Newcastle United are a club with more questions than answers right now, after a run of three defeats in four matches that leaves them 11th in the Premier League.

Two painful defeats last week, away at Coventry and at home to Aston Villa, have punctured some of the confidence that had built up from the club's strong start to the season.

From Matthias Jaissle's future and tactics to injuries and January transfer plans, there is no shortage of issues to address. And for this week's Newcastle Confidential, we've handed the floor to you.

Here, CRAIG HOPE tackles your biggest questions with insight and information from inside St James' Park…

Section 1: Jaissle's prospects 

Q. How much time will Jaissle be given if results don't improve? Is he already under serious pressure? (Kazuyoshi Funaki, Sibierski’s Baldy Heed & Clare Bremner)

As a journalist, it’s our job to stay across the above questions every day, especially when results aren’t good. That does not mean we think the manager should be changed (and I don’t, in this instance) but exploring the notion is valid.

Everything I’ve had back in the past week or so has been in support of Jaissle. So much so, the idea of a ‘vote of confidence’ type message was dismissed even as a suggestion. Ultimately, it is PIF who will decide – and in five years of ownership they have only sacked one manager, Steve Bruce a couple of weeks after the takeover. The message from their side is one of calm and patience.

A manager cannot lose every game, of course, and the team entering the bottom three and staying there for a prolonged period would require a serious reconsideration of said patience – which sources have acknowledged this week – but while Newcastle are in a relatively comfortable league position, all of the hierarchy’s energy will go into supporting the head coach.

Q. Will the club reconsider its Vision 2030 ambitions, accept that this is a season of transition and give Jaissle their full backing? (Doddsy)

In terms of Vision 2030, it stands, and no one internally is rowing back on that. Chief executive David Hopkinson sees such ambition as imperative to progress and exuding a message of confidence and bullish intent.

I would not draw direct correlation when it comes to Jaissle’s future and Vision 2030, and we should not take the 2030 date as a literal deadline of ‘best club in the world or heads will roll’. It is more Hopkinson’s way of focusing minds from an off-field perspective.

However, Vision 2030 will be a stick with which to beat the hierarchy if results do not improve – that is the upshot of being so bold. I admire it in many ways, and believe it to be necessary from an internal standpoint, but I’m not sure it will do them too many favours in the short term.

Q. Why did the owners choose Jaissle as manager? (Poolie Mags and MuckeFe111)

Well, it was not, as some have speculated, because they wanted a manager from a PIF-owned club. It took £9million to buy out Jaissle from his Al Ahli contract and talks were far from straightforward. When I suggested Newcastle might return to Al Ahli in an effort to sign young French midfielder Valentin Atangana, said to be a Jaissle favourite, it was dismissed on account of the somewhat frosty relations.

Newcastle’s hierarchy believed – and still do – they were getting a coach who could be an elite-level manager. This summer, I detected an absolute conviction among those who appointed Jaissle that he would succeed.

Sporting director Ross Wilson called Hopkinson after his first meeting with Jaissle and the latter knew immediately that Wilson was sold on the German. So much so, there was one meeting where Newcastle chiefs wanted to walk straight back into the restaurant and offer him the job on the spot.

Other options, such as Kieran McKenna, were explored (and Hopkinson has said 130 candidates came up in their data analysis) but all roads led to Jaissle once they knew it was possible.

Q. Why do you think a section of our fanbase and media have turned against Jaissle after a handful of weeks and games with barely any pre-season? Teams below us have got less grief in the last week! (G Star)

It’s a fair question, but online reaction is framed through results. Team wins, manager good. Team loses, manager bad. So the extreme reaction we’re seeing to Jaissle among some fans, primarily online, is governed by that, I suspect. If Newcastle beat Crystal Palace, all will be well (for a few days until Everton).

In reality, the truth I feel is somewhere in the middle. There is concern at obvious issues when it comes to game plan and shape, but also understanding that Jaissle inherited a squad with missing parts. The boos after Aston Villa were for a combination of the two: a poor performance coupled with frustration at a diminished playing staff and the likelihood of a difficult season. But yes, online especially, I think a more balanced reaction to results would reflect better on all fanbases, including Newcastle.

As for the media, I don’t think we have turned on Jaissle. We have to report on what have been two alarming performances (and even before the recent defeats, there was reason to urge caution despite decent results) but, on the whole, I believe we accept he needs time. Saying that, there also has to be evidence of progress.

All of the above is also the price on the ticket at a club like Newcastle – the scrutiny and interest will always be there. It will be a worrying day when it is not.

Q. Why are you calling out the current manager’s tactics and results when, in my opinion, you said nothing last season? (Micky B and Magpie Lee)

The criticism of performances and tactics was there (YouTube headlines on my channel from March and April included: ‘Broken: This team is not a team anymore', 'Too Soft', 'One Word: Weak' and 'This Didn’t Work!'). But I believed Eddie Howe was still the right manager to turn things around and that he deserved one below-par season. I stand by that and always will.

