Eddie Howe

[LionOfGosforth]

5 minutes ago, Dr Jinx said:

Top 6 with the injuries we’ve had would be very respectable. Just leaves you wondering where we could have been if it weren’t for that handful of absolutely sloppy games where we should have been better.

 

What should the target be for next season?

 

Respectable? Mate, it would be a stellar finish, not even up for debate.

[LionOfGosforth]

2 minutes ago, andycap said:

I'm always about. it's just the vague 6 to 8 posters makes me think your referring to me. 

 

Nope. I'm talking about a handful of posters who, when we're losing, not playing particularly well, they fill the match thread and this one with reactionary nonsense. When we're winning, playing well, they are absolute ghosts. Have no time for that whatsoever.

[andycap]

1 minute ago, LionOfGosforth said:

 

Nope. I'm talking about a handful of posters who, when we're losing, not playing particularly well, they fill the match thread and this one with reactionary nonsense. When we're winning, playing well, they are absolute ghosts. Have no time for that whatsoever.

Okay mate got you now. 

[Dr Jinx]

1 minute ago, Lush Vlad said:

Depends how the summer goes. But I think Top 4-6 again and try to get past the QF’s of the cups this time, then who knows. Although the draws were difficult to say the least in all comps.
 

If it’s just ‘very respectable’ with all the injuries we’ve had. What were you expecting from us this season exactly?! 
 

Tough crowd. 

I wanted us to be better than we were the previous season and I can’t say that we have been. But I understand the reasons for that.

 

We’ve got some sort of defensive shape back thankfully but it almost feels like the summer will be a rebuilding job for all the long term injuries we have so I don’t know what the target should be. If we sign another couple of quality players maybe it should be top 4, but then what should be a consequence of failing to reach that?

 

Is settling for a top 6 finish something the Saudis are gonna be happy with?

[LiquidAK]

Why does it always circle back to getting all hot and bothered over the prospect of a ruthless Saudi power play when there's been no evidence in the last 2 years that that's the route they're taking? Just have a wank before you post. 

[Lush Vlad]

5 minutes ago, Dr Jinx said:

I wanted us to be better than we were the previous season and I can’t say that we have been. But I understand the reasons for that.

 

We’ve got some sort of defensive shape back thankfully but it almost feels like the summer will be a rebuilding job for all the long term injuries we have so I don’t know what the target should be. If we sign another couple of quality players maybe it should be top 4, but then what should be a consequence of failing to reach that?

 

Is settling for a top 6 finish something the Saudis are gonna be happy with?

 

Seemed like being better than last season, be it league finish or winning something (lol) was always going to be tough, no?
 

CL to contend with, no longer a bit of a surprise package, we 100% over-achieved against what was expected in almost everyone’s opinion. Although perhaps not yours, as you seem tough to please  then throw in clubs that couldn’t possibly be so shit again, whilst also having no Europe to contend with. Then we had some shit luck with injuries and players missing, plus some poor management of said injuries and barely got minutes out of our summer signings. 
 

I don’t feel like it will be a rebuild?! We have good players returning and hopefully playing more than this season. The emergence of some younger players. Tonali to come back in. Hall and Livramento getting meaningful minutes at the back end of this season. Along with a full pre-season this summer. Howe showing that he does have tactical versatility. Despite what some on here and social media say. I could go on, but I can’t be arsed.   
 

With what, even say 3 first team players brought in. We would look in better shape than we have for an age. How doe we need a rebuild? 

On that last point. I don’t know if it is or not. Will there be mitigating circumstances again. With some of these being out of our control? Like drawing 70s Brazil and the Harlem Globetrotters in the knockout rounds of cups? 
 

 

[80]

3 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

Depends how the summer goes. But I think Top 4-6 again and try to get past the QF’s of the cups this time, then who knows. Although the draws were difficult to say the least in all comps.
 

If it’s just ‘very respectable’ with all the injuries we’ve had. What were you expecting from us this season exactly?! 
 

Tough crowd. 

