news-engine

Matthias Jaissle has 'energised' Newcastle United insiders in La Manga - now it's time to deliver Inside Newcastle's training camp in La Manga and what club officials are thinking ahead of the new season Newcastle United stripped the curtain back on Thursday as reporters got a feel for how those inside the club feel about the new season and their future under new head coach Matthias Jaissle. On the outside there is a mix of trepidation and excitement over what this season will bring after so much upheaval this summer. After all, the core of the Newcastle team that achieved so much success since the takeover in 2021 has been ripped away inside 12 months. Following on from Alexander Isak's sale to Liverpool last summer, Kieran Trippier, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have all left the club, as well as head coach Eddie Howe. Five signings have arrived, with four of those players aged 20 and under. There is excitement about what they will bring but an acceptance, too, that they need to bring in more experience in the final month of the window. FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Newcastle United latest via the Chronicle’s dedicated Facebook page Insiders have suggested there will definitely be two more signings - a midfielder to replace Guimaraes and a full-back - with the potential of a further two players coming through the door, depending on what Jaissle sees fit after working with the squad. But speak to any Newcastle official, and there were plenty of them dotted about La Manga on Thursday, and they all feel 'energised' and excited about the future after what they felt was a necessary reset. "We're trying to create a model that works for us. I say that with utmost respect for what has gone before," sporting director Ross Wilson explained. "We have to build a model here that can compete, can win, but also one that works for us and doesn't lead us to have to sell players we don't want to sell and lead to UEFA sanctions. "What we're trying to do is build a model across our men's first team, our Academy, through our women's team that really works for us. The word I've tried to use more than any other since I came is alignment right through the club. I don't want any areas that feel like desert islands." Perhaps the biggest sign of that alignment was the presence of co-owner Jamie Reuben, who is expected to attend the Premier League opener against Liverpool, and PIF chief Jacobo Solis who had jetted in to get a glimpse of the new era under Jaissle. CEO David Hopkinson had branded the summer reset as the launchpad for 'Newcastle United 2.0' and with the appointment of Jaissle, who he branded a 'rock star', they feel they have the perfect man at the helm to steer them through it. "This is a moment of change," Hopkinson said. "Life is all change but there's certain moments of punctuation and we're in one of those moments of punctuation right now. Drawing attention to that is not something to be fearful of, it's where we kick off." Jaissle has already made his mark and is set to be popular with the players after making a positive first impression. The new head coach is intense and wants his teams to be aggressive and play on the front foot. Performance director James Bunce revealed that sprint intensity statistics have been the best for four years this week and Thursday's 'lighter' session in front of the media was a result of a demanding couple of days previously on the training ground. Jaissle then spoke to the media for the first time and gave a calm and measured performance - confident without making any brash statements or bold promises - in a cramped bar area with 12 reporters crowded around him in the bowels of their plush hotel base. There was a quiet confidence around him and his true personality will come out on the touchline where his energy and intensity should resonate with supporters. His immediate task is getting a tune out of the players at his disposal. Club insiders expect Lewis Miley to seriously kick on this season and emerge from the shadow of Guimaraes and Tonali. Anthony Elanga has come back from the World Cup with a renewed vigour while Yoane Wissa's physical stats are said to be seriously impressive since returning from his own World Cup exploits with DR Congo. After difficult first seasons on Tyneside, it will be deemed a huge success if Jaissle can get a tune out of the £110million pair. Wissa's battle to start up front with Will Osula could be one to watch, too. Newcastle have never considered cashing in on the Danish international's strong end to the season - despite considerable transfer interest - and believe he can reach new heights this season. Of the new signings, Sean Steur is impressing behind the scenes. After catching the eye with performances against Gateshead and Bristol City, he delivered a brutally critical assessment of one of his training performances in a conversation with performance staff which shows he firmly has his feet on the ground. Bazoumana Toure has been described as 'quiet' but a 'smiler' behind the scenes. If he replicates his numbers at Hoffenheim last season with Newcastle this term then the Ivorian could be the Magpies' very own smiling assassin. Aladji Bamba arrived with rave reviews from Monaco and Lukas Hornicek came across really well in a chat with reporters (more of that this weekend. His English is good, he has already settled in quickly to the goalkeeping unit and the club feel they have signed an 'outstanding' goalkeeper for a bargain fee. Ultimately, though, the proof will be in the pudding. The club feel positive about the new season and were keen to get that message across to us in La Manga, despite all of the outside noise. But that positivity has to drive results on the pitch and only that will determine whether this summer's reset has been a success or a failure. The brutal nature of the Premier League could well serve a harsh reality check or the positivity will be merited. Either way, it is going be interesting to find out which direction this ride will take us.