ST JAMES’ PARK — Over to you, Ross Wilson.
Now we have seen what Matthias Jaissle is trying to construct at St James’ Park, the need for new signings before 1 September feels even more acute for Newcastle. After the mayhem of the Premier League‘s opening weekend, Jaissle will feel his young team are capable of making a few pundits look silly for their predictions that the Magpies will struggle.
Newcastle believe they have appointed a manager who can be “part of the top 1 per cent” of coaches in the next few years and this first look at his team was encouraging. He is barely had three weeks to get to work but Newcastle were well-drilled and full of energy.
The mistake here would be to ignore the rough edges. An encouraging performance was just what the club needed but this felt like a big performance for a big occasion. When autumn and winter draw in, and the less glamorous teams arrive on Tyneside, they will need more experience and substance.
Which is why they need at least three arrivals – starting with the midfielder they were maybe missing in the final stages against Liverpool.
