adminPaul Merson’s pre-match assessment of Newcastle United has resurfaced following their dramatic 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at St James’ Park.
Merson had predicted that Bournemouth would leave Tyneside with all three points, backing a 2-1 victory for the visitors. His prediction ultimately proved wrong, but his concerns about Newcastle’s form were reflected during a first half in which the Magpies struggled badly.
The former Arsenal star had been particularly critical of Newcastle’s performances before the game.
Speaking in his preview, Merson said: “Newcastle are struggling at the moment. They are not playing well at all!” He added that Bournemouth could cause serious problems if they reproduced the level of performance they had shown against Arsenal.
Merson backed Bournemouth to punish Newcastle
Merson believed Newcastle’s problems could give Bournemouth an opportunity to cause an upset.
He said: “If Bournemouth play like they did against Arsenal, they can easily win this game.”
That assessment looked extremely accurate during the opening 45 minutes at St James’ Park.
Bournemouth took control and went into a 2-0 lead, with Marcus Tavernier opening the scoring before Newcastle were further punished by a deflected effort.
Newcastle were unable to match Bournemouth’s intensity for long periods and looked vulnerable defensively.
Newcastle produce impressive comeback
Despite Merson’s prediction, Newcastle showed considerable character after the break.
Harvey Barnes pulled one goal back before Jacob Ramsey came off the bench to score a late equaliser in the 88th minute.
The comeback preserved Newcastle’s unbeaten start under Matthias Jaissle, although the performance raised questions about the team’s defensive organisation.
Bournemouth’s failure to protect another lead was also significant.
Marco Rose’s team has now led in all three of its opening Premier League matches without winning any of them, dropping seven points from winning positions.
Merson’s wider Newcastle warning
Merson’s comments are particularly interesting because he had also defended Newcastle’s decision to retain Eddie Howe earlier in the year.
He argued that Howe deserved credit for delivering Newcastle’s first major trophy in decades and said criticism of the manager was misplaced.
Merson said: “When I hear about Eddie Howe under pressure, it makes me laugh.”
He added that Howe had “brought them their first trophy in what felt like a million years” and insisted that Newcastle’s real concern should be the possibility of losing important players such as Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
Jaissle still has work to do
The arrival of Matthias Jaissle has brought renewed optimism to Newcastle, but the Bournemouth game demonstrated that there are still major issues to resolve.
Newcastle remain unbeaten under the German coach, but they have conceded too many chances.
The Times reported that Newcastle have conceded 61 shots and six goals across their first three Premier League and cup matches at home, a statistic that will concern Jaissle.
The manager admitted after the match that his side struggled during the first half and still has plenty of room for improvement.
Merson prediction misses, but warning remains relevant
Ultimately, Merson got the result wrong.
He predicted Bournemouth would win 2-1, whereas Newcastle fought back to claim a 2-2 draw.
However, his criticism of Newcastle’s performances was difficult to ignore during the first half.
The Magpies were second best for long periods and required goals from substitutes Barnes and Ramsey to rescue a point.
For Jaissle, the comeback demonstrates the character within his squad. But if Newcastle want to challenge for European football and compete consistently with the Premier League’s top sides, their defensive performances must improve.
Merson’s prediction may have been incorrect, but his warning about Newcastle’s form has certainly given supporters something to discuss after an entertaining afternoon at St James’ Park.
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