Eddie Howe

[KDT]

Anyone think that’s he’s still got too much power?

[Dava1892]

Who Eddie? Nah, he needs more!!

[TheBrownBottle]

1 hour ago, KDT said:

Anyone think that’s he’s still got too much power?

Yes, but that’s the club’s fault more than anything.  We might well have the best first team coach in the business - but he can’t (and shouldn’t) be doing everything.  Not hiring chancers like Mitchell would be a good start.

[Kanj]

He seems a guy who will only relinquish control of things he now has if he feels you have the clubs best interest at heart and aren’t someone passing thru to pad the CV or be here for 2 years and move on. And honestly, I trust every suit less by every passing day after I hear Eddie speak and see what he’s done for us over his tenure. He’s never been about himself one time, it’s always been about NUFCs success. 

[Coffee_Johnny]

9 hours ago, Playmaker said:

What an absolute legend, if Eddie Howe was cult leader I’d join. 

He kind of is (well the figurehead) and you were already a member 😉

[Unbelievable]

14 hours ago, Shadow Puppets said:

I genuinely don’t understand some posters’ attitudes, like. You know who you are.

 

For anyone capable of logical, and emotionless thinking, it’s absolutely plain to see that…

 

1) our PSR situation is in a better place currently.

2) we attempted to be ambitious with the players we went after, knowing that we could afford them in theory (under normal market conditions etc)… but…

3) when certain other teams entered the fray our chances dwindled when we were blown out of the water on wages.

 

It’s not a “bad strategy” to go after sought-after players and hope you can get deals done within the wage structure we have, especially if we have been given solid encouragement that deals were there to be done. And it’s not “bad strategy” just because in a handful of cases some bigger clubs have joined those races and beat us to them. Hindsight, sure, but ambition is good.

 

And now certain posters are STILL complaining when we switch tactic and work our way down to the next tier of targets.

 

Eddie Howe is the single most important person associated with this football club in the last 20 years. If you can’t trust that he knows what he’s doing, or that he and his staff are working to the absolute best of their ability for the benefit of this club, then I don’t know what to say.

 

And to a similar degree the same applies to the owners. A lot has changed since they came in. I agree they could vastly improve communication and it’s important to get a CEO and DOF in place, but if Eddie says it hasn’t affected our summer, then I’d be inclined to just believe him and let them crack on.

 

As tends to happen in a difficult moment, this place can become really really toxic, vastly over reactive, and lose all sense of the bigger picture.

 

It’s all the more evident when you actually go to a game and interact with humans…

 

Ive been to both games this weekend, spoken to dozens of people, both fans and people working in the club, and there is frustration, but understanding of the situation, and belief that we can still end the window with what we need. In the real world, outside of internet forums and Twitter shit, there is always a far more level headed reaction.

 

I don’t see why we can’t allow them to just get on with it and see how the pieces fall come the start of September.

POTY

[Rod]

14 hours ago, Shadow Puppets said:

I genuinely don’t understand some posters’ attitudes, like. You know who you are.

 

For anyone capable of logical, and emotionless thinking, it’s absolutely plain to see that…

 

1) our PSR situation is in a better place currently.

2) we attempted to be ambitious with the players we went after, knowing that we could afford them in theory (under normal market conditions etc)… but…

3) when certain other teams entered the fray our chances dwindled when we were blown out of the water on wages.

 

It’s not a “bad strategy” to go after sought-after players and hope you can get deals done within the wage structure we have, especially if we have been given solid encouragement that deals were there to be done. And it’s not “bad strategy” just because in a handful of cases some bigger clubs have joined those races and beat us to them. Hindsight, sure, but ambition is good.

 

And now certain posters are STILL complaining when we switch tactic and work our way down to the next tier of targets.

 

Eddie Howe is the single most important person associated with this football club in the last 20 years. If you can’t trust that he knows what he’s doing, or that he and his staff are working to the absolute best of their ability for the benefit of this club, then I don’t know what to say.

 

And to a similar degree the same applies to the owners. A lot has changed since they came in. I agree they could vastly improve communication and it’s important to get a CEO and DOF in place, but if Eddie says it hasn’t affected our summer, then I’d be inclined to just believe him and let them crack on.

 

As tends to happen in a difficult moment, this place can become really really toxic, vastly over reactive, and lose all sense of the bigger picture.

 

It’s all the more evident when you actually go to a game and interact with humans…

 

Ive been to both games this weekend, spoken to dozens of people, both fans and people working in the club, and there is frustration, but understanding of the situation, and belief that we can still end the window with what we need. In the real world, outside of internet forums and Twitter shit, there is always a far more level headed reaction.

 

I don’t see why we can’t allow them to just get on with it and see how the pieces fall come the start of September.

