Eddie Howe

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

It is also worth remembering that he is not experienced at the level we have been at (Upper Premier League European Competitors). He is gaining experience all the time. Do you think the players would have looked as relaxed against Sunderland away if they hadn't had the experience of the European campaign. The same benefits of experience will be found more covertly in Eddie. He has shown that he can have us competing against the very best, what is missing is consistency. 

[gbandit]

I think the rest of this season will be hard to draw conclusions. The summer and then into next season, I’m extremely confident that Eddie will have us in fantastic shape in August and we’ll be putting form together that matches last season 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 hour ago, Yorkie said:

 

This season and last both provide a great demonstration of how this intangible thing very much exists in football.

 

Last season was full steam ahead; all the bumps were minor and we weaved around them with mostly minimal fuss. This season we've been juddering ever since December punched our lights out.

 

Even if 6th and 7th doesn't happen, our last four games are Sheffield, Burnley, Brighton and Brentford. Huge opportunity there to finish the season with a bit of momentum and feel-good factor going into the summer.

 

Momentum for a season works in both directions, or snowball effect or compounding or whatever you want to call it. Teams can get on a roll and setbacks don't affect them, teams can get in a hole and minor positives fail to turn it around. We fell into a massive hole due to injuries (and fixtures) and so the season could never really take off. 

[Keegans Export]

1 hour ago, Displayname said:

This season will be forgotten fast if we start out the next with some good performances. Especially if we get a couple of good signings.

Changing the narrative doesn't even have to wait until next season. We've got West Ham & Everton next, both at home. Wolves are away at Villa and Burnley, West Ham have Spurs after they play us. Brighton are at Liverpool and Brentford. At the start of April, the table could look like this;

 

7th Newcastle 46pts 

8th Wolves 46pts

9th West Ham 44pts

10th Brighton 43pts

 

We have the fixtures, we have players returning to full fitness. We shouldn't be thinking about next season, we can still qualify for Europe this season. Then it's much easier to look at a "dip in form" rather than a fundamental issue with how we have played.

[SUPERTOON]

23 minutes ago, Slim said:

Got a clean sheet in our last premiership game Vs a team that scored 3 and 4 against Man U and Chelsea.

 

 

We conceded 3 in our last prem game. We also conceded 4 against Luton, 2 against Bournemouth and were lucky it wasn’t more. Teams don’t even have to play well currently to get through us. Until that is sorted we can forget about finishing top 6.

 

 

Edited March 18 by SUPERTOON

[TBG]

41 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

The "7 points off 6th" take is ludicrous btw.

It was funny at first.

 

Bottom of the CL group. 5 points ahead of 13th with 10 to go. You can paint narratives if we want to fit agendas or we can face a nuanced reality.

 

Checks notes - PSG, AC Milan, & Dortmund.

 

For a second I forgot we had the toughest group, with a win away to PSG (keeping us in European football) snatched away from us. 

 

Yes we can face a nuanced reality, but we shouldn't also conveniently leave out important details because it goes against the narrative I wish to be formed. 

 

[TBG]

I  really wish we had went further in the Champs League just for the reactions.

 

Turned over by Real Madrid in both legs? Embarrassing. 

[The Prophet]

7 minutes ago, OverThere said:

Well I would say how can the LB (and for a period the RB position too) position, us being torched in defence be a reflection of people in great form. I cant see how conceding 3 goals per game and being only being bettered by Sheff U didn't warrant trying other options. 

 

The thing is, apart from training how would you know given the alternatives never made it onto the field? The alternatives should have been fresh as all get out given they never play......

 

 

 

 

No one is claiming Burn is in "great form". Up until recently it was quite poor.

 

We know why he's in the side though. He provides height, particularly while Joelinton is out, he's natural off the left and he drops into a back three in possession. 

 

Looking at the alternatives.

