Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United have opened the 2025/26 season in a way that underlines both their potential and their limitations.
Their early form has mixed defensive solidity with attacking struggles.
A goalless draw with Aston Villa on the opening day was followed by a chaotic 3-2 defeat at home to Liverpool, sealed by a 100th-minute Rio Ngumoha strike.
Stalemates against Leeds and Bournemouth sandwiched a narrow 1-0 win over Wolves, leaving Newcastle searching for rhythm at both ends of the pitch.
In attack, the void left by Alexander Isak has been evident.
New arrivals Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were brought in to fill the gap, but Woltemade is still adjusting to Premier League intensity, while Wissa was sidelined for a month after suffering a knee injury on international duty.
The lack of fluidity has shown up in the underlying numbers: Newcastle have generated just 4.6 expected goals (xG) – better only than the newly promoted clubs, Wolves and Aston Villa.
Defensively, though, the platform looks elite. Newcastle boast the league’s lowest xG conceded at 2.5, with Arsenal next-best at 3.3.
Newcastle United
2.5
Arsenal
3.3
AFC Bournemouth
3.6
Liverpool
4.0
Crystal Palace:
4.7
This means that Howe’s side already have a strong foundation from which to grow. What is striking, however, is that the tactical emphasis has shifted.
Howe, once reliant on direct transitions, has been experimenting with a more possession-heavy approach, with structured build-up play central to his long-term vision.
That shift has placed the spotlight firmly on the man in goal.
Why Nick Pope needs to be dropped
Nick Pope remains Newcastle’s first-choice goalkeeper and has been a dependable figure since arriving from Burnley in 2022.
Now 33, he has made over 100 appearances for the Magpies, including keeping goal in their Carabao Cup triumph over Liverpool last season.
His England experience – ten caps – underlines his status as a high-level shot-stopper. So far this campaign, Pope has kept four clean sheets, leading the Premier League Golden Glove race.
His shot-stopping ability is reflected in his numbers: 3.07 saves per 90 with a save percentage of 71.7%, significantly above league average.
Yet, the flaws in his game are equally obvious.
Pope’s playing profile jars with Howe’s evolving tactical plan. While Newcastle are attempting to construct attacks patiently from the back, Pope looks uncomfortable when pressed with the ball at his feet.
Whenever the ball cycles back to him, Newcastle’s possession often stalls, with centre-backs reluctant to involve him under pressure.
It is not that Pope lacks bravery, but rather that his technical ceiling is lower.
Against teams who press high, this becomes a liability.
As Howe tries to embed a possession-first style, Pope’s skillset increasingly feels at odds with the project.
Howe already has the perfect Pope replacement
This summer, Newcastle moved to address the issue by signing Aaron Ramsdale on a season-long loan from Southampton.
At 27, he remains in his goalkeeping prime and was one of the few Saints players to emerge with any credit last season.
His arrival followed Martin Dubravka’s move to Burnley, giving Howe a goalkeeper with very different attributes to Pope.
Ramsdale is far more comfortable with the ball at his feet.
He touches the ball 43.8 times per 90 (compared to Pope’s 31.1) and completes passes across a much greater distance, with a progressive passing distance of 566.4 per 90 – almost double Pope’s output.
He is proactive in distribution, unafraid to break lines and feed midfielders under pressure.
His higher volume of completed passes per 90 (25.8) makes him far better aligned with a possession-oriented strategy.
Statistically, Ramsdale lags behind Pope in pure shot-stopping.
He makes more saves per 90 (4.00 compared to Pope’s 3.07) but his save percentage is lower at 67.6%, while his goals against per 90 (2.20) reflects Southampton’s struggles last year.
Clean sheet percentage is another weakness, sitting at just 10.0% compared to Pope’s 28.6%.
Yet, context matters – Ramsdale played behind one of the league’s most porous defences, whereas Pope has benefited from Newcastle’s defensive structure.
Ramsdale has already impressed Newcastle supporters in flashes.
During pre-season he saved a penalty against Espanyol, a reminder of his shot-stopping pedigree, while also displaying the technical quality that Pope cannot replicate.
Fans are increasingly calling for him to be given a run in the league, believing that his attributes would unlock Newcastle’s attempts to play more expansively.
For now, Howe has stuck with Pope – who he has previously labelled as “one of the best shot-stoppers” he’s worked – valuing his reliability and the clean sheets he has delivered.
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But with Newcastle increasingly defined by their ability to dominate possession and progress the ball, the pressure is mounting to hand Ramsdale his chance.
The tactical shift may eventually demand it.