The Newcastle United head coach is still trying to find the best fit for his new formation

The apples have well and truly been scattered and Newcastle United's cart upturned. Now they need to be picked up and carefully reassembled into some sort of understandable formation.

The truth, however harsh, is that United need an upgrade in every single department before two successive four-goal away defeats become an overall trait.

Football is a team game and therefore everything must be looked at on and off the battleground and honestly assessed without fear or favour.

The new signings - babes in arms - must step up to the plate and prove not only the promise that encouraged United to sign them but that they are capable of doing a man's job in the PL jungle right now. Those of experience must be ready to lend a considerable hand and bail out their compatriots.

United must tighten up at the back and get ruthless up top. Too many goals flying in, not enough converted at the other end.

Midfielders cannot escape either - someone must provide a shield for a back four as flimsy as a kite in a high wind.

Finally Matthias Jaissle must look seriously at his tactics and decide if his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation with a No 10 playing behind a centre-forward is the right set up to get the best out of the players he has at his disposal. My own opinion is that it is not. The midfield is getting overrun. It is a major problem.

United haven't the legs in the middle third. Plenty of options when all fit but no one able to cover the miles at a rate of knots as Sandro Tonali did in his prime. Therefore playing a two can be suicidal against opponents with power.

Ruben Amorim famously tried to force square pegs into round holes at Man U refusing to budge from his preferred tactical set up and became fatally exposed. His is a lesson that must be learned at SJP before it is too late.

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I'm not being too harsh or too knee-jerk after two bad results on the road. Merely realistic. The signs have been there in 10-foot high letters even when results were papering over them. There is a need to face the facts because of love for our club. Parents cannot ignore the actions of wayward children running all over the place without discipline.

We all knew there would be bumps along the road with this newly formed team but we don't want to head down a cul-de-sac.

Some of the big decisions as Aston Villa head for town include whether skipper Dan Burn is match ready enough to start. The defence is crying out for leadership and muscle. Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw are standing on a burning bridge and acting accordingly while Amar Dedic's form has dipped alarmingly from his early season high.

As for the other new signings Matias Fernandez-Pardo insists he is a centre-forward but at the moment looks as well equipped as Nick Woltemade for that position. He is lightning quick and wants to play in the penalty area - Woltemade fails on both accounts - but he lacks a cutting edge so vital in this division and consequently lacks confidence. What he is not is a target man.

I don't want to be too hard on a lad only 21 years of age but his stats are damning - Pardo lost possession 13 times at Coventry, missed two big chances - with an xG of 0.49 - was dispossessed three times, and lost 66 per cent of his ground duels. Perhaps it would be kindest to ignore his insistence that he's a No 9 (it baffles people back in his native Belgium) and put him back out on the wing.

Will Osula for the central striker role if match fit enough? Probably for many but to be truthful he is red raw and a massive step down from the club's No 9 legends but needs must I guess. We only have what we have.

Jacob Murphy meanwhile is living beyond his sell-by date and therefore the absence of Anthony Elanga is felt even more.

Joelinton? He brings much needed physicality but is also a walking yellow card and - dare I say it - he may be passed what he was in his awesome pomp alongside Bruno and Tonali at Wembley in the victorious Carabao Cup final.

To be fair Big Joe is just coming back from a bad injury and deserves time but his cameo at Coventry reminded us of his limitations as well as his assets. As they say, a footballer becomes a better player when he is out for a sustained period.

What United require against Villa is leadership, togetherness, and a collective passion for the cause. Plus a tactical formation that brings a solidness and not just a gung-ho gamble on coming out the right side of a big scoreline.

Of course my opinion - and yours for that matter - don't matter. All is in the hands of Matthias Jaissle who may well wish to be unmoveable but, my, he needs to get it right. For his sake as well as ours.

Newcastle and Villa have history. We are old foes who produce flash points. Now we go once more, two historic clubs often compared but rarely in love with one another.

Villa keep on reinventing themselves under Unai Emery but this latest version is taking a little time to get off the ground in the PL. Only one victory in six games has left them fifth bottom. A six-goal romp against Fenerbahce in midweek however will ominously have installed enormous confidence that has drained out of us.

Newcastle vs Villa not that long ago would have been a clash of two teams hell bent on Champions League qualification. Now at least on the domestic front it is two fallen giants searching for redemption. Who will get it?