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Worse than Botman & Thiaw: Why Jaissle must instantly drop Newcastle star

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Published Sep 15, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT+1

Angus is an experienced football writer at Football FanCast, specialising in analytical reporting, opinion and feature writing, with particular expertise in Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

A journalist since graduating from Southampton Solent University in 2022, Angus has built extensive experience across the football media industry. Before joining Football FanCast, he led VAVEL's Brighton & Hove Albion department, developing experience in club-specific reporting and editorial leadership.

Angus joined Football FanCast through Snack Media's (now Valnet) academy and has since become one of the site's longest-serving writers, progressing into the Opinions and Features team. During his time with Football FanCast, he has produced thousands of articles across a broad range of Premier League clubs and stories.

His work combines analytical reporting, informed opinion and detailed feature writing, with a particular focus on understanding the factors behind performances, transfers and major developments rather than simply reporting the headline. His strongest areas of expertise are Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, although his extensive Premier League coverage has given him a broad understanding of the English top flight.

Angus brings readers experienced, research-led football analysis and considered opinion, using his years of covering the Premier League to provide context, assess players and transfers, and explain what the latest developments mean for clubs and their ambitions.

Newcastle United fell, heavily, to their first defeat of the season, with Matthias Jaissle's side thrashed 4-1 at Elland Road.

There has been a defiant kind of excitement about the Magpies over the first month of the campaign, responding after an agonising summer transfer window with an opening day draw against Liverpool at St. James' Park, following with an emphatic win over Tottenham and a more laboured draw to Bournemouth.

But this was the kind of sobering reality that pragmatists might have expected. Newcastle's resilience has been underpinned by defensive metrics which have left something to be desired in the Premier League last season. Across two games previous to the defeat against the Whites, the Magpies scored with each shot on target.

Weak all over the pitch, Jaissle now knows the scale of the task in front of him. So much to pick at, but we can't look past the limp defensive display of Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw.

How Botman & Thiaw were beaten at Leeds

Men vs boys? It's a weathered, trite phrase in football, but somewhat relevant for Newcastle on Monday night. Jaissle was stoic and focused when quizzed on the defeat post-match, but the fact remains that there are going to be lumps and bumps throughout the year for the Magpies.

Thiaw is an athletic and attentive defender, formidable in the air, but he is limited on the ball, and this has been exacerbated by the ongoing decline of Botman, who is not the same player as arrived and thrived under Eddie Howe's wing in 2022.

Too many injury setbacks have twisted his defensive skillset out of shape. "Even his ball-playing is not the same as it was" said analyst Raj Chohan after the game. "Sad to see."

Newcastle will learn from this loss. They have to, and Jaissle will know a thing or two more about a few of his players, most of whom fell by the wayside in Leeds.

It wasn't just the defenders who were swarmed and stung by Daniel Farke's side, though, with

Jaissle must drop instantly drop Newcastle forward

Newcastle suffered a pre-match blow in regard to Anthony Elanga's fitness, and it "doesn't look good", according to Jaissle. Let's await the prognosis, but this is a concern; the Swedish winger has been one of the brighter sparks over the first month of the campaign.

Stepping in for the fleet-footed star was Jacob Murphy, and at Elland Road, it was a bleak reminder that the industrious attacker, 31 years old, is past his best.

Fulham's Antonee Robinson in action with Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy

Murphy was the unsung hero of the Howe era. Just ask Alexander Isak, whose connection with the veteran English winger was sublime.

However, he definitely started to slide away from his finest form last season. Howe's system fell apart last year, and Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League. Murphy was only one small part of the problem, but he failed to offer a solution, scoring three goals and supplying two assists.

Howe's Most-used Players at Newcastle

Rank

Player

Apps

1	Bruno Guimaraes	195
2	Dan Burn	193
3	Jacob Murphy	183
4	Fabian Schar	175
5	Joelinton	172

Against the Whites, Murphy failed to produce even his bread and butter. His three attempted crosses were errant. He failed to create a single chance yet lost the ball 14 times, having taken 27 touches in total.

When you break it down, you see that Murphy lost the ball once every two touches, and given that his creative and progressive impact was nominal, it can only be said that Murphy was a hindrance on a night where Newcastle might have utilised the pace and potency of Elanga, who has two goals already this season. Let's hope there will be more to come.

Botman and Thiaw were bullied by the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Monday evening, but as a collective, Newcastle were overwhelmed by their opponents' superior physicality. Such problems can be fixed, but it looks like the aging Murphy might be a weak link in attack across the campaign.

A shining light did emerge in the form of Bazoumana Toure, who joined the Toon this summer for £43m. At Hoffenheim, the 20-year-old emerged as one of the most exciting wide talents around, also featuring for Ivory Coast at the World Cup.

Toure replaced Murphy before the hour mark had passed on the clock. He offered far more energy and initiative as the Magpies struggled for some purchase in the danger area. It was Toure whose persistence led him to bundle in a late consolation goal.

If Elanga is going to be sidelined for a significant stretch, Toure must start over Murphy on the right flank. Sadly, the English attacker looks past his best, and Jaissle may regret not selling him when interest emerged during the summer transfer window.

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