Eddie Howe

[madras]

9 minutes ago, Nine said:

Think what he meant was that Sandro provides everything that Longstaff does from RCM but he can do it all from #6 deeper on the field

But that doesn't make sense. Tonali being the base Brunos new role, I'd also say new roles for the entire outfield staff mean Longstaffs position doesn't exist any more, nor does Joelintons old role, even the Joelinton/Willock dovetail. We've evolved and I'm sure Eddie knows evolution is an ongoing process.

[Nine]

Just now, madras said:

But that doesn't make sense. Tonali being the base Brunos new role, I'd also say new roles for the entire outfield staff mean Longstaffs position doesn't exist any more, nor does Joelintons old role, even the Joelinton/Willock dovetail. We've evolved and I'm sure Eddie knows evolution is an ongoing process.

I understand what you are saying that the positions/roles are not the same anymore, all I think TCD meant was that Tonali can essentially do everything Longstaff could do from RCM but from deeper on the pitch 

[madras]

16 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

The good defences under Rafa were a bit different because they were more designed to mask the deficiencies of the players than anything else. Necessary at the time but not what a top team would do. 

They weren't good defences. They were low blocks, numbers behind the ball and hoping for magic from Saint Max etc.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 minute ago, madras said:

They weren't good defences. They were low blocks, numbers behind the ball and hoping for magic from Saint Max etc.

 

Yeah I guess, but they were good at stopping goals. That's what I meant really, they were effective at being defensive but not the kind of thing a really good team would implement. 

[madras]

1 minute ago, Nine said:

I understand what you are saying that the positions/roles are not the same anymore, all I think TCD meant was that Tonali can essentially do everything Longstaff could do from RCM but from deeper on the pitch 

And Bruno does it and Murphy does a bit of it, Tino does some of the hard running. Longstaffs role as it was has gone.

 

Jeez.....all I'm saying is that Tonali was never an RCM upgrade like some seemed to think. He was always destined for the middle, either as a lone 6 or as double pivot, either way he wasn't a Longstaff replacement as he never played those roles.

[cubaricho]

1 hour ago, Geogaddi said:

Do people think the turnaround in form is really as simple as Tonali moving deeper? Seems madness that we have improved so much in just one month due to such a small tactical tweak, surely must be other factors at play .

 

I don't believe it was as small of a tactical tweak as people on here seem to think it was. There was so much more at play beyond just playing Tonali deeper and pushing Bruno up. And it took Eddie, possibly the best manager going right now, months to get it right. And he did.

[madras]

2 minutes ago, cubaricho said:

 

I don't believe it was as small of a tactical tweak as people on here seem to think it was. There was so much more at play beyond just playing Tonali deeper and pushing Bruno up. And it took Eddie, possibly the best manager going right now, months to get it right. And he did.

Joelintons role has  changed as well and he's lapped it up, notice he's hitting the wing less now as Hall moves up to support Gordon and looks to read Isak to come in late or behind.

[Rod]

43 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Fuck off man. 

I gave you a like.  

[Nobody]

1 hour ago, Yorkie said:

The performances against West Ham, Palace and Brentford justifiably had people questioning the direction under him. Prior to then, he had more than enough credit in the bank to avoid severe criticism until it looked like he'd lost the squad; and tbh, I thought there was signs of that in that West Ham second half.

 

But since that poxy run he's found solutions to problems and collectively (between him and the team) they've absolutely gorged on the opportunities presented by a kinder fixture list and gained some incredible momentum. He's put his faith in certain players and made a mockery of any notion that the team were no longer responding to his leadership. 

 

Right now things are as positive as they've been during his whole time here but the pressure, ironically, is back on with these theoretically favourable games ahead. If we drop points against, say, Wolves and Bournemouth (which could happen and wouldn't be criminal), it's beyond crucial that the fans and the usual suspects in the press room don't lose their collective shit. 

 

Because he's got this. 

 

 

 

Even that West Ham game, I thought he got a lot of unfair stick. We played very well in the first half, and were unlucky to be losing at half time. Then second half, we come out attacking the game but they get a second goal and after that Howe pannicks a bit with some poor subs and we lose control of the game. Overall though, we're nowhere as bad as I think most of remembers that game. 

[Nine]

41 minutes ago, madras said:

And Bruno does it and Murphy does a bit of it, Tino does some of the hard running. Longstaffs role as it was has gone.

 

Jeez.....all I'm saying is that Tonali was never an RCM upgrade like some seemed to think. He was always destined for the middle, either as a lone 6 or as double pivot, either way he wasn't a Longstaff replacement as he never played those roles.

I’m not disagreeing with anything you said, all I’m saying is I think I interpreted TCDs post differently to the way you did. 
 

It was clear that Tonali best position was 6, I actually had doubts about Bruno being played further up rather than Tonali at 6. But he’s so good he alleviates Bruno’s lack of athleticism/physicality.

