Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterReplacing a club legend is never easy, especially when overseeing a major squad rebuild. But despite losing key figures like Bruno Guimar�es, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier, Matthias Jaissle has guided Newcastle United to eighth in the Premier League, two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea.For a club that has played Champions League football in two of the last three seasons, expectations remain considerably higher. Newcastle's inconsistent results have raised questions about their progress under Jaissle, but beneath the surface, there are promising signs that the German is laying the bedrock for a new era.Newcastle recorded the Premier League's sixth-best expected goals against (50.95) but conceded 55 goals last season, the sixth-worst tally in the division, and finished 12th. Jaissle initially struggled to address those weaknesses, conceding eight goals in his first four league matches and two against West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Cup.Matthias Jaissle has improved Newcastles midfield and defense, but attack is a different storyHowever, the underlying numbers suggest a marked improvement. According to Gradient Sports, Newcastle ranked 19th in the Premier League for tackling and duel performance across the opening four weeks of the season. Over the next four weeks, they climbed to seventh and sixth, respectively, while their positioning ranking jumped from 13th to third.Newcastle's center backs rose from 16th to eighth in average overall performance grade, their fullbacks from fourth to first, and their aerial duels from eighth to first. These upgrades suggest a more cohesive defensive unit, but individual shortcomings remain a concern: Sven Botman has committed a league-high five errors leading to shots this season. You may like Why Matthias Jaissle's risk-and-reward football isn't working - and Newcastle are turning on the manager Newcastle United end lengthy drought at Millwall after Matthias Jaissle's bold selection call Matthias Jaissle is stuck in a dangerous tactical limbo, and Newcastle United are in for an extremely bumpy ride There has been progress in midfield, too. With Guimar�es and Tonali gone, Lewis Miley has assumed greater responsibility, improving his average grade by 11.15 points between the opening four weeks and the following four. Nico Gonzlez's grade has also increased by 9.20 points over the same period.But while Jaissle has improved the team's defense and midfield, attack is another story. Newcastle's wingers have dropped from ninth to 18th in average performance between the two four-week periods, while their center forwards climbed from 19th to 18th. Newcastle also rank 16th for expected goals per match and chance quality, and joint 13th for shots.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The successive departures of Alexander Isak and Gordon have deprived Newcastle of two major attacking weapons, and their replacements have struggled to fill the void. Jaissle has fortified their defensive base, but he has yet to develop an attacking structure capable of creating gilt-edged chances, and he is yet to find his strongest team.Nevertheless, last weekend's trip to Crystal Palace offered plenty of reason for optimism. After three defeats in four matches, Jaissle made five changes to his starting XI, replacing Botman and Malick Thiaw with Dan Burn and Fabian Schr, while restoring Amar Dedi, Jacob Murphy and William Osula to the lineup.These changes paid dividends. Burn and Schr helped the Magpies secure their first clean sheet in two months, while Murphy and Dedi assisted goals for Osula and Harvey Barnes. And instead of dropping between the center backs, Gonzlez operated further forward and was more involved in Newcastle's attacking buildup. What to read next Why new Newcastle United boss Matthias Jaissle learned the task is harder than he thought, from this weekend's double-header of friendlies Front-footed, confident and with a smile on the face: Matthias Jaissle's official unveiling as Newcastle United manager mirrored how he expects his team to play How Newcastle United boss Matthias Jaissle made his name as Asia's Brian Clough After a subdued first half, Newcastle showed more urgency in exploiting turnovers and scored twice in the first 13 minutes after the restart. It offered a glimpse of what they could look like if Jaissle can fix an attack that has been declining since Eddie Howe's last year in charge. However, Thursday's defeat to Everton served as a reminder of the inconsistency that continues to plague their growth.Unlike at Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahli, where he enjoyed substantial financial backing and squads capable of competing for silverware, Jaissle is now overseeing a Newcastle team in transition. With several established starters gone and their replacements still finding their feet, this is undoubtedly a work in progress.It would be premature to call the Palace victory a turning point, but the data suggests that Jaissle is gradually building a stronger foundation. Whether they can translate that progress into a sustained push for European qualification will depend on solving the problem that has persisted throughout his tenure: making Newcastle lethal in the final third.Data via Gradient SportsTOPICSAnthony GordonPremier LeagueZach LowySocial Links NavigationAfter getting his big breakthrough as the co-founder of the football analytics website Breaking The Lines, Zachary Lowy has been able to tap into his footballing expertise for a number of esteemed outlets like ESPN, FotMob, The Times, The Independent and Urban Pitch. Since joining FourFourTwo as a freelancer in 2025, Lowy has been able to cover a wide range of topics from analyzing the sweeping changes to the MLS season to interviewing key figures like Asamoah Gyan and Rob Holding. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, Lowys versatile skillset has allowed him to traverse a number of different fields when covering major competitions like the FIFA Club World Cup. In addition to football, he is also a seasoned participant of other sports like pickleball, tennis, and volleyball.
