Newcastle United’s start to the new Premier League campaign has been far from convincing.
Supporters came into the season with high hopes after Eddie Howe achieved silverware last year, but the Magpies are already struggling for rhythm and creativity in the final third.
They began with a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, before losing 3-2 at home to Liverpool in a chaotic contest.
A second goalless draw followed away at Leeds, highlighting their difficulties in carving open stubborn defences.
The first three points of the season finally arrived in a narrow 1-0 home win over Wolves, only to be followed by another frustrating 0-0 against Bournemouth and then a last-gasp 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal.
The numbers tell their own story. Newcastle have generated just 5.2 expected goals (xG) across their opening six matches – only West Ham, Aston Villa, and Burnley have managed fewer.
Burnley
4.5
Aston Villa
5.0
West Ham
5.0
Newcastle United
5.2
Wolves
5.6
For a side that had prided itself on intensity and attacking fluidity under Howe, this sharp decline is concerning.
Part of the issue stems from recruitment, but Howe’s tactical tinkering has not helped.
Persisting with variations of a back three has blunted Newcastle’s attacking edge. Too often the side has looked hesitant and reactive, with key attacking players failing to contribute.
While output must improve, much of the frustration among fans has centred on one man.
Anthony Gordon – Synonymous with the malaise
Anthony Gordon entered the season with renewed optimism.
“I’m really refreshed. I’ve got my appetite back for football,” he said before the campaign kicked off.
On paper, he should be central to Newcastle’s attacking success.
Last season, Gordon contributed six goals and six assists across 34 appearances, a solid if unspectacular return.
He has yet to register a single goal or assist in the league this season.
His only strike came as a late consolation against Barcelona in the Champions League.
A red card against Liverpool and subsequent three-match suspension disrupted his rhythm further, and he now looks a shadow of the player who posted 25 goal contributions across all competitions in 2023/24.
For Gordon, the challenge is not just statistical but psychological.
Once a winger who thrived on directness and intensity, he is currently embodying Newcastle’s collective malaise.
Hesitant in possession, predictable in attacking patterns, and lacking the conviction to turn tight games.
His role on the left flank has been underwhelming, leaving fans questioning whether Eddie Howe should look to the club’s younger talent to inject energy and belief into a stuttering attack.
Newcastle's young Gordon replacement
If Gordon represents the current problem, Park Seung-Soo may offer the solution.
The South Korean teenager only joined Newcastle in July from Suwon Bluewings, but he has already generated real excitement within the fanbase.
Seung-Soo made history in his homeland in June 2024, becoming the youngest player to feature in the K League at just 17 years and three months.
By the time he left Suwon, he had played 28 games in all competitions, scoring once and providing three assists.
Primarily a left-winger but versatile across the front line, Seung-Soo is right-footed and thrives in one-on-one situations.
John Duerden, the leading Asian football expert, has even suggested his playing style “is similar to Mbappé” – high praise for a player valued at just £150k.
Since arriving in the North-East, he has already shown glimpses of his potential.
His pre-season displays caught Howe’s eye and earned him a spot in the matchday squad for the opener against Aston Villa.
He has since featured three times in Premier League 2 and once in the UEFA Youth League, impressing with his direct running and willingness to take defenders on.
At just 18, Seung-Soo is still raw, but Newcastle’s lack of spark in attack makes a compelling case for his inclusion.
With Nick Woltemade still adapting, Yoane Wissa sidelined, and Gordon out of form, the teenager could provide the injection of pace, unpredictability, and intensity that has been missing from Howe’s attack.
For supporters, the hope is that Howe will be bold enough to make the switch.
Gordon may rediscover his form in time, but at present, Seung-Soo looks ready to tear it up in the Premier League and give Newcastle the lift they so desperately need.
