Eddie Howe

[Manxst]

12 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

 

Ashworth seems the patient type. Don’t know about Staveley and PIF though. 

 

 

 

They waited a fair while to buy the club, despite the obstacles put in their way, in fairness…

[Paully]

Brilliant posts, @WillDanceForChocolate - thank you for that!

[Nine]

37 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I say that because I think next season we want solid progress so that in 23/24 we go for the top 4/5. We’ll sign players that we think can go for that while transitioning out Ashley era players and seeing who can make that jump.  I don’t think they’ll be happy being 12/13 come in January. 
 

I look at Hughes to Mancini at City. Rodgers to Klopp at Liverpool.  Even Nuno to Conte at Spurs. All arguably harsh sackings but the leadership has identified and won over a manager proven to go where the club wanted to go and was the right decision. 
 

I genuinely think in 23/24 the owners will want CL places and will want us to have a team and management setup for us to achieve it. 
 

Ashworth seems the patient type. Don’t know about Staveley and PIF though. 

 

 

 

I think looking at top 4 2 seasons from now is a big, big ask. So many variables to consider that I very much doubt leadership has identified ‘we want to finish in x position by x date’, I think it’s more likely they have a 5 year plan that has us near the top of the table by the end of it. Also we have no idea how investment will progress, we know how rich our owners are but that doesn’t necessarily translate into us spending massively every window (in keeping with FFP of course). Also comparisons to City, Liverpool or whoever else sacking a manager is a different kettle of fish from where we are right now. I don’t expect us to crack top 4 for at least 4/5 seasons (without a freak season of multiple top teams flopping) because there is far more chance we experience many bumps in the road before then, it’s going to be a long slog but we will get there.

 

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by Nine

[The College Dropout]

53 minutes ago, Nine said:

I think looking at top 4 2 seasons from now is a big, big ask. So many variables to consider that I very much doubt leadership has identified ‘we want to finish in x position by x date’, I think it’s more likely they have a 5 year plan that has us near the top of the table by the end of it. Also we have no idea how investment will progress, we know how rich our owners are but that doesn’t necessarily translate into us spending massively every window (in keeping with FFP of course). Also comparisons to City, Liverpool or whoever else sacking a manager is a different kettle of fish from where we are right now. I don’t expect us to crack top 4 for at least 4/5 seasons (without a freak season of multiple top teams flopping) because there is far more chance we experience many bumps in the road before then, it’s going to be a long slog but we will get there.

 

 

 

I think we aim to be in the top 4 fight in 23/24. Not necessarily get 4th but be in the mix certainly. 
 

Next season we’ll look to finish 7/8th, there’s no reason Wolves, Leicester and co. to finish above us. We’ll look to sign as many Bruno G and Trippier level players that make sense. You assume 4-6 players. 
 

By 23/24, we’ll have had 3 windows of trying to sign CL worthy, top 4-6 worthy players. We should be knocking on the door of CL football. 
 

Man City finished 10th, 5th, 3rd.  We should look at 7/8, CL mix, getting CL. Otherwise we’ve failed.  
 

I also don’t think we can wait 4/5 years to challenge for CL. Earlier success means greater commercial opportunities.  We are going to bring in better players on bigger wages every window. If In4 years we aren’t in the CL FFP will be a big issue like Everton. We’ll have a dozen players on 100k+ within 3 years. We signed 2 while in a relegation fight… in January.  
 

also Ashley’s under investment is giving us a time bound opportunity to invest before having to get creative. But that won’t last forever.

 

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by The College Dropout

[Bondedcrown]

1 hour ago, The College Dropout said:

I say that because I think next season we want solid progress so that in 23/24 we go for the top 4/5. We’ll sign players that we think can go for that while transitioning out Ashley era players and seeing who can make that jump.  I don’t think they’ll be happy being 12/13 come in January. 
 

I look at Hughes to Mancini at City. Rodgers to Klopp at Liverpool.  Even Nuno to Conte at Spurs. All arguably harsh sackings but the leadership has identified and won over a manager proven to go where the club wanted to go and was the right decision. 
 

I genuinely think in 23/24 the owners will want CL places and will want us to have a team and management setup for us to achieve it. 
 

Ashworth seems the patient type. Don’t know about Staveley and PIF though. 

 

 

 

Watch Staveleys interview when we were taken over?

 

[STM]

We should go for top 4 next season.

 

"OMG, what have you just said!!!!".

 

What happened to ambition man? You don't aim for 8th or whatever. You aim for a real target, a golden egg if you will.

 

OK, so realistically it's going to be a tall order, we'd need an electric start and then further investment in January but it's possible given how much the current protagonists are trying to shoot themselves in the foot.

 

And just so we are clear, I don't expect us to finish top 4, I don't think we will finish top 4 nor do I think Eddie Howe should be in any sort of trouble if we don't.

 

I'm saying we need to have real targets and real aims. If it doesn't happen, c'est la vie. 

[HawK]

@The College Dropout I think Howe needs to be given all the time he wants. As long as we're progressing year after year, that's all we want, stable progression.

