Eddie Howe

[54]

Quote

Newcastle sit second in the Premier League form table - behind only Liverpool; since January 22 they've taken 28 points form a possible 39 and have won nine out of 13; Sky Sports News' Keith Downie examines how Eddie Howe has transformed the club since his appointment in November.

Sky Sports News' Keith Downie examines how the appointment of Eddie Howe has revived Newcastle, transformed the outlook for the future and restored hope at St James' Park...

It was knocking on 11.30pm after a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace night as Eddie Howe stood in the shadow of the Sir Bobby Robson statue at St James' Park posing for pictures with the gaggle of fans who had waited behind to greet the Newcastle manager.

He was pretty much the last person to leave the stadium - having earlier led Newcastle to their sixth home win in a row. It was the first time any Magpies team had achieved that feat since 2004 - when the club was then led by the legendary Sir Bobby himself.

Spending time with the fans who had waited in the cold for two hours just to say hello was also the sort of thing the former England boss would do.

"In Howe We Trust" is the phrase on every Newcastle fan's lips, such is the turnaround since the turn of the year - and the stats show exactly why. The change in mood, hope and togetherness has also been down to the manager.

Since the turn of the year, Newcastle sit second in the Premier League form table - behind only Liverpool. Since January 22 they've taken 28 points form a possible 39. They've won nine out of 13.

No other team in Premier League history has survived after failing to win any of their opening 14 games. Howe's Newcastle have dragged themselves to safety with five games to spare.

It hasn't all been plain sailing, though. Early in Howe's tenure they returned a 11-1 deficit in successive matches against Leicester, Liverpool and Man City; they then faced the ignominy of being dumped out of the FA Cup at home by League One side Cambridge United; and a 'must-win' home clash against fellow-strugglers Norwich hit the skids after a 10th minute red card for Ciaran Clark.

Howe had every right to feel the gods were conspiring against him when Covid prevented him taking charge of his first match at home to Brentford, and he instead had to listen to the delayed noise of the crowd from a nearby city centre hotel. Then when the transfer window opened he soon realised that his weighty job of 'manager' was set to extend to 'director of football' as well.

But through all of that the 44-year-old knuckled down and trusted the process. He often joked in those opening months that he was yet to see the city in daylight. Except he wasn't joking - he was in at 6am every single morning and only left the training ground after dark.

As well as putting meticulous preparations in place for the upcoming match, Howe was pinning motivational quotes on the wall and noting down both his new players' birthdays and their families' names in his notebook.

It's that level of detail that has brought everyone closer together and left the players queuing up to wax lyrical about their new boss. Only this week Martin Dubravka told me he's never spent more time in his career analysing rival strikers, while Jonjo Shelvey said he's got himself into the shape of his life as a way of repaying Howe for picking him out on his first day in the job as someone he wants to build his team around.

The truth is only some of the current squad will carry on the journey with Howe and the club's Saudi-backed owners beyond the summer. New additions will arrive and space will need to be made. But they have pretty much all had an opportunity to stake a claim at some point, and they are all buying into his methods and the project as a whole. "We are all just desperate to be part of the journey," captain Shelvey told me this week.

Take Miguel Almiron for example. The match-winner against Palace - and a moment to savour for the Paraguayan, who hadn't scored for over a year. Only two weeks ago many predicted he would be one of the first out of the door when the summer transfer window opens. There he was last night, turning in a man-of-the match display and reminding an ever-raucous St James' Park just what he can do.

Fabian Schar - contract up in the summer - but putting his body on the line game after game for the cause.

Sean Longstaff may have previously sulked and gone into his shell after being brought on to waste a few moments in injury time - last night he bounded out of St James' Park with a pizza under his arm and a smile as wide as the River Tyne. The local lad was back in training this morning while those that started the match recovered - ensuring that he's ready to play if selected at Norwich on Saturday.

Look at the likes of Dwight Gayle, Paul Dummett and Federico Fernandez - three players that have hardly had a kick under Howe, yet roaring with delight in each of those now famed dressing room team photos following a victory.

Some will say splashing out £95m in the January transfer window guaranteed success, and the captures of Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier (despite being injured) offer a glimpse into the kind of future the Toon Army can expect.

