Five things we learned from Newcastle's 3-1 defeat to Everton at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium.
Matthias Jaissle applauds the Newcastle fans at full-time. Pic: Iain Buist
Newcastle United were hit with a brutal reality check at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium on Wednesday evening as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to Everton.
Goals from Thierno Barry and Tyrique George, as well as an Iliman Ndiaye, put Matthias Jaissle's side to the sword, despite a Harvey Barnes consolation strike, as Newcastle were given a stark reminder of the challenges facing this young team in the Premier League this term.
Jaissle made 10 changes at half-time at the home of Scottish rugby and, in that event, there is only so much you can glean, but it is clear the new head coach still needs some help in the transfer market before the September 1 deadline.
Here are five things we learned from a sobering pre-season defeat for Newcastle north of the border.
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Newcastle star's case to start vs Liverpool gets stronger without playing
Just like in Valencia, Newcastle's new head coach was on the pitch watching intently as Newcastle players went through their shooting drills.
Dressed in a smart black shirt and pants combo with white trainers, it is clear Jaissle won't be a tracksuit manager but if his fashion sense oozes a quiet sophistication, his touchline demeanour is much more animated.
He was prowling the touchline throughout Newcastle's stay in the Scottish capital, barking instructions to his players and he had a bird's eye view of another Sven Botman error in pre-season.
The Dutchman was far too slow to challenge Barry on the halfway line and he skipped beyond him with ease. He raced through on goal and despite a brilliant last ditch tackle from Lewis Hall, the ball was recycled by Harrison Armstrong back to Barry who rifled the opening goal across Lukas Hornicek.
Just as at Bristol City, where Botman was arguably culpable for three of the four goals Newcastle conceded that night, the big winners were the central defenders who didn't play, Dan Burn's case for starting against Liverpool, despite not featuring in pre-season yet after his World Cup exploits, gets stronger with each passing game Botman struggles.
Sven Botman found Thierno Barry a handful
Brutal chant should not fall on deaf ears
As Everton raced into a two-goal lead their fans wasted no time to stick the boot in to a Newcastle side going through a difficult summer.
Just as Jaissle had a front row seat to Botman's error, he can't have not heard the chants of 'Going down, going down, going down' from the Toffees in attendance and while you can't read too much into pre-season, it should serve as a warning that this summer of change can also go wrong, as much as Newcastle want it to go well.
Newcastle officials were 'energised' about the future under Jaissle and with their new signings in La Manga and they believed the time was right for a reset amid the departure of some senior players.
But it is clear Newcastle not only need more experienced steel in this side but also more from the experienced players who remain in the group, too.
A pre-season defeat which saw Jaissle make 10 changes at half-time isn't going to sound the death knell, particularly just over a week into his reign. But it was a timely reminder of the reality facing them in the Premier League if this 'Newcastle 2.0' reboot doesn't click into gear quickly at the start of the season.
New signings' first Premier League test
Lukas Hornicek and Aladji Bamba both started for the second successive game and Bazoumana Toure was rewarded for a fantastic display from the bench in the second half against Valencia on Saturday with his first start.
Toure was a rare bright spark on the night and is very much an old fashioned winger. A fleet-footed, left-footer, on the left-hand side, whose first thought is to beat his marker, get to the by-line and get an early delivery in.
He had the beating of Everton right-back Nathan Patterson every time and it almost paid off early in the first half when his cross fell to Yoane Wissa who blazed his volley over the crossbar.
If Toure is pace and thrill, Bamba plays with a much more languid calmness. He may not have obviously stood out in the same way Toure, or Sean Steur have so far in pre-season, but he looks mature beyond his years and could offer some much needed control at times in midfield. Steur came off the bench again and put in his quietest display of an impressive pre-season, although his forward pass did start off the move for the goal. It found Joe Willock who fed in Jacob Murphy down the right and his low cross was tapped home by Barnes at the back post.
Hornicek made a couple of decent stops from point blank range to deny Kieran Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye and also got across his line quickly to tip a Dewsbury-Hall free-kick around the post. Meanwhile, Ewen Jaouen missed the trip to Edinburgh with a minor back injury that kept him out of the Valencia win, too.
Bazoumana Toure of Newcastle United is challenged by Nathan Patterson of Everton
Captain pick keeps us guessing
Malick Thiaw was handed the armband on Saturday but despite starting tonight, Joelinton's return to the side also saw him handed the armband.
Jacob Murphy has also worn the armband in pre-season and with Dan Burn set to return to the squad this weekend, he will surely have a chance as captain, too.
It is clear that Jaissle was telling the truth when he shut down questions over whether he had selected a new captain in Tuesday's press conference.
Joelinton challenges Thierno Barry
They're here, they're there...
You know the chant about empty seats. It seemed a peculiar sell to have a game 121 miles north at 5:15pm on a Wednesday evening, particularly given it was right in the middle of the Edinburgh fringe festival.
But plenty Newcastle fans made the journey and while the upper bowl of Murrayfield Stadium was empty, the lower bowl was filled with black-and-white shirts who had made the trip north. The Magpies seemed to have a superior presence in the crowd with around 10,000 of the Toon Army making the journey across the border.
They certainly enjoyed a special rendition of Local Hero played on the bagpipes as the teams emerged from the tunnel ahead of kick-off.