 

The time for the short-term manager was after Bruce, and I thought they'd got it wrong with Howe. I hate Gerard, but even I advocated for him only on the basis he would attract names that may help keep us up with their quality. He went to Villa, and got Coutinho and Digne (captain hindsight is wonderful, but at the time when we were linked we were all pretty pumped) etc. Of course there's an argument to be had as to whether they would have come to us with our league position at the time, but you cannot deny that Gerard has/had more pull than Eddie Howe on foreign transfers.

 

Now, that's all water under the bridge, Howe's done the impossible in getting us to the top half, been part of a recruitment team that's somehow managed to Bruno in, and is playing (mostly) very good football. We've not only plugged the short-term gap problem to keep us up, we've also got the longer term solution right here, right now. I've read a lot on Eddie Howe since he's joined, and those posts from @WillDanceForChocolate was just the icing on the cake for me in terms of firmly believing we need to hand the keys to the club to this man, like were prepared to do with Rafa.

 

The owners are new to football, and I doubt they'd be so ready to chop and change if we go through a muddy period, having now been captured in those (in)famous dressing room photos with Howe, his staff and the players. The stage is set, we need to stop thinking about 'what about after Howe', and 'the next step', and just get behind someone who I firmly believe has all the tools to be as successful with this club as anyone we've ever had in the modern era.

[STM]

We have that sort of attitude and we might land in the Europa league the following season. 

[Guest]

Think the advantage he has is that he’s literally starting from the bottom so think the fans & board will accept a top 8 challenge next season, aiming for top 6 the year after, etc and he’s capable of that imo. Interesting to see if he can break the top 4 but he has the attributes.

[Geordie Ahmed]

I'm not overly concerned about the positions, obviously we should never criticise or downplay anyone wanting to aim as high as possible, ambition should never be a negative 

 

What I'd like to see is a minimum of 3 (4 including Targett) first team players, that alone should mean the minimum expectation is that relegation battle is off the table.

 

As to the exact position, there's so many variables but it would be good if we can improve on wherever we end up finishing this season.

[STM]

Prediction: We get off to an absolute flyer, perhaps even spend a week or two at the top of the table. Momentum will be good and we will get a couple of decent scalps, we might even get to November in the top 4, similar to what West Ham did.

 

Eventually, injuries and our inability to beat enough of the top 6 clubs will see us gently slide down the table and we end up 6/7th. That would be an Epic season.

 

Any European football the following year would be an absolute dream.

[The College Dropout]

12 minutes ago, Bondedcrown said:

Watch Staveleys interview when we were taken over?

 

“There is no reason why Newcastle in the next five years should not be a Man City or a Man United or a Liverpoolor a Chelsea,” Ghodoussi says.
 

That’s not milling about in midtable for another 2 years. 
 

10 minutes ago, HawK said:

@The College Dropout I think Howe needs to be given all the time he wants. As long as we're progressing year after year, that's all we want, stable progression.

That’s not how business works. 
 

If Howe, the transfer committee or whoever don’t look poised for a CL battle the following season. Heads will roll imo.  
 

Wrongly, I think the Villa hierarchy thought the same of Smith. Rodgers and Hughes too. That’s what ambitious leadership will do.  

[HWTL]

It's unbelievable some people mentioning getting rid of him if we have a bad start, the guys done amazing since he came in ffs. 

Surely he has to be given a few years to try and create a team that will be looking to push into top 4.

Next few years isn't going to be easy with other clubs also looking to bridge the gap between Liverpool and City and we have alot further to go. 

Definitely need to calm down and hopefully next year we can have a season of good football with no relegation worries and then push on season by season.

[The College Dropout]

I don’t see 3.5 years down the Saudi’s being happy with anything less than Newcastle on the biggest stage.  
 

I think Emery was identified as someone who could get us there within 2-3 seasons.  The expectations of Howe will be the same. 

[HawK]

3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

“There is no reason why Newcastle in the next five years should not be a Man City or a Man United or a Liverpoolor a Chelsea,” Ghodoussi says.
 

That’s not milling about in midtable for another 2 years. 
 

That’s not how business works. 
 

If Howe, the transfer committee or whoever don’t look poised for a CL battle the following season. Heads will roll imo.  
 

Wrongly, I think the Villa hierarchy thought the same of Smith. Rodgers and Hughes too. That’s what ambitious leadership will do.  

 

I think you're misquoting me there to be honest. Progression doesn't mean that does it?

 

If we finish where we are now, which is 9th, and then next year 7-8th, following year 5-6th I think that's absolutely acceptable by any measure, by anyone.

[HawK]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

I don’t see 3.5 years down the Saudi’s being happy with anything less than Newcastle on the biggest stage.  
 

I think Emery was identified as someone who could get us there within 2-3 seasons.  The expectations of Howe will be the same. 

 

Sure, but anyone who knows anything about football knows that's frankly impossible in real terms. The Saudis may be demanding, but they aren't stupid.

[The College Dropout]

Just now, HawK said:

 

I think you're misquoting me there to be honest. Progression doesn't mean that does it?

 

If we finish where we are now, which is 9th, and then next year 7-8th, following year 5-6th I think that's absolutely acceptable by any measure, by anyone.

