The stadium announcer at Murrayfield, Scotland’s rugby venue, set an enthusiastic tone ahead of the pre-season friendly between Newcastle United and Everton, declaring, “Expect passion and world-class football from the very first whistle.” Yet, the match proved to be a challenging exercise for Newcastle’s new head coach, Matthias Jaissle, as his team fell 3-1 to their top-flight rivals just a week and a half before the new season begins.

This defeat highlighted the ongoing work needed both on the training grounds and in the transfer market. “You all see the matches,” Jaissle remarked. “You are also smart enough to see the needs in the squad. I will be always consistent with my approach. We handle these things internally. We are aware of what we need. Let’s see now. There is still some time.”

A Fresh Look but Familiar Issues

Newcastle displayed a revamped look in the early moments of the match, with new signing Bazoumana Toure showcasing his speed down the left flank. However, despite their bright start, Jaissle’s side failed to capitalize on several goal-scoring opportunities. As the first half progressed, their defensive vulnerabilities became increasingly evident.

A long ball from James Tarkowski in the 27th minute created chaos for Newcastle, allowing Thierno Barry to outpace center-back Sven Botman and score. Although Lewis Hall made an attempt to recover, he could only redirect the ball to Harrison Armstrong, who assisted Barry for the opening goal.

Frustration mounted for Jaissle as he urged his players to regroup, recalling their previous comeback win against Valencia. However, things took a turn for the worse when Iliman Ndiaye converted a penalty awarded for a foul by Joelinton, doubling Everton’s lead.

The Everton supporters took the opportunity to chant taunts directed at Newcastle. When Tyrique George completed the scoring at 3-0 in the 73rd minute, large sections of the Newcastle fans began leaving early, undeterred by the solar eclipse occurring at the same time.

Late in the match, substitute Harvey Barnes provided a glimmer of hope for Newcastle, scoring from Jacob Murphy’s cross to make it 3-1.

‘There’s Many Stones Along the Way Thrown in That Path’

The defeat echoed a similar outcome when Newcastle faced Everton in the Premier League under former coach Eddie Howe earlier this year. However, this match showcased a significantly altered lineup, with eight newcomers under the age of 25 and Joelinton leading as captain at 29.

Key players like Dan Burn, Lewis Miley, and Tino Livramento remain absent, although they are expected to contribute, likely just before the season opener against Liverpool. It’s clear that the squad needs additional reinforcements in the transfer market, a point emphasized by sporting director Ross Wilson, who observed the game from the stands.

Jaissle reiterated the need for new additions, acknowledging the “vacuum” left by this summer’s departures, including Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier. “You cannot change things really quickly,” he stated. “It’s a really young team at the moment so there are vacuums where players need to step up. We fill these positions we lost with experienced players, but that’s also the process.”

Newcastle aims to sign a right-back, an experienced central midfielder, and potentially other players before the transfer window closes on September 1. With a couple of friendlies still on the horizon, the clock is ticking.

“If you make new signings at the end of the transfer window, they usually need time,” Jaissle added. “Usually it takes time to adapt to the Premier League. Those are all things we consider, but we are all still positive. We all want to go in the right direction. We have these goals and there are many stones along the way thrown in that path, but we need to get rid of them.”

The stadium announcer at the home of Scottish rugby was certainly excited.

“Expect passion and world-class football from the very first whistle,” he roared before Newcastle United met Everton in a pre-season friendly at Murrayfield.

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That may have been a stretch.

However, pre-season, or not, this was always going to be a useful exercise for new Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle, as he came up against top-flight opposition just a week and a half before the new campaign starts.

The 3-1 defeat certainly served as a reminder of the work that is still required, not only on the training pitches but in the transfer market, too.

“You all see the matches,” he said. “You are also smart enough to see the needs in the squad.

“I will be always consistent with my approach. We handle these things internally. We are aware of what we need. Let’s see now. There is still some time.”

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A fresh look but familiar issues

There was a fresh look to this Newcastle side in the opening stages and fearless new signing Bazoumana Toure again caught the eye with his pace down the left.

However, Jaissle’s team were unable to capitalise on a bright start – spurning a number of opportunities in front of goal – and they looked increasingly vulnerable at the back as the first half wore on.

A simple long ball forward from James Tarkowski caused havoc in the build-up to Everton’s opener in the 27th minute after Thierno Barry nipped in ahead of shaky Newcastle centre-back Sven Botman to race clear.

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Although Lewis Hall got back to make a recovery tackle, he could only hook the ball away as far as Harrison Armstrong, who coolly picked out Barry to finish past goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from inside the box.

Jaissle punched the palm of his hand in frustration on the touchline before gesturing to his players to go again, just as they did when they came from behind to beat Valencia 2-1 in his first friendly at the weekend.

But Iliman Ndiaye doubled Everton’s lead from the penalty spot a few minutes later after Joelinton was rather harshly adjudged to have fouled Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall inside the box.

That was the cue for taunts of “going down, going down, going down” from Everton supporters.

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Once Tyrique George made it 3-0, with a drilled effort in the 73rd minute, a number of Newcastle fans started to make their way for the exit – and not to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse.

However, there was still time for substitute Harvey Barnes to pull one back after he slammed the ball home at the back post from Jacob Murphy’s cross.

‘There’s many stones along the way thrown in that path’

Barnes and Murphy also featured when Newcastle tasted defeat against Everton in the Premier League under former head coach Eddie Howe back in February.

But this was a drastically different starting line-up following a summer of change on Tyneside.

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Eight of the starters were aged 25 and under while Joelinton, who wore the captain’s armband, and Yoane Wissa were the oldest by a considerable distance at 29.

Newcastle still have important figures like Dan Burn, Lewis Miley and Tino Livramento to return – albeit the trio are unlikely to all feature in the season opener versus Liverpool – but this squad clearly needs further reinforcements in the transfer market.

That won’t come as news to sporting director Ross Wilson, who was among those watching on at Murrayfield on Wednesday night, or Jaissle.

It was rather telling that the German again referenced a “vacuum” for the second time in two days following the departures of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier earlier this summer.

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“You cannot change things really quickly,” he said. “It’s a really young team at the moment so there are vacuums where players need to step up.

“We fill these positions we lost with the experienced players, but that’s also the process.”

Newcastle remain in the market for a right-back, an older central midfielder and, depending on Jaissle’s assessment of the squad, potentially another addition beyond that before the window shuts on 1 September.

There are still a couple of friendlies to play before Liverpool visit St James’ Park next week, but there is little time to waste.

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“If you make new signings at the end of the transfer window, they usually need time,” Jaissle added. “Usually it takes time to adapt to the Premier League.

“Those are all things we consider, but we are all still positive. We all want to go in the right direction.

“We have these goals and there’s many stones along the way thrown in that path, but we need to get rid of them.”