My private target was 5th. Considering how the season's gone, we can be pretty satisfied. I think I'm most pleased that the club/squad seem to have held it together psychologically, which Eddie can take a huge slice of credit for. It's been a season of highs and... Not exactly lows but big struggles. But if they hadn't kept their togetherness, there would've been big lows.

 

My happiness is balanced out a bit by my view that the league overall has been worse this year. That's why I think last season was an especially epic achievement. If our team (inc. injury spell) had been playing in last season's division, with teams like Brighton and Brentford snapping away, consistently accumulating points, I think we'd end up about 2 or 3 positions lower than we will. So we've gotten away with our disastrous middle spell relatively lightly.

 

Next season? Like you say, depends on the summer for us and others. 3rd-6th and a cup sounds decent. But I'll probably judge it more on whether I feel we've improved on this season, particularly on areas I think we could e.g. fatigue management. If we keep Bruno, I'm really pretty excited about it.

[Lush Vlad]

Agree with a lot of that. But not sure on the league?
 

Not really looked at it points-wise. But surely Spurs are doing better than last year. Liverpool are better and miles clear of us. Villa are doing loads better than us and 16 other clubs.  Even Chelsea haven’t been as bad. Man U have been crap but are still in and around us points wise. 
 

So aren’t some of the teams that have had a bit of an off-season. Just been replaced by teams who have done a bit better? Like most seasons in that 7-13 kind of range?

 

I still also think we over-achieved massively last season. So it was always going to be tough when in Europe and not having a bit of that surprise element.  Then everything that could go wrong did go wrong. So like you say, it’s been a very good season, so far. 

[James]

This is Howe’s third season with us really.

 

first two seasons were near perfect, but he essentially placed himself where questions start being asked whether he is a good manager or an elite manager.

 

i really hope he pushes on and succeeds with us. Next season is massive because this season really showed three or four flaws to his managerial capabilities - all are redeemable but next year he has to show that he has learnt from mistakes made this season.

 

these are the four question marks:

1. Workload management

2. injury management

3. is he too loyal to certain players?

4. Tactical adaptability 

 

[McDog]

My hopes for this season were getting to the UCL knockout rounds and getting any sort of Europe next year. Despite unprecedented injuries Eddie’s got us close to that. People that want a perfect manager will always be disappointed. This guy has been nothing short of brilliant since he took over in accomplishing what he has. Onwards and upwards. Next year doesn’t need to be any sort of rebuild, good players coming back and some replacing dead wood.

[KaKa]

1 hour ago, andycap said:

I've never wanted him out like. 

But we need to understand that he makes mistakes and fans should be allowed to voice that. Without been tarred with the negative brush. 

 

His biggest supporters on here point out when they think he could/should have done things differently.

 

Difference is it's not done in a manner that makes out the man is some sort of dunce that's lucky to still be in the job.

[80]

14 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

Agree with a lot of that. But not sure on the league?
 

Not really looked at it points-wise. But surely Spurs are doing better than last year. Liverpool are better and miles clear of us. Villa are doing loads better than us and 16 other clubs.  Even Chelsea haven’t been as bad. Man U have been crap but are still in and around us points wise. 
 

So aren’t some of the teams that have had a bit of an off-season. Just been replaced by teams who have done a bit better? Like most seasons in that 7-13 kind of range?

 

I still also think we over-achieved massively last season. So it was always going to be tough when in Europe and not having a bit of that surprise element.  Then everything that could go wrong did go wrong. So like you say, it’s been a very good season, so far. 

It's one of those things that's arguably impossible to prove. I'd dig into statistics to try and better evidence my view on the league, but honestly I can't be bothered! 

 

It's more of an eye test thing. Just feels like the league has contained a lot more paper tigers this year. Spurs haven't been THAT good and they'll comfortably finish 6th if not 5th. West Ham are 9th and they've been on holiday for a little while now. Chelsea kids are squabbling over who takes penalties, and they're frightening us and a Man United that ought to be staring at the bottom half. Last year, it seemed like anyone in the top half was a pack of skilled, dogged bastards who could give anyone a game.

