Matthias Jaissle is facing growing scrutiny at Newcastle United after three defeats in four Premier League matches have left the club sitting 11th in the table, with Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace taking on serious importance.

A system that isn't quite clicking

The statistics paint a concerning picture. Newcastle rank among the worst sides in the Premier League for shots conceded and expected goals against — a reflection of a defensive structure that has been repeatedly carved open in recent weeks.

Jaissle arrived late in the summer alongside his staff, and that limited preparation time remains a genuine mitigating factor. But the Premier League waits for no one, and his preferred vertical style of play is yet to take hold. The suspicion from watching Newcastle closely is that he does not yet have the right personnel to execute his vision: Yoane Wissa has been asked to operate as a No 10, and even as a No 8 in the closing stages against Aston Villa; Joe Willock has been pushed into a deeper No 6 role; and £51 million signing Mathias Fernandez-Pardo has led the line as a No 9. None of those three appear fully comfortable in their assigned positions, and it has shown.

The two-man midfield has been overrun in several games, leaving defenders Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw dangerously exposed. Many observers believe a shift to a 4-3-3 — a shape Newcastle have the players to accommodate from the Eddie Howe era — could provide more control and make the side harder to beat. £50 million summer arrival Nico Gonzalez has shown quality but, at 23, needs more support around him in the engine room.

Injury woes have compounded the problems

Jaissle has also had to contend with a lengthy injury list that has sidelined Dan Burn, Joelinton, Anthony Elanga, Amar Dedic, Tino Livramento, and Jacob Ramsey, among others. Several have begun to return, though integrating them back into a side still finding its shape adds another layer of complexity.

The departures of Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon have left a significant experience gap. The squad Jaissle inherited is younger and less seasoned than the one that finished the previous campaign under Howe, and that reality cannot be ignored.

The 4-0 defeat to newly promoted Coventry — who had scored just once in their opening five Premier League matches — underlined the fragility that still exists. Against Aston Villa on Saturday, audible boos greeted the final whistle, and eyebrows were raised when Jaissle suggested his team had dominated a game in which Villa looked comfortable throughout.

New signings — a mixed picture so far

Sean Steur, 18, has emerged as arguably Newcastle's brightest performer this season, but he has been used inconsistently and Jaissle has repeatedly cited his age as a reason for limiting his starts. He was one of several players left on the bench against Villa alongside Aladji Bamba, a decision that bewildered supporters given the team's difficulties.

Dedic began the season in impressive form before injury interrupted his progress; he is expected to return for the Palace fixture. Gonzalez shows long-term promise, while Fernandez-Pardo — who has expressed a desire to play as a central striker — may yet be better served operating from the left of a 4-3-3. Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek has produced some fine saves but has also made costly errors, and Bazoumana Toure and Bamba are yet to start a league match, leaving £70 million worth of talent on the substitute's bench each week.

The mood on Tyneside

The opening weeks of the season offered real encouragement. A draw against Liverpool on the opening day probably deserved to be a win, and a victory at Tottenham Hotspur had supporters chanting Jaissle's name. The early goodwill, however, is beginning to erode.

Some fans believe the club must be patient through a period of significant transition. Others worry that the style itself is structurally flawed and unsustainable at this level. What is clear is that, whatever the underlying reasons, Jaissle needs victories — and he needs them soon.