It was abundantly clear that Matthias Jaissle had a tough job on his hands when he arrived on Tyneside. Newcastle United were in the midst of an exceptionally difficult summer that saw key players departing and an upheaval of the hierarchical structure and recruitment focus that had underpinned the initial post-takeover rise. A rather chaotic feel had been created around St James’ Park.
Not only that but Jaissle was attempting to replace the most successful Newcastle manager in decades in Eddie Howe, which is proving to be exactly the uphill battle that everyone expected for the German.
But in recent weeks there has been a rising discourse directly comparing Eddie Howe’s start to Jaissle’s, especially the squads they inherited as they embarked on their respective journeys.
Many are adamant that Howe was dealt a tougher hand, not only because of the players but also where the club was when he arrived, but I’m not sure that can quite be as readily considered the case as people are suggesting.
Context & circumstance matter
We could quite easily embark on a week-long debate trying to decipher which of the two managers was provided with the better tools, which is precisely how I have seen a lot of people justify their reasoning for latching onto Jaissle’s shortcomings.
But that ignores vitally important context that makes the argument much more nuanced than it initially appears and, in my opinion at least, paints the landscape Jaissle walked into as a tougher terrain to navigate.
Howe
Howe was appointed with Newcastle United sitting second bottom of the Premier League and without a single win to their name.
But, under the surface, he had a side full of players with experience of being in the exact relegation-threatened puzzle that he was tasked with solving and the promise that, if he made it to January unscathed, there would be a healthy transfer fund ready to be thrown at players more than capable of retaining the club’s Premier League status.
In a strange sort of way Howe had nothing to lose, mainly because there was no expectation on the football club given how bad it had performed previously. In reality, nobody could blame him if he ended up failing.
What followed is also important here, because it directly impacted the expectation Jaissle is now being judged against.
Howe went on to secure two Champions League campaigns and mastermind the Magpies’ first major trophy for 70 years. He then left this past summer - let’s not forget in part because he didn’t feel he could take the club forward due to the circumstances around it.
Jaissle
Now let’s look at what Jaissle came into.
After all of those achievements I just mentioned under Howe, Jaissle was taking over a club with genuine expectation and an ambition to be challenging the elite on a regular basis.
But he was also stepping into a football club that had just come off the back of its worst Premier League finish in any season since the takeover, to be scrutinised by a fanbase that had watched all of its best players walk and be replaced by relatively unknown names.
Jaissle was very open about the fact that this season would be a hard slog and, even though the fanbase largely agreed that would be the case, a two-headed dragon of expectation and pessimism has reared its head - fans are expecting performances, but already in a rather frustrated headspace with a hangover from the anger of the summer apparent.
That is a much more volatile circumstance to deal with than what Howe had to and I’d also make the argument that the young, naive and developing squad Jaissle has to work with now is nowhere near as equipped for this season’s goals as Howe’s experienced, battle-hardened and resilient squad was for the objectives he was adhering to.
Jaissle needs time and backing
A large portion of those I have seen trying to make an argument on this topic are simply pushing a narrative to point-score one way or another, whether it be to affirm their belief that Howe should have been replaced this summer or, more prominently, to present an ‘I told you so’ moment born from the belief that Howe should have been given an easier ride by the fanbase.
Whilst I share the frustrations of many this season so far, and completely understand why it is so difficult to watch given what we have become accustomed to, I do in many ways think we are maybe a little bit spoilt from the previous phase of the takeover.
We already know that Jaissle is not going to be given the same sort of funds as Howe was, that the recruitment will be much more about development than signing players who are ready-made winners, and even that there is a predetermined, possibly subconscious, bar that many fans are now expecting given what we have seen over the past few years.
And so, comparing Jaissle’s early going to Howe’s isn’t fair on the German. Suggesting he isn’t the right man for the job, despite the transition period Newcastle United are currently in, isn’t fair on the German. And, perhaps most importantly, joining in with murmurings that are already calling for his head, despite us being mid-table in the Premier League with a chance to jump to 7th on Monday, isn’t just unfair, it’s downright ridiculous.
Let the man do his job and navigate this turbulent time with our full support and, if it goes wrong, we can all judge him nearer Christmas when the dust has settled a little more and we have a much better idea of how Jaissle fits on Tyneside.
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