Change isn’t always good. We still don’t even know if many of the most recent changes at Newcastle United have been a success. But they do feel good. They feel fresh. Things feel renewed, rejuvenated.
If we feel it, the players will, too. And some are showing it. Others aren’t. A season in the life of a football club, I suppose.
NUFC change - individual vs the manager
While Eddie Howe was at the helm, he was lauded as a ‘development demon’. The man who turned water into wine. And he did at times. Joelinton was sour grapes but ended up bubbling over at Wembley like a bottle of Moet & Chandon. Dan Burn became an England international, Alexander Isak - if only briefly - an image of the best striker on the planet.
But for every success story there was a failure. And some of them are showing that now. Joe Willock, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga. All three transformed under Matthias Jaissle when Howe could not get a tune. Lewis Hall’s been outstanding under both, while we’re still yet to work out what Jacob Ramsey really is.
So, how much is down the individual, the manager, the system? How much credit does Howe deserve and Jaissle, too? Is development lineal, or can it wave off course but for a good teacher? All the above themes explored in the latest offering over on Inside NUFC YouTube.
Big NUFC reveal - why the long face?
Also on the agenda in the video is the reaction to the recent NUFC full rebrand.
We’ve all seen the badges - this isn’t about that. This is the new St James’ Park rebrand - and I have to say, I’m just not sure what all the (negative social media) fuss is all about?