There are even some here that think it's ok to have a bet on us finishing in a relegation position. Feckin unbelievable!

[Dan Gleebals]

Would this be different if he had at least included him at Celtic? Maybe sending him home was a bit OTT on reflection. We dont know what happened, so assume Isak behaviour warranted it.  Just wonder if he might have gone to Asia at least then. What a mess. 

[TRon]

15 hours ago, Shadow Puppets said:

I genuinely don’t understand some posters’ attitudes, like. You know who you are.

 

For anyone capable of logical, and emotionless thinking, it’s absolutely plain to see that…

 

1) our PSR situation is in a better place currently.

2) we attempted to be ambitious with the players we went after, knowing that we could afford them in theory (under normal market conditions etc)… but…

3) when certain other teams entered the fray our chances dwindled when we were blown out of the water on wages.

 

It’s not a “bad strategy” to go after sought-after players and hope you can get deals done within the wage structure we have, especially if we have been given solid encouragement that deals were there to be done. And it’s not “bad strategy” just because in a handful of cases some bigger clubs have joined those races and beat us to them. Hindsight, sure, but ambition is good.

 

And now certain posters are STILL complaining when we switch tactic and work our way down to the next tier of targets.

 

Eddie Howe is the single most important person associated with this football club in the last 20 years. If you can’t trust that he knows what he’s doing, or that he and his staff are working to the absolute best of their ability for the benefit of this club, then I don’t know what to say.

 

And to a similar degree the same applies to the owners. A lot has changed since they came in. I agree they could vastly improve communication and it’s important to get a CEO and DOF in place, but if Eddie says it hasn’t affected our summer, then I’d be inclined to just believe him and let them crack on.

 

As tends to happen in a difficult moment, this place can become really really toxic, vastly over reactive, and lose all sense of the bigger picture.

 

It’s all the more evident when you actually go to a game and interact with humans…

 

Ive been to both games this weekend, spoken to dozens of people, both fans and people working in the club, and there is frustration, but understanding of the situation, and belief that we can still end the window with what we need. In the real world, outside of internet forums and Twitter shit, there is always a far more level headed reaction.

 

I don’t see why we can’t allow them to just get on with it and see how the pieces fall come the start of September.

 

 

Fabulous post, thanks for that. Really needed someone to take the time to spell it all out.

 

 

Edited August 10, 2025 by TRon

[Unbelievable]

11 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

 

Fabulous post, thanks for that. Really needed someone to take the time to spell it all out.

 

 

 

 

That's it. I think this is the realistic view of the vast majority of fans who appreciate that the owners, the manager, the players and the people employed by the club all work hard together to move the club in the right direction, and with incredible results over the last three and a half seasons all things considered despite the PL and other clubs attempting to frustrate our progress whichever way they can. Put your trust in these people and get behind them instead of dragging your heels shouting and screaming every time something doesn't quite go to plan. They've earned it.

[80]

13 hours ago, Kanj said:

He seems a guy who will only relinquish control of things he now has if he feels you have the clubs best interest at heart and aren’t someone passing thru to pad the CV or be here for 2 years and move on. And honestly, I trust every suit less by every passing day after I hear Eddie speak and see what he’s done for us over his tenure. He’s never been about himself one time, it’s always been about NUFCs success. 

Absolutely. I'm sure he's happy to hand over control of anything to anyone he knows is on the same team and not a twat. If you don't tick those boxes though, he'll fight to keep you away even if that means holding on to responsibilities that aren't ideal because the alternative is worse.

 

Give him a better option and he'll make a different choice. Bunce appears to be a good example of that - he was being welcomed and praised within days, despite being imposed from the outside on a vital area of management.

[Vinny Green Balls]

4 hours ago, Rod said:

There are even some here that think it's ok to have a bet on us finishing in a relegation position. Feckin unbelievable!

as if Howe, the best manager we've had in ages and one of our best ever, would ever get us relegated with this team even with our forward problem.

[Milburn]

18 hours ago, KDT said:

Anyone think that’s he’s still got too much power?

Yeah. The days of managers having the kind of power Ferguson and Wenger had are long gone (just look at what happened to Man Utd and Arsenal when they left). At a well-run club, life goes on almost like nothing happened when the manager moves on (Liverpool, Brighton, etc.). Newcastle aren’t at that stage yet.

 

I also just can’t see Howe working with anything other than a DoF who’s basically a “yes man,” and to me it’s pretty clear Mitchell walked because he completely disagreed with the club’s transfer strategy.

 

I’ve got huge respect for the job Howe’s done — he’s shown massive growth as a manager. But I can’t help feeling that Newcastle’s success is starting to create a bit of a monster 😉

[McEwan]

I've got it.  Howe becomes DOF, Tindall becomes first team coach.

