Long ball merchant Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle horror film can still have a happy ending

John Gibson argues that Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle must abandon his direct, long-ball tactics to prevent the club from falling into a Premier League relegation scrap. The writer contends that Jaissle's current approach does not suit lightweight attackers Yoane Wissa and Matias Fernandez-Pardo, suggesting that striker Will Osula would better fit a direct system if the manager refuses to change.

Gibson points out that Jaissle previously demonstrated tactical flexibility at Al-Ahli, where he altered his setup to overcome domestic struggles and win consecutive continental titles. With upcoming fixtures against Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and Brighton, the writer stresses that Jaissle and sporting director Ross Wilson must adapt their tactical and transfer approaches to revive Newcastle's form.