summer for Newcastle United, with the club undergoing huge changes both on and off the pitch.
The Magpies have lost several important figures, changed their manager and completely reshaped their squad, leaving the club facing yet another major period of transition.
Sky Sports highlighted how former head coach Eddie Howe had wanted this summer to be completely different following the problems Newcastle experienced during the previous transfer window.
The departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have already taken significant quality and experience away from the squad, while Bruno Guimaraes’ move to Arsenal has further increased the pressure on Newcastle.
Although Howe had already informed the club earlier in July that he intended to resign, his eventual departure has added another major change to a club already undergoing a dramatic rebuild.
Matthias Jaissle has now arrived as his replacement, but Sky Sports have warned that the new manager faces an enormous challenge.
The Austrian coach is expected to bring attractive, attacking football to St James’ Park, but the biggest concern could be the lack of experience available to him.
Four of Newcastle’s five new signings are aged 20 or under, meaning Jaissle is inheriting a squad containing a significant amount of youth at a time when the club desperately needs immediate results.
And that is where the situation becomes particularly worrying for Newcastle supporters.
Sky Sports believe the combination of a new manager and a heavily revamped squad could point towards another season of transition for the Magpies.
That is a huge concern considering Newcastle are still targeting a return to the top end of English football within the next four years.
The club have already spent heavily this summer, with Amar Dedic completing his move earlier on Tuesday for around £30 million.
That latest deal has taken Newcastle’s total spending this summer to approximately £170m-£180m.
Yet despite that enormous investment, the squad is still not considered complete.
Newcastle are expected to continue working on further additions before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Tuesday, September 1, with an experienced midfielder considered particularly important.
The need for experience has become even more obvious following the departures of several senior players.
So, despite spending close to £180 million, Newcastle still face the worrying possibility of entering the new Premier League campaign without having completely addressed some of their biggest weaknesses.
Newcastle have spent huge money, appointed a new manager and brought in several highly-rated young players but there are still major questions over whether the squad is experienced and settled enough to compete at the level supporters expect.
The Magpies now have just two weeks remaining before the transfer window closes.
The pressure is firmly on Jaissle and Newcastle’s recruitment team to get things right.
If they fail to add the necessary experience, the club could be heading into another turbulent season of rebuilding rather than the immediate resurgence many supporters were hoping for.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
admin
