"It was Eddie Howe's first full term in charge and he led Newcastle back to the Champions League. As Newcastle struggle for consistency in 2025/26, a very fair question has been asked: Where has the intensity gone? But on the evidence of Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Brentford, there are even more fundamental issues. In every sense, this team have lost all the hallmarks that initially helped them impose themselves back then."
"Newcastle conceded just 33 goals, the joint-fewest with Manchester City, who won the Premier League title. They also scored four or more goals in seven games. At both ends of the pitch, they were driven, aggressive, purposeful; everything was aligned from recruitment, to the tactics, to the output on the pitch. They were, in effect, everything they haven't been this season, and everything Brentford have embodied under Keith Andrews."
"Where once there was a steely determination, now there is a softness, a lethargy and a painful lack of ideas when pressure is applied on the pitch. Having taken the lead through Sven Botman, the number of points dropped from winning positions has risen to 19. Meanwhile, 11 goals have been conceded in the last ten minutes of games, a record matched by only Burnley and Leeds."
Newcastle returned to the Champions League under Eddie Howe after a 2022/23 campaign defined by defensive solidity and attacking threat. The 2025/26 season has lacked the same intensity, with softness, lethargy and a lack of ideas when under pressure. Defensive frailties have emerged: 11 goals conceded in the last ten minutes and 19 points dropped from winning positions. The team conceded 33 goals in 2022/23 but now shows inconsistent output despite similar xG in the Brentford game (2.25 v 1.93). Fan frustration is increasing, evidenced by boos, and pressure is mounting on Howe and his tactical approach.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]