 

So - with some very good excuses - it does feel like a missed opportunity for us.

 

 

Edited May 8 by 80

[SteV]

6 minutes ago, James said:

This is Howe’s third season with us really.

 

first two seasons were near perfect, but he essentially placed himself where questions start being asked whether he is a good manager or an elite manager.

 

i really hope he pushes on and succeeds with us. Next season is massive because this season really showed three or four flaws to his managerial capabilities - all are redeemable but next year he has to show that he has learnt from mistakes made this season.

 

these are the four question marks:

1. Workload management

2. injury management

3. is he too loyal to certain players?

4. Tactical adaptability 

 

I think he’s went a long way to answering number 4 in the last 2/3 months.

[LionOfGosforth]

9 minutes ago, James said:

This is Howe’s third season with us really.

 

first two seasons were near perfect, but he essentially placed himself where questions start being asked whether he is a good manager or an elite manager.

 

i really hope he pushes on and succeeds with us. Next season is massive because this season really showed three or four flaws to his managerial capabilities - all are redeemable but next year he has to show that he has learnt from mistakes made this season.

 

these are the four question marks:

1. Workload management

2. injury management

3. is he too loyal to certain players?

4. Tactical adaptability 

 

 

Disagree completely with number 4, just in the past 4-5 games, he's shown massive tactical adaptability imo. I think number 1 is part of his learning curve, number 2 very difficult to achieve in the midst of an apocalyptic injury crisis. Number 3, possibly yes, but only if you've been a coach and right in front of your players discussing their playing time can we know what that's like. He even hinted at it in the Overlap interview. 

[Dr Jinx]

18 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

 

Seemed like being better than last season, be it league finish or winning something (lol) was always going to be tough, no?
 

CL to contend with, no longer a bit of a surprise package, we 100% over-achieved against what was expected in almost everyone’s opinion. Although perhaps not yours, as you seem tough to please  then throw in clubs that couldn’t possibly be so shit again, whilst also having no Europe to contend with. Then we had some shit luck with injuries and players missing, plus some poor management of said injuries and barely got minutes out of our summer signings. 
 

I don’t feel like it will be a rebuild?! We have good players returning and hopefully playing more than this season. The emergence of some younger players. Tonali to come back in. Hall and Livramento getting meaningful minutes at the back end of this season. Along with a full pre-season this summer. Howe showing that he does have tactical versatility. Despite what some on here and social media say. I could go on, but I can’t be arsed.   
 

With what, even say 3 first team players brought in. We would look in better shape than we have for an age. How doe we need a rebuild? 

On that last point. I don’t know if it is or not. Will there be mitigating circumstances again. With some of these being out of our control? Like drawing 70s Brazil and the Harlem Globetrotters in the knockout rounds of cups? 
 

 

Definitely not tough to please. Supported this team so long I’ve seen it all. We’re in good times and it’s brilliant supporting the club the last few years. You look forward to each weekend now with a real hope that we’ll keep pushing forward collectively.

 

That doesn’t mean I can’t be critical of mistakes that happen, or poor performances. If Eddie Howe is as critical of himself he’ll have thought or said the same things that posters on here have said.

 

We went to shit defensively earlier on season and that was a real concern, he looks to have stabilised things but when I say rebuild I mean Botman missing for a large portion. Potentially majority of season.

 

Burn is not a long term solution.

 

Lascelles same boat injury wise.

 

Trippier was showing signs of slowing down this season. Let’s see how he is when he’s back but he may well be a candidate for moving on.

 

We may need 2-4 players to come in to cover all those positions.

 

So yeah, a rebuild of sorts.

 

[Colos Short and Curlies]

He probably needs a trophy next season. Conference or league cup will do.

[Joe1984]

1 minute ago, Colos Short and Curlies said:

He probably needs a trophy next season. Conference or league cup will do.

Depends on injuries... ?

