Matthias Jaissle took on the job at St James' Park and will operate over a four year plan - but where does this season's Carabao Cup fit into things?
Matthias Jaissle
Matthias Jaissle
Matthias Jaissle doesn't need to get credit in the bank with Newcastle United fans - but easing into the third round of the Carabao Cup will do him no harm at all.
When asked if he could transfer the magic of winning cups in Saudi Arabia and Austria to English shores, he simply told Chronicle Live: "It would be nice."
Responding with clipped answers is already an outstanding feature of his dealings with the Press, and it became pretty evident he won't be holding court with reporters like Eddie Howe did between 2021 and 2026 from his early media briefings.
One Toon insider stated to us that his Press conferences in the Saudi Pro League, while in charge of Al-Ahli, were short affairs with Jaissle essentially delivering a couple of statements without being questioned before a polite farewell. But strict rules in the Premier League demand more time of top-flight head coaches and a league deadline of around 1pm to conclude the presser on a Friday to satisfy broadcasters.
Howe held his Press conferences at 9am on a Friday, but Jaissle has opted for a Thursday afternoon at 4pm last week, and this week it is set to take place at 6pm for a teatime slot. The reason it will take place at this time is down to the team training later on the back of the West Brom game, and Jaissle will hope to be in good fettle by then.
Regardless of who he picks against the Baggies, Newcastle must see the Carabao Cup as their best chance of success this season, given they have a free hit at domestic success with no European action.
But then I'm not privvy to the expectations that were relayed to Jaissle when he took the job, with a shock exit potentially unlikely to change a thing.
Rewind to last season, and the official internal aim of the Magpies was to get into the Champions League, something that was posted on the training ground wall 12 months ago. That particular message did not age well as Newcastle spluttered to 12th place in the Premier League with no Europe or any cup success to sing about.
If we are to take anything from what CEO David Hopkinson said back in March, when Howe was under fire, you'd expect that a realistic aim for Jaissle this season is a Europa Conference League spot. If he betters that, by lifting the FA Cup or Carabao Cup, or qualifies for the Europa League or, dare I say it, the Champions League, he's had an amazing first campaign in charge.
Bearing in mind he has penned a four-year contract a season of stability and perhaps a top 10 spot would also be tolerated, but that will be all about how he goes about his business.
The board can't expect too much after a summer of change and a new policy of signing youngsters, but they can at least aim high. That is all long-term stuff, but in the short-term, simply easing into the third round of the competition, Newcastle can win will be the order of the day.
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