Jaissle admits Newcastle players abandoned the game plan in Everton defeat

Matthias Jaissle admitted Newcastle United failed to carry out their game plan in the 1-0 defeat to Everton and says his side were not brave enough.

The Newcastle boss was particularly frustrated by how little his team were able to involve striker Will Osula, with too many long balls played towards the striker.

“We could not bring him into situations,” Jaissle said.

“We need to jump the first lines with clear patterns on how we want to play football. Just playing long balls is for sure not the style he prefers.

“And it was not the plan; that is something you clearly need to mention.

“This is now the next step to clearly analyse it in-depth, and ask why we could not start the game as we originally planned.”

Jaissle said the frustration inside the dressing room matched that of the supporters after a performance which failed to reflect what he had seen in training.

“I was aware of that and it was the same in the locker room,” he said.

“Big frustration, big disappointment, because we couldn’t transfer what we saw during the week, a team training on a high level in the approach of how we actually wanted to play and then since the referee started the game, not much was seen and that’s difficult to understand.

“Of course the fans are frustrated like we are.”

The Newcastle boss also felt his midfield failed to provide enough support in helping the team play through Everton’s press.

“We played with a double six today that should support our centre-backs, also to break the first line,” Jaissle said.

“We couldn’t bring them in the game. We were not brave enough, not courageous enough to break that line and to play on the ground as well, and finding our patterns on the pitch.

“It looked really good in the training session but almost nothing to see of these aspects during the game.”

Jaissle added that Newcastle also lacked conviction in the final third.

“We were not brave enough to really go all the way to make the last steps and force them to make mistakes,” he said.

“Also in possession, it was not the plan to shoot the long balls. We spoke about patterns and how we can create problems, create two vs one situations on the pitch, but again it was not much to see today in these 90 minutes and it’s something we need to work on.”