Then we’re saying the same thing. 7th/8th suggests with clever investment we should be knocking on the CL door the following season.  5-6 is finishing above at least 1 of Man U, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea then West Ham, Leicester etc.

 

If we perform like Brighton next season. Never involved in relegation. Big questions will be asked of the management and recruitment hierarchy by the bosses imo. Some are advocating that as good progress. 

[Guest HTT II]

We should aim for the top six next season, but be happy with 8th. Again, there isn’t a huge gap between ourselves and say WHU and even Man Utd. We are 3 top players to our spine away from being a much much better side. CB, CM and CF. We will strengthen other areas other than that no doubt so I feel we should be looking at say WHU this season as a yardstick at least.

 

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by HTT II

[Wandy]

5 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

Would people be upset if we binned off Howe for Poch early in the season if we don't make the start we hope for?

 

Jesus Christ, what an appalling comment. Aye lets quickly sack the manager who has completely turned around 14 years of purgatory in a mere 4 months. For fucking potless Pochettino too, no less.

 

Truly one of the worst posts I have seen on here. 

 

I really hope this isn't an indication of how our support is going to act when things don't always go the way we want.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Howe has done a brilliant job, the talk of replacing him is ludicrous especially when attaching it to league positions without any context.

 

Howe showed improvements, was then backed in January and he repaid that backing and some.

 

It's now over to the owners to back him again in the summer and the expectations will be formed on the back of it.

 

For example if we sign 3-4 Burn level players then it's unrealistic to expect top 4/6 challenges imo however if we get 2-3 Bruno level players with a few others to beef up the squad so we don't need to rely on Longstaff/Murphy etc then the expectations will no doubt change 

[54]

Last year we conceded the most goals in a calendar year by a Premier League club in 80, this year in 15 games we've only conceded 13 (with 5 being in one game against Spurs) and have 6 clean sheets. 

[mattypnufc]

He’s allowed as much time as it takes imo. Done and incredible job.
 

Genuinely thought he’d been brought in to help us get promoted after certainty of relegation and build from there. Staying up is an added bonus. 

[The College Dropout]

47 minutes ago, HawK said:

 

Sure, but anyone who knows anything about football knows that's frankly impossible in real terms. The Saudis may be demanding, but they aren't stupid.

It's not impossible at all. I keep saying it, City went 10, 5, 3. They'll expect us to be within 2 maybe 3 positions of that.

 

I don't think they'll be livid if we finished 5/6. As i've said before that still means we've jumped "the rest" and broken up the top 6. But we'll want to push on.

 

39 minutes ago, HTT II said:

We should aim for the top six next season, but be happy with 8th. Again, there isn’t a huge gap between ourselves and say WHU and even Man Utd. We are 3 top players to our spin away from being a much much better side. CB, CM and CF. We will strengthen other areas other than that no doubt so I feel we should be looking at say WHU this season as a yardstick at least.

Content with 8th, not happy. 8th means a Wolves, Leicester, Villa, West Ham finished above us. West Ham went from 11, 13, 10, 16th to 6th. Wolves went from Championship to 7th back to back.

 

I have no doubt the owners will back the manager. It will be up to recruitment to succeed.

 

I'll add Southampton's old bloke to Poch as an example of levelling up at the right time. FWIW I hope they give Howe the season if they genuinely believe in him.

[Guest HTT II]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

It's not impossible at all. I keep saying it, City went 10, 5, 3. They'll expect us to be within 2 maybe 3 positions of that.

 

I don't think they'll be livid if we finished 5/6. As i've said before that still means we've jumped "the rest" and broken up the top 6. But we'll want to push on.

 

Content with 8th, not happy. 8th means a Wolves, Leicester, Villa, West Ham finished above us. West Ham went from 11, 13, 10, 16th to 6th. Wolves went from Championship to 7th back to back.

 

I have no doubt the owners will back the manager. It will be up to recruitment to succeed.

 

I'll add Southampton's old bloke to Poch as an example of levelling up at the right time. FWIW I hope they give Howe the season if they genuinely believe in him.

Content/happy is the same thing for me. You’ve illustrated just how fragile the league is outside of the the likes of City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd who are now in a fragile position themselves along with Spurs and Arsenal who are always one season away from being in the top 6-4 or outside of that mini group where a Leicester or WHU can gate crash.
 

So can we and that should be the aim and I think it will be, privately anyway. Howe goes into every game, home or away, regardless of opposition seeking to win 3 points and although we’ve been defensive and cautious due to the lack of attacking quality we possess and our position in the table/fighting relegation, we’ve still went out to win every game under him. 

[Ikon]

1 hour ago, HTT II said:

We should aim for the top six next season, but be happy with 8th. Again, there isn’t a huge gap between ourselves and say WHU and even Man Utd. We are 3 top players to our spine away from being a much much better side. CB, CM and CF. We will strengthen other areas other than that no doubt so I feel we should be looking at say WHU this season as a yardstick at least.

 

 

 

Add a right sided attacking player and I agree. The four most important positions that should be top top priority to strengthen first in the summer.