The message from the top at Newcastle United after a derby day defeat that caused sleepless nights is a clear one – this is a time for unity.
As the dust settles on a desperate Wear-Tyne reverse to Sunderland, senior sources suggest it is time to “respond, not react” as the prospect of knee-jerk decisions on Eddie Howe or transfers is firmly played down. This is intense short-term pain but, they suggest, a long-term plan for success is in the works.
The January transfer window is approaching at a good time to add impetus to the team – Newcastle want to add, as a minimum, a defender but may also look to sign a striker – but in the meantime they have to make amends in home games against Fulham and Chelsea to avoid further pressure building.
There is a clear acknowledgement inside the club that Sunday’s performance was not good enough and Newcastle fell well below their own high standards on Wearside.
Whatever mitigation there is – and, for example, insiders feel that Nick Woltemade’s dip in performance level is the result of fatigue at being played more than the club envisaged at this point in his debut season – there can be “no excuses” for the manner of the defeat at Sunderland.
Bruno Guimaraes labelled the defeat “embarrassing” in the aftermath and that description has not been challenged by anyone in a position of power at St James’ Park.
But there is also a feeling that Newcastle have to show “steadiness”. A culture of collective responsibility is being created at the club and “it is on all of us to solve the problems”.
The i Paper understands there were conversations on Monday morning where support was conveyed to Howe. Having earned their “total confidence and support” through outstanding results in the past three seasons, he is under no pressure.
But it is clear that Sunday’s defeat – and the manner of Newcastle’s performance at the Stadium of Light – demands an immediate response from the team and manager.
Progress in the Carabao Cup can ease some of the pain but only sustained, improved form in the Premier League will keep some uncomfortable questions at bay.
There are clearly issues that need to be addressed: from Howe’s gameplan to set-pieces that have consistently underwhelmed this season. The technical staff were in from the early hours of Monday morning, Howe having conducted his regular video review of the game on Sunday evening.
Those are immediate problems to be solved but Newcastle must also plot a new route in recruitment.
The club intend to be active in January but may need to add a versatile defender to their list of targets following Dan Burn’s injury against Sunderland. He is set to miss a number of games with a suspected cracked rib. One option open to Newcastle is a recall for Matt Targett.
The Magpies badly misfired at Sunderland, raising further questions about a summer of recruitment that seems to have missed the mark.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suggested Howe had been “let down” by the ownership in the close season but the manager influenced many of the most high-profile signings, not least the lengthy pursuit of the so-far underwhelming Anthony Elanga.
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Newcastle have a deep squad which has enabled them to stay competitive in the Champions League, but on Sunday they fielded nearly £120m of summer signings in the shape of Woltemade and the struggling Elanga. A further £40m was spent on Jacob Ramsey, who did not get off the bench.
As of yet £55m signing Yoane Wissa hasn’t contributed because of injury and Howe says he remains unable to complete 90 minutes, which puts the onus on Woltemade to shoulder much of the attacking burden. He is being asked to contribute to a high press but is playing close to the red zone while Wissa is eased into things.
In this situation there are no quick fixes available to Newcastle. But neither is there any margin for error after a nightmare weekend.
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