A changing of the guard at St James' since Howe's finale.

Byline: LEE RYDER

A LOT can happen in 86 days in football - never mind the 24 hours that saw Eddie Howe resign from his post as Newcastle United head coach before Matthias Jaissle quickly replaced him.

But between Howe getting up from the chair in the media seat at St James' Park after the 3-1 win over West Ham, to Jaissle then taking his spot centre stage in the bowels of St James' Park, a ball hasn't been kicked on the hallowed turf.

That day in May, with the pressure growing but nobody quite able to predict Howe would quit during pre-season in the weeks that lay ahead, a subdued Newcastle boss said: "I think it's about showing unity and the connection with the supporters, which was really strong today. That gives me real hope for the future because that connection, for me, is No 1.

"I'm very The thankful and consensus grateful, and it's is that never taken for European granted. We know this season has would be been a challenge, campaign and I'm very thankful 38-year-old for everyone who has responded in the way they have."

Fast forward to August 11, and Jaissle is also facing a challenge, albeit a different one, as he looks to establish himself as Toon boss with that opening Liverpool game looming.

Jaissle, represented by the same prestigious agency SEG who look after Pep Guardiola, is not here by chance and has been flanked by an entourage since arriving on the scene in La Manga last week.

He is certainly the first young manager at St James' Park to have a social media team around him on hand to post polished Instagram pics and ensure his image is maintained well.

Newcastle opted for Jaissle because his stats, style of play and 66.53% win percentage fit the bill on Tyneside, and it's no surprise his contract stretches to 2030 - the year that CEO David Hopkinson and PIF see as the point in which the Magpies will be in the conversation to be one of the world's top clubs.

Untested on the Premier League stage, Jaissle has no time to waste and spoke again about 'vertical' and 'front-foot' football, something the Geordie fans will definitely lap up if he can deliver, even if it is the same style of play Howe delivered for a while, before being sapped of energy.

Fond memories of Howe demanding his team gave Man United a "quick f------ game" are still relatively fresh in the memory bank from what was an incredible, powerful and uplifting era, but by the end it was questionable on how sustainable that was.

Can a team genuinely train and play the same way? What of the amount of injuries Newcastle suffered during that time? That said it is believed that the Magpies suffered their lowest rate of soft tissue injuries last season for years, but it coincided with a team that still lacked energy and swagger at times in a arduous season.

Jaissle inherits a Newcastle team that could raise their game on Champions League group nights and big Carabao Cup games, but then suffer major dips against the likes of Brentford, West Ham, Bournemouth, Everton and general crucially for many Sunderland home delivering a and away.

place Jaissle spoke of training loads agreat and how he will for the approach certain games, suggesting it may not be high energy every day, and there will be time for philosophical meetings to assess mood and performance.

He said: "We need to be smart with the load management, also with the technical approaches, how much we can already give them and then we see it step by step."

Given the four-year tenure for Jaissle, this first season may be a year in which the ship steadies a little, but the German was reluctant to put any immediate pressure on himself or his squad.

The general consensus for many fans is that delivering a European place would be a great campaign for the 38-year-old head coach in his first year.

Notably, he added: "We can only do our best day by day, breaking it down with a goal long ahead, but we've got to break it down."

For many, not to mention the wider media, the first real verdicts will be drawn up after that Liverpool opener; if Jaissle gets off to a flier, it could answer a few early questions.

As journalists left the press conference on Tuesday night, there was a mix of intrigue, excitement and nervousness, but Jaissle remained unfazed as he left the stage before posing with the Toon shirt on the pitch outside.

really big Carabao gives me then suffer the The general consensus for many is that delivering a European place would be a great campaign for the 38-year-old may

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Title Annotation:	Sport
Author:	LEE RYDER
Publication:	The Journal (Newcastle, England)
Date:	Aug 13, 2026
Words:	798
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