Lies, damn lies, and statistics (and Newcastle United…)

As a Newcastle United fan I was pondering that famous saying, “There are lies, damned lies and statistics”, which is used to describe the persuasive power of statistics to bolster weak arguments.

Here’s an argument that uses statistics for you to consider, the merits of which probably depend on whether you want to give Matthias Jaissle the benefit of the doubt or not.

Played 10, won 3, drew 3 and lost 4.

Sound familiar?

It should, because not only is that Newcastle United’s Premier League record after the opening ten games of this campaign, it is the same record that we had this time last year after ten games.

Okay, the goal difference this time at minus three is slightly worse – it was only minus one at the same point in 2025/26, but look deeper and when you consider the teams we’ve faced in those opening ten games, we are a staggering five points better off compared to last season in the corresponding fixtures.

In our opening fixture, we drew with Liverpool (should have won, but never mind) whilst the previous season, that lot won at SJP (they shouldn’t have done, but that’s also irrelevant).

Bournemouth at home and Fulham; defeats last time out in those fixtures. This season two points gained.

That away win at Selhurst Park gave us three more points than in the previous campaign and in all our other matches, barring Leeds away, we’ve acquired the same number of points as last season; that defeat at Elland Road being the only game this season where we have recorded a worse outcome, one less point than last season away at Leeds.

Does any of this mean anything?

I think so. I think Matthias Jaissle isn’t doing so bad.

Of course, we want to do better than we are, but it’s early days, and I think yesterday’s improved performance at Craven Cottage gives us a modicum of reasons to be optimistic.

Note: the relegated teams have been swapped out with promoted teams in the positions they finished in last season so for third bottom West Ham, read Coventry City (who won the Championship). Similarly bottom club Wolves have been replaced by play-off winners Hull City.