5 Things we learned from Newcastle’s stunning win against Spurs
Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle look like the real deal. Following last weeks momentum builder against Liverpool Newcastle came into this game with huge confidence that they could win the game and in the end were well worthy of the victory, the first half was one that lacked any real quality going forward with both teams creating half-chances but nothing really substantial in an overall 50/50 half. The second half started the same way but 15 minutes in Newcastle did open the scoring as Nico Gonzalez sprayed a brilliant diagonal pass to Amar Dedic who nodded the ball to Anthony Elanga in the box who spun and fired a brilliant shot on his left-foot off the post to give the Geordies the lead, then ten minutes later Newcastle doubled their lead as Lewis Hall’s in swinging corner was nodded down by Nick Woltemade to Yoane Wissa who’s improvised overhead kick was superb and flew past Kinsky to secure the three points for Jaissle’s side. A second defeat in a row to kick-off the Premier League season for Roberto De Zerbi but a first win for Matthias Jaissle as Newcastle manager, what can they achieve this season.
How high can Newcastle finish this season? It’s obviously only been two games in but I have been mega impressed with Newcastle in these opening matches, last weeks result was probably a mix of emotion and Liverpool playing poorly but they came to Spurs today with a clear game plan and executed it perfectly in the second half. I’ve been a big Nico Gonzalez ever since he’s come to the Premier League and he’s absolutely perfect for this Newcastle midfield alongside Lewis Miley, the switch for the opening goal was brilliant and his overall game today was a joy to watch in a midfield littered with talent. He was close to being the best player on the pitch but just pipped to the post by Lewis Hall who more than made up for his mistake last week to give Liverpool that late penalty, everything Hall did today had an air of grace about and Porro playing right-wing allowed him to maraud forward whenever he wanted which cause big problems to the Spurs defence all evening. Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa both got on the scoresheet today carrying on from their excellent performances last week and you can’t help but be happy for both of them after a torrid season last year, Jaissle has two players who can hit real heights this season which has to be extremely encouraging given he’s lost a lot going forward following Anthony Gordon’s departure. With just Premier League football to focus on this season there’s no reason Newcastle can’t be in and around the European spots this season, not many would have said that before a ball was kicked.
This is not the start De Zerbi would have envisaged for Spurs this season. All the optimism pre-season has been vanquished after two really poor performances to kick-off their Premier League season, there was a couple of strange decisions in the starting 11 that really didn’t work with the first one being Pedro Porro on the right-wing. I get that he’s a decent crosser of the ball but there’s no one in the box to aim at so he was pretty ineffective for most of the game, the second one I didn’t really get was playing Mateus Fernandes in the 10 when he’s a far better player further back the pitch when he can dictate the game but I suppose De Zerbi doesn’t see it that way. You’ve got Mathys Tel on the right-wing who was absolutely shocking capped off by a free-kick in the second half which summed up his performance nearly clearing the whole stadium, his decision making is so poor in the final third that it makes you wonder why Spurs made the deal permanent last summer after seeing him for a season. Defensively there’s obviously issues but I thought Van Hecke on the ball was brilliant today and set Spurs away on the attack multiple times which was wasted by the likes of Tel, Marmoush and Porro, he can be flimsy at times but on the ball he’s one of the best centre-backs in the league. I really do think in about a months time this Spurs team will be completely different but I’m not sure the fans will have the patience given what happened last season, a trip to Nottingham Forest awaits De Zerbi’s side next week. Not a really a game you’d be looking forward if you’re Spurs.
Have Spurs signed the right players to get back competing again? I think everyone knows by now that this revamped Spurs side is going to take some time to gel but how does it all work once every piece of the puzzle is in place? Well I’d imagine that you’d have a similar defence to what we saw today with Porro dropping back one into right back, Fernandes dropping back one to play in the pivot alongside Tonali, Savinho and Kudus on the wing with Marmoush playing in behind Solanke. Now does that team stand a chance of competing for the European spots this season? I think so but I think they’ve made one mistake in the transfer market and that’s with Omar Marmoush, we saw a bit of it today which is that he’s not an out-and-out number 9 which Spurs badly needed today and in the future. Can they rely on Dominic Solanke to be fit for an entire season? I’m not so sure which is why I think it was imperative to sign a proper number 9, Marmoush is a decent player but another one where we don’t really know his best position. I think Savinho will be a good signing along with the midfielders but who’s going to score the goals for Spurs this season? Surely there’s an ace up the sleeve over the last few days of the window.
Any more business to do before the window ends? For Spurs I’d imagine they are still looking for an attacker but it does look like their number one priority Cody Gakpo could be going to Man City so they’ll have to look elsewhere, Iliman Ndiaye has been mentioned as well but I’ve not heard anything recently about that but with City getting Gakpo maybe that reopen the conversation around the Senegalese winger. I still think they need a striker but with Marmoush coming in I imagine that door is closed for now, they’ve basically signed a whole new 11 this window so it will undoubtedly need time to gel. For Newcastle I think they could probably do with an extra attacker to bolster the numbers, especially if Woltemade is to leave which has been heavily rumoured. They are looking pretty good after that and when they get the likes of Joelinton, Osula, Burn etc back from injury, will there be any surprises before the window ends? You’d think so.