Newcastle United's Dan Burn (Image: Owen Humphreys)
Newcastle United's Dan Burn (Image: Owen Humphreys)
DAN BURN says Newcastle United can't use the summer exits of stars such as Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali as an "excuse" this season.
And the captain believes talk of "transition" is an easy way out.
There's a new look to the Newcastle squad this season and a new approach under head coach Matthias Jaissle and it's been something of an up and down start to the campaign.
The Magpies are eighth in the Premier League table, just two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea, but have been on the receiving end of a couple of heavy league defeats and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup at Everton on Thursday night when victory would have handed them a quarter-final tie away at League Two Fleetwood Town.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Will Osula update & Matthias Jaissle's Newcastle verdict on 'shocking' Everton defeat
Newcastle player who was ineffective & teammate who hasn't built on promising summer
After a summer of change, and with Jaissle not arriving until late in pre-season, patience was always going to be required, but Burn says Newcastle can't hide behind the exits of their star men in the summer - especially after the manner of the defeat at Everton, where the Magpies were punished for lacking care and quality at both ends of the pitch.
"I don't really want to use it as an excuse, it just happens at a football club," said Burn of the summer exits, with Bruno leaving for Arsenal, Gordon for Barcelona and Tonali for Tottenham. Kieran Trippier also left.
"You get to the stage where players move on and you go again. It's not like we're replacing a Bruno for Bruno, it just isn't possible, it takes time.
"It's not where the manager has had a full pre-season to get across where he wants. A lot of that tonight [at Everton] isn't about tactically, it's just the things like winning the duels and being hard to beat and clinical.
"Nothing else really matters apart from those bits, so we can't use it as an excuse, to say there's been a lot of transition is an easy way out."
Burn said the Newcastle dressing room was hurting after the Everton defeat.
"Very disappointing. It was a huge opportunity for us," said the England international.
"Knowing the draw in the next round, it was a chance to win silverware so to come away with nothing is very disappointing.
"I think it's that ruthlessness in both boxes. They scored three goals without really having to do much, just poor defending from us. We're having to create too many chances or not making the right decisions in the final third.
"I thought between both boxes we were very good again, it sounds silly to say because we've lost 3-1, but the bits where we have to be clinical and we did well against Palace weren't there."
Jaissle made the same point post-match, telling of his frustration as he pointed to individual errors. So how is that fixed?
"It's not through a lack of trying," said Burn, with Newcastle back in action on Monday night when they take on Everton again, this time at home and in the Premier League.
"We are talking about it and doing it. It's more about consistency and replicating it day after day. It's good we have them again in three days to put that right. I'd like to think we can reflect on where we've not done well and improve on that."