{"id":264917,"date":"2026-09-28T18:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T18:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/newcastle-could-be-about-to-make-their-biggest-mistake-since-anderson\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T18:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T18:15:11","slug":"newcastle-could-be-about-to-make-their-biggest-mistake-since-anderson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/newcastle-could-be-about-to-make-their-biggest-mistake-since-anderson\/","title":{"rendered":"Newcastle could be about to make their biggest mistake since Anderson"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Newcastle United<\/a> are transitioning away from the intense man-to-man pressing of Eddie Howe to Matthias Jaissle’s more vertical and aggressive style.<\/p>\n

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It will be some time before we see Jaissle’s system running at full throttle, with so many sales and disruptions keeping the Magpies away from those at the front of the pack in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Lee Smith<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Newcastle lost a lot of superstar quality this summer. It will be some time before they are back at their sharpest level when under Howe’s management.<\/p>\n

In midfield, St. James’ Park has taken a beating, making it all the more frustrating that Elliot Anderson<\/a> was sold to Nottingham Forest two years ago. Right now, he could be the star of the show.<\/p>\n

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\n Why Newcastle still regret Anderson mistake<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Anderson is now a sensation with Manchester City, and Newcastle are not getting him back. The England international joined Enzo Maresca’s side for \u00a3116m this summer, following a defining two-year stint with Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Manchester\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

How frustrating that Newcastle scarcely saw any of Anderson’s quality. They sold him before he could bloom into a star at St. James’ Park, forced to make concessions in 2024 to placate PSR.<\/p>\n

City paid a lot for Anderson, but they paid for a player who had hit the ground running at the City Ground. That is to say, Anderson surely would have emerged as an elite talent in short time for Newcastle, had they only given him a few more months to start games consistently in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

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Elliot Anderson in the Premier League for Forest<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

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Stats (* per 90)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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24\/25<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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25\/26<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

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Matches (starts)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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37 (33)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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38 (37)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Goals + Assists<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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2 + 6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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4 + 4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Touches*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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54.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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86.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Accurate passes*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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28.7 (82%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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53.6 (86%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Big chances created<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Key passes*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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1.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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1.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Possession lost*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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12.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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17.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Succ. dribbles*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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1.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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1.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Ball recoveries*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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5.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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8.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Def. contributions*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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5.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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5.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Duels won*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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6.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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7.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali were sold to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur respectively this summer. They left for a combined fee of \u00a3175m. That’s good money, and they are both good deals in isolation for the Toon, but it’s difficult to see Anderson grow into superstardom with Man City when he could have been promised the focal role as he heads toward his prime.<\/p>\n

Anderson is a one-of-a-kind midfielder, but Newcastle can avoid a recurrence of the sale next summer, albeit in a different way.<\/p>\n

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\n Newcastle mustn’t lose the new Anderson<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Anderson is one of the best midfielders in Europe, proving as much for club and country. He will continue to prove a rueful sight for the Toon persuasion over the coming years.<\/p>\n

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\"joe-willock-newcastle-liverpool\"\n <\/picture>Action Images via Reuters\/Lee Smith<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

In comparison, Joe Willock<\/a> is not a superstar, but Newcastle couldm find themselves faced with a similar conundrum this summer, with the 27-year-old out of contract at the end of the season as he blooms into the finest form of his time on Tyneside.<\/p>\n

Let’s make one thing clear. Willock is clearly not on the same level as Anderson, but if Newcastle were to let him leave at the end of the season, just as he is coming into his own, they may come to harbour regrets, with the one-time Arsenal prospect now among Jaissle’s more senior options.<\/p>\n

Willock is out of contract at the end of the season. He did not look likely to extend his stay prior to a revival in performances over the opening weeks of the season. The Chronicle believe Jaissle and co are willing to offer him new terms, perhaps aware now that a midfielder clicking into gear is worth keeping around at St. James’ Park. If the decision-makers fail to open talks soon, Willock will be free to arragne a pre-contract agreement overseas from as early as January.<\/p>\n

This summer, Willock came close to signing for Besiktas in Turkey. For much of his time at the club, he has frustrated following that \u00a325m move from Arsenal. Preceding that was a loan spell which sold the Toon a dream, Willock scoring seven goals from seven games at the end of the 2021\/22 season as a loanee, convincing the club to spend handsomely.<\/p>\n

There’s no question that he is one of the most robust, athletic midfielders at Newcastle, but he hasn’t always utilised his strengths as sharply or slickly as he could have under Howe’s wing. Now, though, Jaissle seems to understand how to get a tune out of the ace.<\/p>\n

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\"lewis-hall-joe-willock-newcastle-hull\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Scott Heppell<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson<\/a> said he “worked his socks off” during a recent win over Millwall in the Carabao Cup. Willock scored a cracker in that one, and after seven games in all competitions this term, he now has three goals from seven games.<\/p>\n

Anderson is in a league of his own, but Willock is just starting to bring it all together at Newcastle, and he could be a mainstay over the coming years.<\/p>\n

Let’s hope PIF don’t repeat the same mistake they made with Anderson, parting ways just as the midfielder started to show signs of world-class quality.<\/p>\n