But it's the improvement of some of those that Howe inherited that has been most impressive.

It's difficult to think of a squad member who hasn't got better since the turn of the year. The likes of Schar, Shelvey, Joelinton, Emil Krafth and Joe Willock were shadows of their current selves when you think back four or five months.

Guimaraes and Trippier aside, signings Dan Burn, Matt Targett and Chris Wood were far from household names. But Howe has built them into a collective that is now a force to be reckoned with.

St James' Park for so long has been a place where the home fans and the team were on different pages. The players often wilted under the pressure and disappeared into their shells after going one down. The fans themselves would turn up for the sake of it - not through any hope that the club was moving forward.

It lacked love, it lacked ambition, and more than anything it lacked hope. The fans had lost the pride for their team. Now you take a walk around the city on matchday and the atmosphere is electric.

Fans have smiles on their faces, that lost generation of support is re-engaged and spending money in the city's bars and restaurants on matchdays.

Fans are asking who is in the starting line-up, who are they signing in the summer, and if there is a spare ticket for the game.

The players are getting a buzz form playing in front of the fans whether home or away. The fans are even showing empathy to players who are perhaps needing some comfort - shown by the flag display in personal tribute to Allan Saint-Maximin at the Palace game.

They are selling out every match, not giving away briefs to make the stadium appear it is full.

And they are putting the players on pedestals: on Tuesday the club needed extra security to control the throng of young fans who had made the journey to the club's training ground to catch a glimpse of their heroes as they arrived for their session. Pre-takeover, and pre-Howe, there were often one or two hanging around to air their grievances.

It's clear the new owners still have a huge job on their hands, and there are a multitude of things that need to be changed in and around the club. But the feeling has altered, hope has been restored. The club's loyal fans are enjoying themselves, and it seems to be lasting.

Howe himself said last night that he's enjoying it too. He admitted he gets five seconds of enjoyment when he opens his eyes in the morning following a win. Then he gets up, puts on his tracksuit and gets stuck into his 12-hour day…

 

[Miggys First Goal]

What a man. 

[PauloGeordio]

1 minute ago, Miggys First Goal said:

What a man. 

Our man! 

[STM]

If we are reflecting on Howe and his appointment.... I initially wanted him when Bruce was sacked and there was his coaching videos knocking about from his time at Bournemouth. I even sent my mate them saying what a difference it would make having someone like him.

 

However, when we moved on Emery, I was delighted we were going for a big European name and I was gutted when we didn't get him. So much so that getting Howe felt a tad underwhelming.

 

There was always a wonder on whether Howe was just another young English coach bigged up by the media and his success at a smaller club or whether he was a genuine modern day gem.

 

Right now, it feels as though our gamble paid off massively and we have struck gold.

[Yorkie]

Yeah looking back I'm pretty sure I thought he'd do well. To go from a manager who  literally didn't do his job, to a workaholic who'll would be extremely hands on with the players, seemed like the perfect approach. 

 

I was worried after Watford because it just didn't feel like he was giving us any edge at all, but that was totally wrong, it was just taking time. He was building a structure which eventually enabled us to be solid defensively and effective enough in attack, which was then supplemented by some really good signings. Since everyone settled we've never really looked back and he deserves immense credit. 

[The Prophet]

Howe was a good appointment, but seemed like a step down after the Emery deal fell through. In hindsight, that worked out well for everyone.

 

There was far too much hysteria over his appointment though. I guess it was in the context of our perilous league position and said Emery deal falling through.

 

 

[Rafalove]

Okay don’t want to get ahead of myself because it’s still early doors but there are a lot of tell-tale signs that he is a top class manager.

 

 

He seems intelligent open to new ideas, and grafts his balls off. He’s shown great man management and been able to bring everyone Along with him. He’s humble and level headed yet can create enthusiasm within the group of players which likely extends to everyone working behind the scenes at the club and certainly on to the fans.

 

But also he just really seems to know football which is crucial for a manager these days at the top level. The fact we’re getting results despite not playing quite the way he wants us to suggests there is more to come and he still has ideas on how to improve us further even without bringing in extra staff. The way he has improved players that were previously written off Krafth, Shelvey, Almiron, Fraser. The way our signings have adapted to the group and his methods. Who knew the likes of Dan Burn and Matt Targett, two bang average in premier league players, we’re actually decent footballers.

