Newcastle's Situation Is Not a Crisis: The Data Backs Jaissle

Newcastle United are eighth in the Premier League, two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea. The club is going through a major squad overhaul after the departures of Guimarães, Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier. Expectations remain high for a side that played in the Champions League in two of the last three seasons.

Last season Newcastle conceded 55 goals, the sixth most in the league, and finished 12th. In the first four league matches of the season under Jaissle, they conceded eight goals. They also conceded two goals against West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Cup. However, the team's expected goals against figure of 50.95 is the sixth best in the league.

According to Gradient Sports data, Newcastle ranked 19th for tackling and duel performance in the first four weeks of the season. In the following four weeks, they rose to seventh and then sixth in this area. Their positioning ranking climbed from 13th to third. Centre-backs' average overall performance rating went up from 16th to eighth, full-backs rose from fourth to first, and aerial duel performance from eighth to first. However, Sven Botman is the league's most error-prone player this season, with a mistake that led to five shot situations.

There is also progress in midfield. With Guimarães and Tonali gone, Lewis Miley has taken on more responsibility, and his average rating has risen by 11.15 points between the two periods. Nico González's rating rose by 9.20 points over the same period.