"TOO SOFT!" Craig Hope's SCATHING REVIEW of Newcastle's HEAVY DEFEAT to Coventry amid CONCERNS!

talkSPORT

Craig Hope's scathing verdict on Newcastle United: too soft, identity unclear and Fernandez not a Premier League centre-forward

The video discusses Newcastle United after their heavy defeat to Coventry. Craig Hope argues that results have masked performance problems, the squad is split in profile, Fernandez is not working as a centre-forward and the defence has gone soft. The conclusion is that Newcastle need time, but must quickly restore aggression, leadership and a clear identity.

Craig Hope joins Sean Dyche and Ally McCoist to discuss Newcastle's loss to Coventry in the Premier League. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 newcastle talkSPORT PremierLeague

Transcript

Some great goals in that game too. Botman was a heck of a strike. Um so Frank obviously delighted with that result but our attention turned to UKcast at the moment after the game. Boss Yisa said this. We can only apologize to the fans the desire and hunger to score to finish the attacks. That was what was missing. Now I'm pleased to say we're joined now for more than this is chief football reporter of the Daily Mail Craig Hope. Craig, a very good morning. How are you? >> Morning Ali. Morning Sean. Very good. >> Great. Thanks for joining us mate. Um well let's start with that. I mean, that was a showing for the Newcastle boys last night, wasn't it, mate? >> It was. Yeah, it wasn't really a surprise, Ellie. I was on with you guys a few weeks ago, and we were looking back on Newcastle's start of the season, and I think I'd said to you that results certainly been good, but performances didn't really marry with them. Now, Newcastle went into this game last night, and if they had won, if they'd beaten, you know, newly promoted Comry, which wouldn't have been a huge shock really, they would have gone fourth in the table. Now that fourth in the table absolutely would have been deserved on account of the the results and the fact they'd managed to to mine those outcomes. But for every other metric in terms of xG4, xG against, you know, the the pass completion and even just your eyes, the eye test alley you watch a team, Newcastle haven't really clicked so far this season. It's hard to determine really what they are trying to achieve with regards identity. Now there is mitigation. It's a new team with lots of changes, but certainly what we've seen so far for Newcastle to lose 4-1 last night wasn't really the biggest surprise. The last four, they lost 4-1 out on the road last time away down at Leads and certainly right now there are a lot of problems for a new manager to address. >> It's still very early crowdf course is and and you're right. I mean, I looked at the start, I thought good performance against Liverpool, great result down at Tottenham. But I take your point, mate. It it just doesn't seem to be flowing. It just doesn't seem to be clicking in me. And then of course things take time. >> Yeah. Yeah. I want to put this back on on Sean to agree because there's a a real sort of disparity of identity and profile even within the the individuals you know within the team rather than talking about the collective. And this was something that you know during the international break we went in and spent a little bit of time with with Matty Cel off the record. You know us guys as the the press pack were really starting to warm to him. I think there's a lot of you know goodwill towards him and a want for him to do well. But the squad he's inherited and the one they've put together, Sean, you know, you look at the the midfield, you've got two guys in there ordinarily who want to play football. Sean Stir, Nico Gonzalez, Louis Miley. You've then got at the top end of the pitch four guys, four runners who run away from them who just want it dropped in behind who are all about pace and not necessarily keeping the ball. They're more chaos than control. So when I talk about this disparity of identity, how is you then as a manager, do you forge this collective identity? Yeah, but that is your job to mold it together to find the the the jigsaw that works the best, you know. So, usually that preseason gives you a chance with that obviously, but you know, preseason can't be a misnomer. It's when the real deal starts. What I will say, I I know about the XG. I was I was reading some stats and facts on it. Um, and I agree. I mean, that, you know, I don't want to overe it, but you know, in certain games, you luck out. You can't luck out for a season. So, at some point, you got to be more clinical. So, I think that's the biggest question because not forgetting that the stats were pretty heavy for him last night. I'm not taking anything away from Coventry. They're doing what they've got to do. Um, but you know, the the stats were heavy. It the the quality of finish, but but Ali will tell you this guy could score a goal, that's for sure. And the moment of truth is is the truth of the Premier League. You know, how many players have you got with that cutting edge who can change the profile of a team because most of the teams in the Premier League in my opinion are organized. They are I know we can we'll talk about Manu about the the physical load and all right, but generally they're organized. They're managed well. The cutting edge is the difference. Yeah, but they have lost some big players in Newcastle. So, I gota >> Oh, you think about it. I mean, you tal I mean that that's a proper >> Yeah. Goodness me. I mean, you know, so I still think there's more to come from him, but I do I do get his point, you know, what what is the