Matthias Jaissle will carefully consider how United line up for Saturday's game with Aston Villa
Lee Ryder Chief Newcastle United Writer, Sean McCormick Newcastle United reporter, Stuart Jamieson Football Content Editor and Andrew Musgrove Social Media Editor
Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle
Newcastle United's head coach Matthias Jaissle(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
When things go wrong, it's often the tactics which are among the first factors to have the finger of blame pointed at them, and Newcastle United's 4-1 defeat to Coventry City was no exception.
It's not without good cause that many have questioned whether Matthias Jaissle needs to rethink his current system, with the Magpies conceding far too many chances, and therefore goals.
In the fume of that chastening defeat the CBS Arena, it's easy to overlook the fact the same tactics led to a win at Tottenham, with United within seconds of recording a 2-1 opening-day victory over Liverpool before the late penalty blow.
However the eyes don't lie, and anyone who has watched Newcastle this season will have seen that they struggle to control games. Outscoring the opposition is hard enough with the lack of goalscorers in the side, nevermind when you're conceding regularly.
Should things change against Aston Villa this weekend, and if so, what should that look like? Our team of NUFC writers answer that here, with your chance to vote in our formation poll.
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Lee Ryder
I don't think it would be right to rip everything up and start again and I think the head coach deserves time to drum his system and tactics into the squad. We've had just SIX Premier League games so far and it was never going to be a seamless switch from Eddie Howe to Matthias Jaissle.
For all that, Jaissle hasn't done that bad considering he has inherited a squad mainly consisting of somebody else's players. A bigger squad revamp with his own targets inserted into the team will come later.
So go with 4-2-3-1 and play the strongest XI possible with players in correct positions. You are rarely afforded the luxury of having a fully fit squad in the Premier League.
But if you were able to hit the autopick button, and looking at who is available, I think the XI below will be strongest based on what I've witnessed so far this season. There would be some harsh calls in there given Sean Steur has been brilliant and Joelinton brings power and experience to the table.
But for now I think this is where we stand at Newcastle. Getting Joe Willock into that rich vein of form is absolutely crucial for Jaissle.
Strongest XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Miley, Gonzalez, Barnes, Willock, Elanga, Osula.
Sean McCormick
The midfield lacking control and being overrun is the central issue as to why Newcastle are conceding far too many shots on goal and until that is rectified, they will continue to concede goals.
I feel like Jaissle has two options at his disposal. Either bring Sean Steur in alongside Nico Gonzalez to assert more control in possession and stick with the 4-2-3-1 or revert to the muscle memory of 4-3-3 that the players he inherited are used to.
Certainly the latter option would reduce the gap between the midfield and the forward line but I also think that means one of Gonzalez or Steur in the middle, rather than both, with Lewis Miley and Joelinton either side of them.
I think getting Joelinton and Dan Burn's experience back into this side is vital but I also think a switch to 4-3-3 is the best way of doing that with question marks remaining over Joelinton's ability to play in a midfield pair.
Stuart Jamieson
It's not the formation, it's the square pegs in round holes. I wrote yesterday that Newcastle need to play Yoane Wissa as a striker or not at all, but that wasn't a dig at the former Brentford man. He puts the effort in, but United need a specialist No 10, and I'm not sure they have one.
In the meantime, I would go for Jacob Ramsey or Joelinton as an attacking midfielder in that role, to give a midfielder pairing of Nico Gonzalez and Sean Steur/Lewis Miley some sort of cover. This is turn offers the backline way more protection.
United are not getting enough bodies into dangerous attacking positions and yet are being exposed at the back. That shouldn't add up and yet that's where we find ourselves. The 4-2-3-1 can and does work, but you have to have the right players in the right roles and Newcastle appear to be some way off that.
You can't help thinking that the summer transfer strategy was designed for a 4-3-3, which is alarming.
Andrew Musgrove
There's a big difference between what I would do as Newcastle United manager, and what I think Matthias Jaissle will do against Aston Villa.
That being said, I fully trust the manager in his decision - even if I wouldn't do it myself. If it were me, I would change the formation.
The midfield is getting over-ran and the defence needs protection - and the only way that happens is if you go to three in the middle. Will that fully fix it? Probably not as Jaissle hasn't got a proper 'engine room' player like Sandro Tonali - someone who gets up and down the pitch with ease, however, reverting back to a trio, is a better option than sticking to his current ways.
If it was me, I'd stick Joelinton in the middle alongside, Sean Steur and Nico Gonzalez. I'd play Harvey Barnes on the left, and if Anthony Elanga isn't fit, I'd stick Will Osula on the right, with Yoane Wissa up top.
However, I don't think the manager will change his set-up - and I sort of don't want him to this early on. Yes, I appreciate, I'm writing a paragraph full of contradictions.
I think Jaissle will deploy a similar XI to the one which lost to Coventry - Dan Burn, Will Osula and Amar Dedic perhaps the only likely returnees, with Lewis Miley dropping back into the centre. I can see Jaissle sticking with the No 10 position too.
Have your say
Should Newcastle change things up on Saturday?