Newcastle takeover brings hope of improvement but problems on the pitch won't be quick to fix

Newcastle takeover brings hope of improvement but problems on the pitch won't be quick to fix

However, whatever the outcome against Tottenham in the curtain-raiser to the new era, one thing is certain: it will take time, investment and a lot of hard work to move Newcastle up the Premier League table and into a position to compete with the best sides in the country.

Newcastle are still looking for their first win of the season after picking up just three points from a possible 21. Only once have they made a worse start this century: in 2018/19 Rafa Benitez's side picked up just three points from their opening 10 games, going on to finish 13th.

Unfortunately for the Geordie faithful, a slow start has been a common theme in recent seasons. Newcastle have failed to win any of their opening seven games in four of their last seven Premier League campaigns.

It remains to be seen what uplift the takeover will have on this squad - and what impact any new arrivals in January will have - but Newcastle, once again, are already playing catch-up.

No side has conceded more Premier League goals than Newcastle this season. They've shipped 16 in their opening seven games and only once before have they conceded more Premier League goals at this stage. They conceded 19 in their opening seven in 1999/00 under Ruud Gullit and Bobby Robson.

In fact, only Southampton have conceded more Premier League goals than Newcastle since Steve Bruce's appointment in July 2019. They have also faced the most shots per game of any Premier League side.