The unseen Newcastle warm-up moment as Magpies fail to deliver Paul Mitchell 'non-negotiables'

Newcastle United looked like a team that had lost their identity at times during the 3-1 defeat at Fulham.

It was during the 2022/23 season that senior dressing room leader Dan Burn had spoken of Eddie Howe's lectures centring around: "Intensity is our identity". But like large chunks of last season, that was missing at Craven Cottage.

The day had started with Howe ringing the changes again with Lloyd Kelly back in from the start and Joe Willock handed an opportunity in midfield. Harvey Barnes and Kieran Trippier were also starters for Howe but something wasn't right from the offset at Fulham.

READ MORE:Manchester City's huge blow as Guardiola loses two star men ahead of Newcastle United trip

READ MORE:Newcastle United wanted 'the new Grealish' who is now shining after massive transfer u-turn

During the warm-up, which featured a pre-match downpour, a frustrated Trippier was seen trying to gee up the players and seemingly demanding more intensity as he waved his arms in the air. Was something not right as early as the warm-up?

If Trippier was concerned about a lack of focus or intensity, then his fears were certainly justified as Fulham started the game in feisty manner. The fact Fulham had four players booked before the half-time whistle shows they were in the mood to stop Newcastle in their tracks.

The lack of urgency certainly seemed to drift into the game and by the 22-minute mark, Newcastle were 2-0 down and had a mountain to climb. Howe had spoken of the way he wants to play only last week, telling Chronicle Live: "That (intensity) is the style of play that we want. I think we want to play with a clear plan and want the players to deliver a lot.

"We ask a lot of them and I think they are capable of delivering that. At our very best we are a very difficult team to play against.

"We are searching for that feeling, that really good physical feeling. In the early part of the season I don't think we have seen it on a consistent basis. Some players have delivered it, some we haven't seen it yet. But I am sure we will."

It is understood that one of the early discussions between Howe and sporting director Paul Mitchell had been on style of play and whether the ex-Tottenham supremo would have a say in that aspect at United.

Speaking during his time at Monaco, Mitchell had said: "I like my teams to be a reflection of me; I’d like to say hard-working, a level of humility, controlled aggression and the potential to add physicality. In my first meeting with the fans here, they said to me, ‘We can accept losing to a degree, but only if we can be proud of the team in defeat’. That stuck with me.

"My non-negotiables are that players control the controllables. Be as professional as you can, put high performance at the centre of everything, be humble as a team, always come off the pitch having given the maximum and be prepared to push the boundaries."

Mitchell looked far from proud as the TV cameras panned on him at Fulham. It was too easy for the Cottagers and while Newcastle responded in the second half, by that time the damage was done.

At least there was an admission from Harvey Barnes that things weren't right with the in-form forward saying: "Off the ball we were not as solid as we normally are and not as aggressive as we usually are on the ball. Our levels weren't there."

After seemingly clashing on transfer targets, the Howe-Mitchell relationship could yet come under strain again on playing style. You'd think that both Mitchell and Howe have similar styles given the statements from the pair above, but if the pair have not spoken, as was suggested by Howe on Friday, it does not bode well moving forward.