David Ginola claimed Newcastle United have been trying to copy other teams in recent weeks after they were beaten 5-1 by Tottenham on Sunday. The second-half performance was arguably the worst of the season for the Magpies as they conceded four goals on the back of a strong first-half showing.
The defeat highlighted the problems that remain within Eddie Howe’s squad and showed that, while adequately distanced from the relegation zone, they are still not safe yet this season. A repeat of the first half in North London will see them cruise to safety between now and the end of the campaign but further performances like the second half could see them dragged right back into the mire.
That is, of course, an eventuality the United manager will be hoping to avoid but Ginola believes he needs to create his own identity at St James’ Park to ensure the Magpies are able to improve. Speaking on Sky Sports Super Sunday, he told the rest of the panel: “I think the team needs to be reshaped from scratch. Tactically, they are trying to copycat other teams without the quality you need.
Read more: Eddie Howe determined to turn Spurs defeat into a 'good thing' as Newcastle receive wake-up call
“Reshape the team. Not necessarily with the same players. We need to find a way that Newcastle is going to use their spirit. What they do on the pitch, they need to believe in what they do. What we saw today was just for 15-20 minutes. They need to have their own way of playing football. Emphasise more on creativity, there is not enough, there needs to be more spirit there.”
Until Howe has the players he wants, and needs, in the squad, it is a real challenge to instruct his current crop to work in the way he wants. At Bournemouth, he often prioritised free-flowing attacking football but at Newcastle, at the moment, an overemphasis on the offensive side of the game leaves his side extremely vulnerable at the back.
Dan Burn has helped massively in the heart of the defence since arriving from Brighton but one or two more central defenders will be targeted in the summer that are just as capable building attacks as they are at stopping them. Ginola was under no illusions that the work at United on developing their own identity will start properly in the summer.
“Howe said in the interview the crucial moment was the second goal [for Spurs]. No. The crucial moment were all five goals,” he claimed. “Defensive wise, it was poor. You need to defend better at this level.
“The real project will start at the end of the season, not on these last few months of the season. We will look at the period of time it will take, maybe five or six years, to build a club from scratch. When I say building the club from scratch, it’s not getting rid of everyone. It’s just to rethink the whole thing.”
Ginola went on to compare the current situation on Tyneside to when he was mesmerising supporters and opposing players alike 25 years ago, citing team spirit as an essential component for success.
“If you looked at the entertainers, it was just players that really enjoyed playing together,” he added. “Enjoyed time together, the dressing room for me is vital. If players are not getting on well, they can’t enjoy each other on the pitch. It’s as simple as that.
“The spirit we had at Newcastle with the entertainers was brilliant. We knew each other really well, we liked each other, we used to know more about the players, family, background. You need to build a family. A football club is a family! You spend so much time together all year long.”
Howe is a big believer in a lot of what Ginola said after the match and, at present, it is impossible to judge him on the back of just the single January transfer window. The situation during that window was made even tougher by the fact that United’s Premier League future hung firmly in the balance. It is not yet nailed on that the Magpies will be in the top flight again next season but the work Howe has done in the last few months has given them a fantastic chance of playing at the top table again next term.