Yes, at the time I was fully aware of a want (mainly online) to go after the manager, but I believed from my conversations around the club that Howe retained the support of his players and the hierarchy. I also thought that was right.

I’m not afraid to go after managers (see Steve McClaren and Steve Bruce...) but I’ll do so when I believe it’s fair, not just because a team is going through a difficult spell. My belief remains that Howe was the best manager in the club’s recent history, while also falling short towards the end of last season.

As for Jaissle, I’m analysing his tactics and results, of course, but on the whole I’d say I’ve been supportive of him. I don’t think his team is playing well at all, but there is mitigation.

Q. What would the owners consider a successful season? (Adrian Bromfield and Ben Levey)

There is a hope, and perhaps even an expectation, of European football. Financial forecasts have been drawn for all eventualities, and Newcastle can absorb a finish similar to last season (12th), but returning to continental competition is openly spoken about as an ambition in conversations I’ve had.

How does that tally with patience for the new manager? Well, it doesn’t, does it? And that is the fascination in seeing how this season plays out. Because, for me, qualifying for Europe is probably unlikely.

Section 2: Injuries and young talent

Q. Is there any update on Tino Livramento? (various)

Yes, Confidential can exclusively reveal that Livramento has suffered a knee injury. Given his history of significant knee problems, the club are understandably cautious. 

I'm told that the issue, first felt in training last month, was initially thought to be innocuous. However, after tests, it was revealed that Livramento needed a period of rest and recovery. He has avoided serious injury, I understand, and has been doing some light work on the grass the past week or so.

It is too early for a definite return date, but work has now begun in terms of easing him back to full fitness. The England defender was forced to pull out of last month’s international fixtures and he is unlikely to make next month’s internationals either.

Q. Is Matias Fernandez-Pardo injured? When are Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey expected to return? (David McConnell)

Fernandez-Pardo has been suffering from an illness, but I can reveal some good news on Elanga – he has been back with the group this week and is pushing for involvement on Sunday. Palace may come too soon, but all of the noises around him are positive. Ramsey is due back this week, but we’re awaiting an update.

Q. What are Newcastle's plans for young prospects Rory Finneran and Ousmane Diabate? Do either feature in the club's long-term first-team plans? (Geordie Messiah)

Diabate, 19, was a signing we revealed in the summer, and there is definitely excitement around the midfielder's progress back on loan in Turkey. I would expect him to be part of pre-season next summer, and likewise 18-year-old midfielder Finneran, who has shone on loan at Notts County.

Once they’re given that window to train with the senior squad, it’s then up to them. At the very least, the club have two players with sell-on value.

Section 3: Tactics and transfers

Q. What exactly is Jaissle's 'vertical football' and could he switch to a 4-3-3? Opponents regularly cut through the team with a single pass, why hasn't Jaissle addressed this obvious weakness? (Craig Forsyth, Cumbrian Mag and Sam)

Vertical football is getting the ball forward quickly and directly. The rule in training where players are penalised for passing backwards is evidence of this tactic.

Clearly, however, there are some issues with its implementation on a matchday. As Craig Forsyth points out, the midfield in a 4-2-3-1 system is too easily bypassed. Jaissle was furious on Saturday when one Villa attack went from their box to Newcastle’s in the space of a few passes and a few seconds, and Joao Gomes hit the post.

So, will he change to a 4-3-3? I can’t tell you what Sunday will bring, but as I reported last week, my information was that he would not deviate from 4-2-3-1 against Villa. They were defending in a 4-4-2 at times, but that still left two exposed midfielders – and that is an issue that needs to be addressed, especially away from home.

Q. Will Newcastle look to sign another striker or No10 in January and is money available? (Sam and OneGuyNUFC)

Q. Newcastle's '2.0' transfer window looks like an enormous gamble. Did the club congratulate itself on the summer business too soon? (Brit Boxing Blog)

There is definitely headroom to spend in January, I’m told, but there is also a belief that the squad has been built for the entire season, not just half of it.

I would not expect a striker to be sought (they have Will Osula, Fernandez-Pardo and Yoane Wissa already) but a No10 feels like an obvious target. I know now of agents who are suggesting players in that position to the club.

To answer the second question, Newcastle were very satisfied with their summer business come the end of the window, and they remain pleased with how it played out. They’ve stated that on the record.

As ever, though, results dictate how history judges any window, and right now both the manager and hierarchy are in need of an upturn. There is not a feeling of panic as yet, but ask me that question again as January approaches if improvement has not arrived.

Q. If you had been given £500million to spend on rebuilding Newcastle's squad, do you think you could have done better? (Tino’s Fur Coat)

No, I would have spent it all on Cherno Samba.