 

Hall still looks really raw when we don't have the ball. Perhaps chucking him in, with an equally developing Miley in front of him offering very little protection, was seen as an disaster waiting to happen? Perhaps there are problems off the field that we aren't aware of?

 

Livramento is more confusing. He might not offer the height or be natural off the left, but he's a lot safer in one-on-ones and offers far more going forward. Has Howe decided what Burn brings is more important? Livramento himself recently claimed he's played more football than expected this year, so are they still concerned about overloading him after a long term injury?

 

Howe may well have made an error in not rotating Burn, but without knowing his reasoning, it's hard to say it's "clear".

[The College Dropout]

1 hour ago, TBG said:

 

Checks notes - PSG, AC Milan, & Dortmund.

 

For a second I forgot we had the toughest group, with a win away to PSG (keeping us in European football) snatched away from us. 

 

Yes we can face a nuanced reality, but we shouldn't also conveniently leave out important details because it goes against the narrative I wish to be formed. 

 

I was showing you can make an entirely different narrative. 
 

The nuance is we made a valiant effort in the group of death. But ultimately failed. We were fantastic against PSG at home, were robbed away.  But we’re pretty poor overall in the other tough games which is why we finished last.  
 

We’ve suffered a crazy amount of injuries. We’ve also been pants for months. We are at the point where we should expect an uptick in form and that hasn’t happened. We keep conceding and look devoid of confidence or ideas.  
 

We’ve been handed some bad luck with injuries and suspensions.  You wonder if the strength , conditioning, recovery and physio departments have lacked.  You also wonder if theres stuff Howe could’ve done better.  

 

Howe has built tremendous goodwill and credit over his first 18 months. But he's starting to eat into the credit he has built. If we don't have a strong end to the season questions will be asked about his suitability for the job. Likewise, he's only 3-4 wins in a row from silencing nearly all the naysayers.

 

 

Edited March 18 by The College Dropout

[Sean]

My main concern when he was given the job was the lack of experience at the top level of domestic/European competition -  echoed by the decision makers at the club also as their preference was for Emery and his experience.

 

So it was always going a bit into the unknown as to how this season went - it's been poor so far, despite circumstances. There was always going to be a learning curve with him, and he's earned the right to show what he has learned next season, but if we fail to qualify for Europe, then there is no chance to apply what has been learned as we will only have one game a week anyway.

 

Absolutely need to qualify for European competition next season.

[ExiledGeordie]

2 hours ago, Shays Given Tim Flowers said:

He certainly seemed to develop his style when he came to us and throughout last season compared to how his Bournemouth team performed. 

 

Has he been dealt a bad hand this year, yes. Has he played that hand as effectively as possible, probably not. Biggest concern is injured players and his role in that. That needs sorting out more than anything. 

 

 

 

Managing injuries, rotation and developing a plan B could be his undoing or making moving forwards. 

 

 

Edited March 18 by ExiledGeordie

[TRC]

Just now, ExiledGeordie said:

Managing injuries, rotation and developing a plan B could be his undoing or making moving forwards. 

 

 

 

If we want to be top 6 long term, we need someone who can do these things.

[Dr Venkman]

1 hour ago, Shays Given Tim Flowers said:

It is also worth remembering that he is not experienced at the level we have been at (Upper Premier League European Competitors). He is gaining experience all the time. Do you think the players would have looked as relaxed against Sunderland away if they hadn't had the experience of the European campaign. The same benefits of experience will be found more covertly in Eddie. He has shown that he can have us competing against the very best, what is missing is consistency. 

 

Indeed. Patience.

[TRC]

3 minutes ago, Dr Venkman said:

 

Indeed. Patience.

What do you mean by patience, if we take 1 point from our next 3, essentially killing our season do we still stick with him?

 

Have to be looking at 7 points from the next 3, West Ham are going to be weak through the middle with no Alvarez and their defence is leaky as hell anyway.

 

Everton have to beat them at home

 

Fulham are a solid team but player for player we should beat them.