 

[Mountain]

Eddie is special

[PauloGeordio]

[McDog]

Just now, PauloGeordio said:

 

 

That's awesome. Just sent it to my old mate who I convinced to be a Newcastle fan in the 90's. Back then he worked at the airport and got a free flight. He flew to England (London), rented a car, drove to Newcastle, watched the game in SJP. Drove straight back to London and flew home to Minnesota. Also bought me some merch at the shop. This lad was always pretty crazy. He still watches the team.

[PauloGeordio]

1 minute ago, McDog said:

 

 

That's awesome. Just sent it to my old mate who I convinced to be a Newcastle fan in the 90's. Back then he worked at the airport and got a free flight. He flew to England (London), rented a car, drove to Newcastle, watched the game in SJP. Drove straight back to London and flew home to Minnesota. Also bought me some merch at the shop. This lad was always pretty crazy. He still watches the team.

  Brilliant stuff

[alexf]

We're a couple of players away from being serious challengers now. 

 

New RW still feels like the main missing ingredient despite Murphy playing so well recently. 

 

A new keeper. Pope feels like he's on the decline and more prone to injuries, plus we have seen what a difference even a basic level of passing ability can help since Dubs stepped in. 

 

I think a longterm replacement for Big Joe would take us up a level also. 

 

Plus we need the long-term Schar replacement and a backup striker to Isak. 

 

Not sure where we are gonna find such diamonds in the rough but we can dream of hopefully one day getting the missing pieces. 

 

Isak and Tonali are bonafide elite superstars and as long as can keep them and build around them we are set. Bruno I'd argue is one step down, but purely down to his less gifted athleticism. He's just as talented in other areas.

[McDog]

Just now, PauloGeordio said:

  Brilliant stuff

 

 

It's true! I think it was a Europa Conference League game. This guy was different than most of us but a good lad for sure.

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

Eddie knows time is his friend. Smart lad. 

[TheBrownBottle]

He’s got Arteta’s number, hasn’t he?  

[cubaricho]

Absolutely. We're officially Arsenal's bogey team.

[christ]

One calendar month ago we were picking the bones out of that Brentford defeat, and it felt like we were sliding towards midtable.

 

If you’d have told me then that we’d be unbeaten come early January I’d have laughed in your face. That we’d have won every single match I’d have had you sectioned.
 

It’s a phenomenal run and all credit to Howe for it. It wasn’t working and he reacted. I had genuine reservations about his ability to get Tonali and Bruno working together in his system, but he’s done it. His management of the squad - particularly when a lot of coaches would’ve rushed Botman back - and his in-game management has been virtually faultless.

I absolutely loved his demeanour at full time last night too. No time to get carried away. There’s a long way to go.

 

Well in Eddie.

[HawK]

I don't think he's ever going to be the England manager.

 

Howe's tactical style is one of meticulous, drilled scenarios combined with elite-level fitness to execute them.

 

He just wouldn't have the necessary time to implement what works for him in a setup when he barely sees the players. 

 

And long may he continue.

[Elliottman]

Every time we’ve had a blip, he’s turned it around. We shouldn’t doubt the bloke and be mindful not to jump on his back the next time we have a spell out of form. 

[South-Cheshire-Toon]

7 hours ago, alexf said:

We're a couple of players away from being serious challengers now. 

 

New RW still feels like the main missing ingredient despite Murphy playing so well recently. 

 

A new keeper. Pope feels like he's on the decline and more prone to injuries, plus we have seen what a difference even a basic level of passing ability can help since Dubs stepped in. 

 

I think a longterm replacement for Big Joe would take us up a level also. 

 

Plus we need the long-term Schar replacement and a backup striker to Isak. 

 

Not sure where we are gonna find such diamonds in the rough but we can dream of hopefully one day getting the missing pieces. 

 

Isak and Tonali are bonafide elite superstars and as long as can keep them and build around them we are set. Bruno I'd argue is one step down, but purely down to his less gifted athleticism. He's just as talented in other areas.

 

You could tell from last nights game that there is a need to improve the squad - looking at how Arsenal pressed - it was a backs to the wall situ for 20 mins - we need to be able to do the same - it's not like the players we have are bad, no, they are good, it's just the likes of Arsenal, City, Chelsea have the £££ ability to buy in lot's of players and get good in depth squads, in effect having a 2nd 11 - which, at present, is something we don't have.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 hour ago, HawK said:

I don't think he's ever going to be the England manager.

 

Howe's tactical style is one of meticulous, drilled scenarios combined with elite-level fitness to execute them.

 

He just wouldn't have the necessary time to implement what works for him in a setup when he barely sees the players. 

 

And long may he continue.

Maybe he will when he’s near retirement and he’s already won the title with Newcastle. But agree generally, it’s not a job for a manager like Howe. 

[samptime29]

The West Ham game we just didn't take our chances. One of those those games. I was disappointed and a little worried with Palace and Brentford away performances but we've responded incredibly strongly since then.