the profile of the team? Where's where's it? What's the viewpoint from the manager, the players, you know, what's the identity? But but Newman, it takes time to build a new identity. Different manager, different thoughts. Edd's team were Edd's team played dynamic football. They could pass, but they played forward. They broke the back line. They played with with pace when they could. So, this is a new manager, new players. I still think he needs time to make that work. But it's a fair point. It it doesn't quite look like the BL is proper at the moment, does it? And yet, weirdly, they could have gone fourth last night. >> No, that's a remarkable thing. Where have >> you go? >> Yeah, they could have they could have gone fourth last night. You know, Sean's right when he says the new manager absolutely deserves time to to to make this click and to forge his own identity. But one problem they've actually got is a player he signed and and that's Matthew Fernandez Parto. I don't know if you saw the game last night, but this is the the third match on the spin now. They've played him through the middle as a as a center forward 51 million pound from Leo. Part of the the bargaining when he arrived as he wants to to reinvent himself as this central striker. You've just got to watch him to know in the short term at least he is not a Premier League center forward. There's not that presence there. And while you've got what looks for me right now a non-scoring striker, well well you guys know if you're not scoring goals and you haven't got that presence and that reliability through the very center of the park, you know, the spearhead of your team, it then filters through to the rest of the team and you very quickly lose confidence if goals become an issue. And I fear for Newcastle the goals will be an issue as long as they persevere with that plan. >> What about the other end Craig? I was going to say what the other end look I think I dare you look I think they lost nine and >> I was going to say yeah highest highest conceding team or joint highest. Yeah that's not a good that's not a good mix. >> Yeah and and this goes back to something you and I have spoken about a lot with regards you you loved them for this. You know the the dark arts the naughtiness the nastiness the winess when they had Dan Burn there when they had Kieran Trippia. To answer your question, in short, they've gone a little bit soft. There's not that resistance there. There's not that the the grown-ups at the back. I tell you who they need to come back into the team. They need to come back in quick. And that's the that's the captain, the new captain, Dan Burn. You know, he's back now from an ankle injury. He came on and stopped. >> They need leadership. They need accountability. When I look at that team, I don't really see the I don't see the adults. The body language when they went 3-1 down last night. You know, the most inevitable thing about last night was when Newcastle conceded the third, they were going to then concede the fourth. There was no real resistance there. I didn't like the body language at all. So, they need some of the the big players back in there, the big characters, the big personalities. Dan Burn, Joel Linton were two back from injury last night. And I think they've got to go back to basics because when Frank Lampard came in with us, you know, the first thing he said was, "Forget pretty patterns in the Premier League. You've got to win the right. You've got to win those second balls, those third balls." And while the numbers last night indicated a fairly even game in terms of chances certainly I was there in terms of that that will that spirit that grit that want Coventry bettered Newcastle in every department and that's fundamentally first of all I think where Newcastle have got to look and that speaks to the question you asked in terms of the defense >> but don't forget the physical pro profile sorry comes down to recruitment >> and if you recruit players who are not used to the physical profile of the Premier League that is going to take a bit of time you know a lot a lot of noise I got a question for Ben you're on the risk that they might not adapt. >> Yeah, of course. And that that's what people sometimes forget. You know, I I comment on Arsenal. I think Arsenal signed in summer. They went for readym made Premier League footballers to try and win it again in my view. Doesn't mean they're going to, but you know what I mean? They went game being the biggest two just ready pour on water, you're ready to go. You know what I mean? And that that's the difference. Newcastle buying players from all over the place, which a lot of teams do now, but some hit the ground running. Some it takes time. And the physicality of the Premier League is different. It is just different. Craig, I've got to go to a break, but what just one quick question for you mate? How's my big pal doing? I know you got half an hour last night. Joel Linton. I like Joe Linton. >> Yeah, again, this comes back to the the identity in the system. Now, Joe Linton's got a slight problem in that Newcastle, the new manager want to stick with a 4231. There's no real place for Joe Linton within that. He operates more within a three. But Newcastle needs Joe Linton now. need someone to come in and to borrow a word I used a couple of minutes ago they need you know guys to be to be naughty to be nasty to have those streets support Joe Linton has got all of that and I think to put him in the middle of the park with a change of system is certainly the the bedrock and the foundation for improvement >> brilliant Craig thanks your time this morning have a good Hey,