[Yorkie]

19 minutes ago, Colos Short and Curlies said:

He probably needs a trophy next season. Conference or league cup will do.

 

I don't think that's necessarily the case assuming we don't have carte blanche in terms of transfers, and providing that we maintain our challenge to the top six. However, I do agree that there's almost a bit of a line in the sand after his first three seasons here. It's a new chapter and there's probably going to be more justified pressure if things aren't going great. 

 

Season 1, pretty low expectations and a job very well done. 

 

Season 2, expectations exceeded by lightyears. 

 

Season 3, stacks of credit in the bank and, if we finish 6th, any reasonable expectations again exceeded. 

 

Season 4, expectations probably very high. 

[Terrymac1966]

Eddie Howe will become our own Fergie over the next 20 years beginning with the FA Cup and Europa Cup next season ...stick with him he is such a good coach and motivator... ?

[timeEd32]

There’s a reason Eales said the goal is to establish the club in the top 6, and he means off the pitch as much as on it. There are levels within that group, but for the most part if you’re there then you’re a series of coinflips from winning anything.

 

We’re not there and, frankly, we’re not all that close financially speaking. But for 2.5 seasons now we are there on the pitch and that’s mostly down to one man.

 

So if your expectations are a trophy or a top 4 finish then you need to realize those expectations are based on over two years of overachieving. Over two years of Eddie Howe distorting the perception of where NUFC sits in the current pecking order.

[Vinny Green Balls]

7 hours ago, STM said:

 

They also don't specifically say they would sack him, they don't have the guts for it and they also don't given an alternative.

I can think of a couple of bizarre alternatives. Mourinho, and the alternating coach thing. But I honestly don't think that he actually believed it when he suggested the latter either, which he basically said later.

[Coffee_Johnny]

9 hours ago, Dr Jinx said:

Top 6 with the injuries we’ve had would be very respectable. Just leaves you wondering where we could have been if it weren’t for that handful of absolutely sloppy games where we should have been better.

 

What should the target be for next season?

Finishing sixth this season would be outstanding. Target next season is European qualification and a trophy. Variety of each dependent on our transfer investment. 

[greydos]

Next year’s targets: a semi-final in Europe. Top 6. Deep run in a domestic cup. 
 

In dreamworld we’d win the Carabao Cup which gives us a boost to go on and win the Europa League. If I’m being really greedy, we avenge Manure in Carabao final!

[Dr Jinx]

3 hours ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

I can think of a couple of bizarre alternatives. Mourinho, and the alternating coach thing. But I honestly don't think that he actually believed it when he suggested the latter either, which he basically said later.

I don’t think you quite understand what I meant by that or you just assumed something and ran with it.

 

I was never talking about hiring a new coach every two years.

 

What I meant was having someone, just for example sake.. someone like Rafa Benitez who could sit in a technical role.

 

Then at a point, I did say 2 years but I didn’t necessarily mean a 2 year rotation every time, what I meant was.. when the coach starts having burn out, that there’s someone who can step in and won’t upset the flow of things. Let the manager go off and recharge for a season.. do some learning like what Howe did when he was unemployed.

 

It was never about removing Howe from the setup, it was always about giving him the best chance for a much longer term project.

[Vinny Green Balls]

6 minutes ago, Dr Jinx said:

I don’t think you quite understand what I meant by that or you just assumed something and ran with it.

 

I was never talking about hiring a new coach every two years.

 

What I meant was having someone, just for example sake.. someone like Rafa Benitez who could sit in a technical role.

 

Then at a point, I did say 2 years but I didn’t necessarily mean a 2 year rotation every time, what I meant was.. when the coach starts having burn out, that there’s someone who can step in and won’t upset the flow of things. Let the manager go off and recharge for a season.. do some learning like what Howe did when he was unemployed.

 

It was never about removing Howe from the setup, it was always about giving him the best chance for a much longer term project.

This is not helping your argument at all, man.  

 

Once again, I don’t think you understand human psychology, particularly with people used to pulling the strings.