 

We”ll have to judge him

iver a full season to get a full handle on how good he is but the early signs are positive.

[Guest neesy111]

4 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Howe was a good appointment, but seemed like a step down after the Emery deal fell through. In hindsight, that worked out well for everyone.

 

There was far too much hysteria over his appointment though. I guess it was in the context of our perilous league position and said Emery deal falling through.

 

 

 

The way it was leaked certainly didn't help things.

[BergenMagpie]

6 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Howe was a good appointment, but seemed like a step down after the Emery deal fell through. In hindsight, that worked out well for everyone.

 

There was far too much hysteria over his appointment though. I guess it was in the context of our perilous league position and said Emery deal falling through.

 

 

Agreed. Think some of the names we were linked with have a too big of an ego to show up to work early and set an example for the team the way Howe did. They'd might have scared the team into performing better, but Howe's humility and determination has transformed the DNA of the club. Really dont think anyone would have bettered the points we have taken under him. Absolutely love him

 

 

Edited April 21, 2022 by BergenMagpie

[Pokerprince2004]

Another thing I love about Howe is when you see the starting lineup he always seems to pick the strongest eleven. He got Schar straight back in when he took over, has dropped our captain Lascelles for Burn. Put Joelinton into centre midfield. Dropped Ritchie and Longstaff. Gave Fraser a run of games the list is endless. All these changes were things Bruce would never have done

[nbthree3]

Bruce really didn't rate Schar to the point where he was actively looking to sell him on 

 

[nbthree3]

Even 2020 

 

[Pokerprince2004]

14 minutes ago, nbthree3 said:

Bruce really didn't rate Schar to the point where he was actively looking to sell him on 

 

 

 

You could see the contempt Schar had for Bruce whenever he played. He definitely hated Bruce. That tweet has reminded me of Jeff Hendrick, forgot he even existed anymore. He is that shit I cant even remember who we loaned him to 

[Kid Icarus]

[54]

Its actually hilarious going back and looking at some of the lines up just before the takeover went through, this was the team for Man United:

 

[RodneyCisse]

So glad we got him over Gerrard and Lampard.

 

Both which turned their noses up at us.

[Yorkie]

27 minutes ago, 54 said:

Its actually hilarious going back and looking at some of the lines up just before the takeover went through, this was the team for Man United:

 

 

 feels like an absolute eon ago. So vastly different, can hardly believe it's the same season. 

 

Jesus wept he didn't have a clue did he. 

[SUPERTOON]

30 minutes ago, 54 said:

Its actually hilarious going back and looking at some of the lines up just before the takeover went through, this was the team for Man United:

 

That’s disgusting 

[JumpersForGoalposts]

I'm going to own up and admit that I wanted Emery, and I thought Howe would be rubbish.

 

Oh, how wrong I was, and happily so. Best manager since Robson with potential to be better and a class act too.

 

Match made in heaven. 

[Colos Short and Curlies]

I wonder if mr Jones is playing a central role in how we line up etc or if he has been sidelined under the new regime 

[RodneyCisse]

11 hours ago, Colos Short and Curlies said:

I wonder if mr Jones is playing a central role in how we line up etc or if he has been sidelined under the new regime 

 

Think he’s just there for Benidorm banter.

[joeyt]

 

 

 

 

[gbandit]

Can’t get enough of this club, Howe and the players right now 

 

also can’t get enough of being a pathetic npw

 

 

Edited April 22, 2022 by gbandit

[Guest HTT II]

He’s fuckimg great isn’t he!

[wormy]

Seems to be very Rafaesque in the way these soundbites keep coming out about how dedicated, meticulous and all-around great he is. Seems as much as some players may enjoy getting a year or two 'off' via charlatans like Bruce, when a true professional rolls through they quickly remember just how much of an effect a good coach can have on their career. Obviously we've also had more than a few who have made it plainly clear they couldn't ever abide by Bruce.

 

Fills me with more and more pride and confidence in him being our manager long-term.