[timeEd32]

4 minutes ago, TRC said:

What do you mean by patience, if we take 1 point from our next 3, essentially killing our season do we still stick with him?

 

Have to be looking at 7 points from the next 3, West Ham are going to be weak through the middle with no Alvarez and their defence is leaky as hell anyway.

 

Everton have to beat them at home

 

Fulham are a solid team but player for player we should beat them.

 

Yes, that would be the definition of having patience.

 

[Dr Venkman]

9 minutes ago, TRC said:

What do you mean by patience

 

I mean we need to be patient with EH and take a long term view. One of his biggest strengths is developing players. If we get the club functioning properly e.g. the academy and player trading, he is likely to get us heading in the right direction.

 

9 minutes ago, TRC said:

If we take 1 point from our next 3, essentially killing our season do we still stick with him?

 

Yeah.

 

 

Edited March 18 by Dr Venkman

[Jaqen]

Saying we finished bottom of the champions league group and using it as a negative against Eddie is pretty unfair. Robbed against PSG and then instead of being happy with 3rd and a Europa spot we went all out for it against Milan and got done on the counter. 

 

Same with the cups, we got rough draws but went for every tie. Ultimately it didn't work out and our league position may have been better had we rotated more and threw games like other sides are happy to do. 

 

I'm personally glad in the way we attacked each competition this year even if in the end we haven't been successful. 

 

All the noise coming from the club suggests they fully intend to keep and back him in the summer and rightly so. The Howe out talk seems to be purely fan driven who have been spoilt by one over performing season. 

[OverThere]

2 hours ago, The Prophet said:

 

No one is claiming Burn is in "great form". Up until recently it was quite poor.

 

We know why he's in the side though. He provides height, particularly while Joelinton is out, he's natural off the left and he drops into a back three in possession. 

 

Looking at the alternatives.

 

Hall still looks really raw when we don't have the ball. Perhaps chucking him in, with an equally developing Miley in front of him offering very little protection, was seen as an disaster waiting to happen? Perhaps there are problems off the field that we aren't aware of?

 

Livramento is more confusing. He might not offer the height or be natural off the left, but he's a lot safer in one-on-ones and offers far more going forward. Has Howe decided what Burn brings is more important? Livramento himself recently claimed he's played more football than expected this year, so are they still concerned about overloading him after a long term injury?

 

Howe may well have made an error in not rotating Burn, but without knowing his reasoning, it's hard to say it's "clear".

He provides height.... but we are conceding at almost 3 a game, so could it be any worse trying something else I wonder? Who knows.... but I think it would have been worth a try. Hall played against Dortmund and didn't look great, but then again we only conceded 1 and he was hauled off.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

5 minutes ago, Jaqen said:

Saying we finished bottom of the champions league group and using it as a negative against Eddie is pretty unfair. Robbed against PSG and then instead of being happy with 3rd and a Europa spot we went all out for it against Milan and got done on the counter. 

 

Same with the cups, we got rough draws but went for every tie. Ultimately it didn't work out and our league position may have been better had we rotated more and threw games like other sides are happy to do. 

 

I'm personally glad in the way we attacked each competition this year even if in the end we haven't been successful. 

 

All the noise coming from the club suggests they fully intend to keep and back him in the summer and rightly so. The Howe out talk seems to be purely fan driven who have been spoilt by one over performing season. 

 

This philosophy will be handsomely rewarded when we have the players available and fresh again. 

[The College Dropout]

37 minutes ago, Jaqen said:

Saying we finished bottom of the champions league group and using it as a negative against Eddie is pretty unfair. Robbed against PSG and then instead of being happy with 3rd and a Europa spot we went all out for it against Milan and got done on the counter. 

 

Same with the cups, we got rough draws but went for every tie. Ultimately it didn't work out and our league position may have been better had we rotated more and threw games like other sides are happy to do. 

