TALKING POINTS: Newcastle United 3, Burnley 1

Here, Chris Boden looks at the talking points from St James’ Park, and the overall situation at the club.

GLITCH IN THE FRAMEWORK

Whatever the whys and wherefores of Burnley’s transfer business, Sean Dyche started Project Restart short on players due to injury and contractual situations.

And the injuries only got worse over the final nine games of the season.

But Burnley ended the campaign 10th after two defeats in 16 games, one at Manchester City, and the other in what was effectively a dead rubber against Brighton on the final day.

Whatever side Dyche put out knew their roles, and slotted into the framework with minimum fuss.

The team was, as is so often the case, more than the sum of its parts.

However, at the start of this season, with the squad still depleted, there is a glitch in the framework.

That defensive organisation is not there yet, individual errors are plentiful and punished.

After the restart, when Burnley got their noses in front, you sensed that was enough.

They have only been ahead once in three Premier League outings so far, however, and have not really given themselves a chance in the last two, going behind within five minutes against Southampton, while playing well below par in the first half against Newcastle.

Kevin Long came in for criticism on social media, for not being strong enough in the challenge with Callum Wilson, before stepping off Allan Saint-Maximin for the first goal, and he was generally exploited for a poor display.

He proved in that run of games towards the end of last season, after Ben Mee’s injury, that he could slot into the framework effortlessly, but he has struggled to hit the same levels again.

Dale Stephens will need time to get attuned to the framework, but it is time Burnley don’t have at present, and shifting Josh Brownhill out of the central area to accommodate him has been a sacrifice that hasn’t paid off.

You wonder whether the diligent work of Erik Pieters would have been preferable, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Robbie Brady return to full fitness.

But the shape and organisation has not been quite right across the piece.

When holes develop in the framework, they are not being filled.

And the confidence of the side in general looks low, so much so that even the ever-dependable Nick Pope is making mistakes.

He made more in one night than he has made in three years on Saturday night.

The players look like they need help, in terms of fresh faces - not just in terms of numbers, but that competition to reinvigorate them.

The team spirit is second to none at Burnley, but not many players look like they are, to quote a former manager, playing “with a chuckle in their boots” at present.

NOTHING IMMINENT

I always say “never say never” when it comes to football.

So when Sean Dyche says: “I don't think there will be anything happening” before the international transfer window closes on Monday night, you hope the club can still pull something from leftfield.

Yes, there is another deadline before Burnley play again, with Premier League clubs able to make permanent or loan signings from EFL clubs, and vice versa, but as Dyche has also said: “In theory we can use that (EFL deadline), but they still cost money, unless I’ve got it wrong.

“The Championship don’t just give you their players.

“We’re still going to need some money if we go that way.”

For whatever reason, the chairman has kept his powder dry in the market, whether that is because deals are simply out of reach in terms of the finances, or whether more money in the bank looks better to prospective investors.

But the chairman must be able to see what everyone else knows is glaringly obvious - these players need support, and the manager deserves backing.

Dyche’s players will run through brick walls for him and the club, but they need a lift, fresh faces, extra competition, strength in depth.

And it beggars belief that the manager, who isn’t asking the earth, hasn’t even been able to replace the bodies that left the building at the end of June, never mind add to the squad.

He likes to operate with a smaller squad, but even with players back from injury - and no doubt there will be more injuries to come - as he says, they are two or three short.

If you stand still in the transfer market, you will get left behind on the pitch.

Dyche has pulled rabbits from hats and turned water into wine, but Burnley are not just treading water in the market, they are sinking.

Throw the manager a life jacket...

TOO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY?

Dwight McNeil’s form has been the subject of much conjecture on social media, and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp picked up on his struggle to help out Charlie Taylor against Allan Saint-Maximin on Saturday night, particularly for Newcastle’s second goal.

Back in February, McNeil (20 years + 92 days) became the youngest player to reach 10 Premier League assists since Raheem Sterling (19 years + 335 days) in Nov 2014.

However, in 14 top flight outings since, he has only produced two assists, and not found the net.

McNeil is renowned for his crossing, but is averaging only 2.3 crosses a game so far this season, and the statistics show he is yet to have a shot on goal.

Still only 20, McNeil has long bore the responsibility of being Burnley’s creator in chief.

Last season he registered as many assists as Jack Grealish, Nicolas Pepe, Antony Martial, Daniel James and Raul Jimenez.

He has a fantastic range of delivery, and last season he recorded the third-most completed crosses in the Premier League with 29, but so far the service to the strikers hasn’t matched the standards of last term.

Maybe that is to do with McNeil drifting inside more and more, and Dyche sees a future for him as a number 10, where he played in the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace in June.

But part of Burnley’s recovery from this disappointing start will be getting the best out of one of their Crown Jewels again.

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Jordan Pickford made a big error which led to Brighton equalising in their 4-2 defeat at Everton.

That was his fourth mistake leading directly to a goal in the Premier League in 2020 - more than any other goalkeeper.

Back in July, Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “He’s not doing well. I spoke to him about this. There is absolutely no problem. For the quality that he has, and he agreed, he has to be better. He has to be focused on himself, on his performance, day by day to be better. I’m not so worried because he has quality, he has character, but I have to say to him, and I did say to him, that he has to improve.”

However, he has continued to make errors, notably at Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup, and against Brighton, as his status as England number one comes under increasing scrutiny.

Saturday night, therefore, was not the time for Nick Pope to have one of his most erratic games as a Burnley player.

Pope’s kicking has improved, but there remains much work to be done in that department.

His control almost led to an opening goal after a poor touch allowed Callum Wilson to press and almost force home a clearance.

And despite the poor defending in front of him for Allan Saint-Maximin’s goal, I felt Pope could have done better with the France Under 21 winger’s effort.

Pope then conceded a penalty as Newcastle killed the game, as another poor touch from James Tarkowski’s back pass led to him bringing down Ryan Fraser for a penalty.

It was one off night, and Pope was certainly due one after a remarkably consistent and reliable run of form for Burnley, but it comes at a bad time in terms of his England ambitions.

It remains to be seen whether he and Dean Henderson - or both - get a chance to get more game time in the friendly against Wales, before the two Nations League games against Belgium and Denmark, but his timing could hardly have been worse.