This was not Newcastle United. Not the Newcastle United the fans want, Matthias Jaissle is working towards or skipper Malick Thiaw represents.
The 4-1 hammering hit hard. It was a reality check for anyone with their head in the clouds after five unbeaten. Many seen it coming. It was the kick up the backside, hopefully, those who laboured in navy blue deserved.
While you can question everything about the formation and setup, masterminded, if a little naïvely, by Jaissle, the responsibility for the players, even if the bigger picture appears flawed, is to run harder than their opponents, battle and win duels. The XI selected failed in every department. Thiaw, who has the armband right now, accepts that. He thinks United didn’t get the basics right - and says the idea they can just rock up and perform is one designated only for those at the very top of the English game.
‘Not what Newcastle want to be’
“How we performed, the result… it’s not what Newcastle want to be. I wouldn’t take this as an excuse because I think that’s the team we have. It’s going to be this team this season so I don’t take this as an excuse,” said the former AC Milan defender.
“We still have quality. Overall, what’s more important than quality is attitude, the energy we have to bring. Leeds were just better than us today in these kind of terms.
“I don’t think we are on a level right now like the top, top, top teams, which can sometimes do less. I think we always have to be on our top (game).
“The main thing about the duels (is) that we win the duels and be better with the ball as well. The coach gave us a good match plan, but we didn’t really play it well.”
Jaissle’s straight-talking to NUFC underperformers
The German is selective with his words to the public. One-word answers have become the norm, press conferences short and infrequent. It’s an approach that has not landed well with some without and within the four walls at NUFC. But, in reality, if that’s the way he is, let him crack on. A winning team supports the approach. Questions only come when things go bad.
Thiaw said Jaissle certainly did not shy away from the uncomfortable in the aftermath of Elland Road.
“He spoke straight to us,” said Thiaw. “I think that’s the way he is. He speaks straight to us, to the players, what we have to do better. Everybody included.
“We’re in the same boat. But we have to do better. These kinds of nights, sometimes it’s not good, but it brings us back to reality. The quality we have is good, but it’s not enough just about the quality. We still have to bring the energy.
“He told us, but also it’s about how we deal with these kinds of nights. I think there are two options. You speak everything bad and into the next game with a bad feeling, or you speak about the bad things that happened.
“But you don’t forget the quality you have or the things you did already. I look forward to the next game (against Hull City) with the wisdom that we have to do better than we did or even the first half against Bournemouth.”
As captain on the night Malick has done the right thing in speaking directly about what happened in the aftermath of the game. We need to move on and get behind this young team for the Hull match.