---
title: "Alan Shearer’s Newcastle verdict: why Jaissle’s side lack a spark and a press"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2026/10/23/alan-shearer-newcastle-verdict-jaissle-aston-villa/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lucie Turner"
section: "Articles"
published: "2026-10-23T13:15:00Z"
modified: "2026-10-23T13:15:00Z"
---

# Alan Shearer’s Newcastle verdict: why Jaissle’s side lack a spark and a press

Alan Shearer has been watching from the sidelines as Newcastle United struggled to make an impact in their 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa at St James’ Park. And the former Magpies hitman has called for improvement in the style of play from his former club.

## **Shearer on Newcastle’s missing spark**

The statistics troubled Shearer most of all. Newcastle had managed only one shot on target in 90 minutes against Villa, and that came from a defender, Sven Botman, not a forward. That was worrying, he said, especially at home.

More concerning, in his opinion, were questions of quality: Who scores? Who provides the killer pass? Who delivers the cross? Newcastle are hoping for a flash of inspiration rather than looking to create it, he said. And what of 18-year-old Sean Steur, a player he thought had plenty of creativity? Jaissle kept him on the bench.

Villa were looking at home; they had three shots on goal to Newcastle’s one. They had battered Fenerbahce 6-0 in the Champions League the previous days. Jaissle saw it in black and white; his side should have won. They deserved it; they just lacked a bit of luck. According to Shearer, things are not that easy.

## **The Manzambi goal that angered him**

One moment stood out. In the 36th minute, Joao Gomes floated a cross to the far post, and Johan Manzambi was left with an easy task to head past Lukas Hornicek.

Manzambi had chosen Villa over Newcastle last summer, tempted by the lure of Champions League football. He had then shone at the World Cup. Now he had spited his suitor.

Shearer wondered where the press was. He claimed Nico Gonzalez needed to get off quicker. ‘You can’t leave a player that much time,’ he said.

The criticism is more stinging than ever, given the nature of Jaissle’s style. Reports talk of a high press in a 4-4-2, with man-marking. Defender Malick Thiaw has endorsed such an approach, though Villa’s winner came from the space and time.

Shearer sees goals coming in against you in this league, but it’s the lack of press and marking that worries him. The reaction to conceding the goal also troubled him, saying that he has seen the same at Coventry.

## **A yo-yo season in the making?**

Shearer is sticking to his pre-season opinion. He expected a yo-yo year, with young players and a manager that is inexperienced with the league. Jaissle couldn’t know about Newcastle or the Premier League, he said.

Jaissle has asked for patience. He says that young players are needing time to settle in.

The Villa defeat also had a touch of history, as Newcastle had gone without a goal within their own home league games in just two of their previous 23 games. Both had been against Villa, and they had lost the two home league games in a row against Villa for the first time since 1958.

Newcastle are 11th in the table with eight points, staying in the Carabao Cup, and they were looking ahead to the game against Everton next week. First up, though, was Crystal Palace at 2pm on Sunday. Shearer wants to see an improvement in the attack; a shot on goal, two shots on goal, would be a good start.