 

I'm personally glad in the way we attacked each competition this year even if in the end we haven't been successful. 

 

All the noise coming from the club suggests they fully intend to keep and back him in the summer and rightly so. The Howe out talk seems to be purely fan driven who have been spoilt by one over performing season. 

I'm not using it as a negative to attack Howe btw - it's just what happened.

 

We were robbed against PSG. It should've been on almighty smash and grab. But on the balance of play we didn't deserve to win anyway. I don't think we have any complaints with getting 1 point from the other 4 games. We only really played well 1st half against Milan at Home. 

 

Super tough draw so all of that is understandable. PSG (H) highlight of the season.

 

I also think he did the right thing to go for the winner against Milan.

 

At the same time - I'm not giving him moral victory points for finishing last in our CL group. Valiant effort and all - great. We didn't disgrace ourselves like Man U did. We competed in all the matches and avoided getting battered. But we probably deserved to finish bottom. We used to be really good at hanging on in games like we did in the CL. PSG (A) or Milan (A) wasn't much different in terms of balance of play to Anfield or Emirates but with Pope in goal - we had a knack for staying in games.

 

 

Edited March 18 by The College Dropout

[TRon]

35 minutes ago, Jaqen said:

Saying we finished bottom of the champions league group and using it as a negative against Eddie is pretty unfair. Robbed against PSG and then instead of being happy with 3rd and a Europa spot we went all out for it against Milan and got done on the counter. 

 

Same with the cups, we got rough draws but went for every tie. Ultimately it didn't work out and our league position may have been better had we rotated more and threw games like other sides are happy to do. 

 

I'm personally glad in the way we attacked each competition this year even if in the end we haven't been successful. 

 

All the noise coming from the club suggests they fully intend to keep and back him in the summer and rightly so. The Howe out talk seems to be purely fan driven who have been spoilt by one over performing season. 

 

Fans will always be up and down depending on current form. I would have thought the club will have taken into account this season has been a freak one for injuries and suspensions so they aren't going to judge on the basis of one campaign. My impression has always been that they trust Howe implicitly, especially since he was to all intents and purposes the DoF for a year before Ashworth rocked up.

 

That said, some questions will be there about tactics, use of the squad and if it could have been handled better. We'll have a full squad to play with next time round, and how we perform next season is what Howe will be judged on. Even so PIF would be very reluctant to sack him given the amount of dedication and hard work he's put in. I mean, who would you bring in that would be guaranteed to do a better job?

 

 

[astraguy]

love wor eddie 

[kingxlnc]

Now that we are out of the cups and only have the PL to focus on, post Dubai I can see a renewed focus and with a soft run in, the kind of success we got in 2007 under Roeder which got him the job full time. 

 

Of the ten games, I wouldn't be surprised to see 8 wins and 2 draws, ending on 66 points or thereabouts. 

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

As Newcastle fans we have plenty of experience giving managers not suited to the job much more time than they deserve (usually because they shouldn't have been appointed in the first place). I can't help but think that this has left some scarring. Sir Bobby finished 11th in his first season (september appointment) and 11th in his second (first full season).  

It is not the position that is particularly important, but the improvement. Part of the issue at the moment is that it feels like a number of issues have been clear for a while that haven't improved. But if we had a full squad or fuller squad available how much would these issues have even appeared. 

 

Quite happy i've seen comfortably more positive signs from Howe than negatives. Don't think an informed decision can be made about whether he is the right man for the job until halfway through next season. 

[TRon]

38 minutes ago, kingxlnc said:

Now that we are out of the cups and only have the PL to focus on, post Dubai I can see a renewed focus and with a soft run in, the kind of success we got in 2007 under Roeder which got him the job full time. 

 

Of the ten games, I wouldn't be surprised to see 8 wins and 2 draws, ending on 66 points or thereabouts. 

 

I'd be very surprised based on how we've played most of the season.