Matias Fernandez-Pardo for Newcastle
Matias Fernandez-Pardo for Newcastle
Newcastle United have work to do this season. Against Coventry United, Matthias Jaissle's side were torn apart, and it's clear now that the Toon have significant issues.
For the second time across six Premier League games this season, Newcastle have been defeated 4-1, but this one felt more damning, outthought and outfought by the newly-promoted side.
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle
There's a lot for the Magpies to improve upon, but if we were to take one positive from this abject evening, it would be that Matias Fernandez-Pardo is showing signs of life up top.
How Fernandez-Pardo played vs Coventry
Fernandez-Pardo was unfortunate not to score against Coventry, and while his pace and potency should see him succeed in the Premier League, there's a debate to be had over whether centre-forward is the position for him.
Jaissle believes that Newcastle need to control the variables they can, but perhaps that means dropping Fernandez-Pardo as the Toon's striker, featuring him out wide instead.
The Belgium international accrued an xG total of 0.49 in Coventry, running around and trying to make a nuisance of himself. There's no question he has the athleticism and technical potential to prosper at Newcastle, but Jaissle does not have the luxury to experiment right now.
Newcastle need a more clinical and cutting presence at the spearhead, but Fernandez-Pardo has not made the most auspicious of starts in the Premier League, but he's got what it takes to grow into his skin as Newcastle's focal point in attack.
Newcastle forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo
Newcastle forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo
Indeed, there's a sense he will quickly outstrip Nick Woltemade before him.
Why Fernandez-Pardo won't be Woltemade 2.0
Newcastle were always going to be up against it, finding a fitting replacement after Alexander Isak was sold to Liverpool in a record-breaking move.
However, it would sadly be fair to say that Woltemade failed quite spectacularly, joining for a club-record £69m fee and being offloaded on loan to Juventus this summer. So far, the German is struggling in Italy.
Nick Woltemade for Newcastle
Nick Woltemade for Newcastle
Woltemade started strongly at Newcastle, but he tapered away, only scoring one Premier League goal after Christmas. A skilful and unique attacker, he ultimately failed to take command at No. 9, and Eddie Howe's decision to field him in a deeper, moonlit attacking-midfield role only deepened his woes.
Fernandez-Pardo has a much better chance of avoiding the same kind of ignominy and forging a successful path for himself on Tyneside, a faster and more ferocious profile, in line with the general mood in the Premier League right now.
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However, the same can't be said for all of the Toon's attackers, with another big-money flop turning out to be Woltemade 2.0.
Newcastle's next Woltemade is becoming a big problem
Jaissle was always going to have his work cut out at Newcastle this season, replacing Howe just weeks before the start of the season. However, there are things he can do to mitigate the damage inflicted on this much-changed side.
Namely, avoiding the same mistake Howe made with Woltemade, and playing Yoane Wissa behind the centre-forward, is something that the German must swiftly nip in the bud.
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It also feels like the manager is pandering to Fernandez-Pardo's tactical demands, and while the snappy Belgian believes centre-forward is the position for him, there's no question that it's not working out right now, and Wissa's cutting edge and goalscoring experience in the Premier League could make a big difference over the coming weeks and months.
But even so, it hasn't been good enough. Wissa joined Newcastle from Brentford for around £50m after posting 19 goals in 2024/25 with Brentford. Last season was a write-off for the DR Congo man, and he has laboured over the past several matches for the Magpies following a false dawn at the very start of the campaign.
Against Coventry, Wissa struggled to do anything quite right in a deeper berth. He failed to create a chance and won only one of five ground duels. Moreover, he didn't make a single defensive contribution, hardly good enough for a Toon side outmuscled by the Sky Blues.
His deeper role saw him limited to very few touches close to goal. In fact, he had just two touches inside the opposition's penalty area. That isn't what you want from your number 9 at all.
Yoane Wissa for Newcastle
Yoane Wissa for Newcastle
Whether or not Jaissle sees fit to drop him, there's no question that the big-money signing is looking likely to join Woltemade in failing to cut the mustard at Newcastle, and that Fernandez-Pardo may indeed have to persist as a striker.
Newcastle start Jacob Murphy
Newcastle start Jacob Murphy