Newcastle United‘s begin to the 2025/26 Premier League season has been one among promise combined with frustration.
Eddie Howe’s aspect opened with a cagey 0-0 draw in opposition to Aston Villa, a match by which they dominated giant intervals however lacked a innovative.
Their second fixture produced drama at St James’ Park.
Coming from 2-0 down in opposition to Liverpool, Newcastle regarded set to have accomplished the comeback earlier than Rio Ngumoha’s A centesimal-minute strike condemned them to a 3-2 defeat.
The sample continued away at Leeds, one other 0-0 stalemate the place possibilities had been few.
It wasn’t till the fourth sport that Newcastle lastly claimed three factors, grinding out a laboured 1-0 residence victory over Wolves.
That was adopted by one other goalless encounter, this time away at Bournemouth – a match that underlined each Howe’s tactical experiments and the group’s ongoing attacking malaise.
In these two goalless video games in opposition to Leeds and Bournemouth, Howe trialled totally different variations of a again three.
But, the outcomes recommend the system nonetheless requires tweaking, with Newcastle struggling for rhythm in possession and fluency within the last third.
Newcastle stifled by the system in opposition to Bournemouth
Towards Bournemouth, Howe’s group took to the sector in a 3-4-2-1, aiming to nullify the hosts’ high-pressing 4-2-3-1.
Nick Woltemade, the report signing, led the road.
The German ahead confirmed neat touches and even had a penalty attraction waved away, however he nonetheless seemed to be adjusting to the bodily calls for of English soccer.
In midfield, Howe rotated closely. Lewis Miley and Joe Willock changed Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton, however neither was capable of stamp authority on proceedings.
Newcastle’s lack of thrust was mirrored within the numbers: simply 0.14 anticipated objectives (xG) in comparison with Bournemouth’s 0.46.
Defensively, there have been nervy moments.
Tino Livramento was caught on the again submit, permitting David Brooks to attain what regarded just like the opening purpose earlier than it was dominated out for offside.
Malick Thiaw additionally rode his luck, avoiding what might have been a second-half pink card.
The uncooked statistics painted a bleak image for Newcastle: 4 photographs to Bournemouth’s 11 and 390 accomplished passes to the Cherries’ 498.
One constructive got here within the type of Lewis Corridor, who regarded composed on his return to the beginning XI after a prolonged damage layoff.
The previous Chelsea man supplied steadiness on the left flank and confirmed glimpses of the technical safety Newcastle have been lacking in latest weeks. The identical cannot be stated of one among his teammates, nevertheless…
Bournemouth draw the newest instance of Willock’s decline
Amid Newcastle’s struggles, the highlight inevitably fell on Joe Willock.
The midfielder was handed his first league begin of the season at Bournemouth, however his subdued show was one other reminder of how far his profession has drifted from the explosive begin he made at St James’ Park.
Willock first arrived on mortgage from Arsenal in February 2021, tasked with serving to Steve Bruce’s aspect escape relegation.
He wasted no time, scoring on his debut in a 3-2 win over Southampton earlier than embarking on a exceptional run of objectives in seven consecutive matches – equalling Alan Shearer’s long-standing report from 1996.
By the top of that season, Willock had eight objectives in 14 video games, second solely to Callum Wilson regardless of arriving mid-season.
Bruce urged the board to make the transfer everlasting, and in the summertime, Newcastle obliged with a £25m deal.
Willock went on to contribute considerably in Howe’s first full marketing campaign, serving to Newcastle safe a fourth-place end and a return to the Champions League.
However since then, accidents have derailed his progress.
|
Damage File 2023 – Current |
|
|---|---|
|
Hamstring Damage |
12 matches missed |
|
Achilles Tendon Damage |
18 matches missed |
|
Achilles Tendon Damage |
8 matches missed |
|
Thigh Damage |
2 matches missed |
|
Muscle Damage |
1 match missed |
|
Calf Damage |
2 matches missed |
|
Supply: Transfermarkt |
|
He missed 38 matches in 2023/24 and one other seven final season, with one content material creator on X remarking that the “explosive bursts of tempo” as soon as central to his sport have all however disappeared.
The Bournemouth match confirmed the size of his struggles.
Within the 62 minutes earlier than being changed by Harvey Barnes, Willock registered no photographs, 32 touches, and simply 12 profitable passes from 15 makes an attempt (80%), as per Sofascore.
Defensively, he was combative, profitable six of 9 floor duels, however he misplaced each of his aerial contests and supplied little drive going ahead.
His match ranking of 6.8 mirrored an industrious however uninspiring efficiency.
For a participant as soon as hailed as Newcastle’s reply to Shearer when it comes to clutch goalscoring, his trajectory has develop into symbolic of the group’s personal attacking points.
Howe will hope that minutes within the upcoming League Cup conflict in opposition to Bradford may help Willock rediscover some rhythm, however at current, he appears removed from the dynamic midfielder who carried Newcastle to security simply 4 years in the past.