[Ben]

1 hour ago, Milburn said:

Yeah. The days of managers having the kind of power Ferguson and Wenger had are long gone (just look at what happened to Man Utd and Arsenal when they left). At a well-run club, life goes on almost like nothing happened when the manager moves on (Liverpool, Brighton, etc.). Newcastle aren’t at that stage yet.

 

I also just can’t see Howe working with anything other than a DoF who’s basically a “yes man,” and to me it’s pretty clear Mitchell walked because he completely disagreed with the club’s transfer strategy.

 

I’ve got huge respect for the job Howe’s done — he’s shown massive growth as a manager. But I can’t help feeling that Newcastle’s success is starting to create a bit of a monster 😉

 

Is it not a case of Howe sees the short comings of the staff above him and just does the job himself, he seemed to have a working relationship with Edwards, maybe Suds will be better.

[Tiresias]

Howe got on fine with ashworth before his ridiculous defection by all accounts? While yes current set up is probably suboptimal in long term we just have to let howe get on with it until the backroom staff are sorted out. Quite frankly if that means telling howe himself to go and get someone he can work with himself lined up for it I'm fine with it. Howe quite frankly is irreplaceable and after i foolishly wobbled after West ham last season i now think it's stick with him if we got relegated. He also seems the type to walk if he felt he's taken us as far a he can anyway. Why pretend to a new dof he's got more authority? Just get someone to say your job is to get Howe his team.

[Milburn]

13 minutes ago, Tiresias said:

Howe got on fine with ashworth before his ridiculous defection by all accounts? While yes current set up is probably suboptimal in long term we just have to let howe get on with it until the backroom staff are sorted out. Quite frankly if that means telling howe himself to go and get someone he can work with himself lined up for it I'm fine with it. Howe quite frankly is irreplaceable and after i foolishly wobbled after West ham last season i now think it's stick with him if we got relegated. He also seems the type to walk if he felt he's taken us as far a he can anyway. Why pretend to a new dof he's got more authority? Just get someone to say your job is to get Howe his team.

Yes he is, and that is a problem. in a modern football organisation with a Director of Football, analyst teams, and a clearly defined sporting framework, the manager should not be irreplaceable.

 

The whole point of that structure is to reduce dependency on a single individual. Instead of the manager alone setting the playing style, recruitment strategy, and development plan, these elements are embedded in the club as a whole.

 

Having said that, the owners are to blame for us currently not having a CEO or DoF. 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2025 by Milburn

[Tiresias]

Just now, Milburn said:

Yes he is, and that is a problem. in a modern football organisation with a Director of Football (DoF), analyst teams, and a clearly defined sporting framework, the manager should not be irreplaceable.

 

The whole point of that structure is to reduce dependency on a single individual. Instead of the manager alone setting the playing style, recruitment strategy, and development plan, these elements are embedded in the club as a whole.

 

Having said that, the owners are to blame for us currently not having a CEO or DoF. 

I agree but we are where we are, it's holding us back in recruitment certainly but not on the pitch. When howe leaves for pastures new we can sort it out properly, until then let's not disrupt things like how Mitchell managed

[Ellis H]

Poor recruitment will be holding us back on the pitch very soon if we don’t get a move on tbf. This squad playing 50-60 games will end in tears.

[Vinny Green Balls]

Howe is absolutely irreplaceable to us at the moment. He has been Kevin Keegan and Steve Kerr incarnate for us in so many ways. Very few managers in the world have his mentality, positive outlook, and calming influence, which helped us break the silverware curse for the first time in several generations. Losing this guy would be the biggest setback in the post-Ashley era by some distance.

[Vinny Green Balls]

Really, after what he's achieved with us aready, I am struggling to see how anyone thinks he's replaceable. It was one appointment that the club got absolutely right. They struck gold with him, but have struggled with DoF's. Who is to say that they don't bring in a Mitchellesque managerial appointment that goes tits up if this guy leaves?

[KetteringMag]

8 minutes ago, Ellis H said:

Poor recruitment will be holding us back on the pitch very soon if we don’t get a move on tbf. This squad playing 50-60 games will end in tears.

If we get Wissa before start of season has it really been that bad minus the rejections/Isak saga ? And also look at Liverpool for example today , they’ve spent nearly £300m but still look 3 players short .. Not many clubs are running around with massive squads these days bar Chelsea 

[oldtype]

He's smart enough to realize that he cannot functionally continue to be both manager and DoF. There is no human on Earth that could do both roles in a modern football club. Both jobs have gotten too big and too complex.

 

It's simply a matter of finding someone competent who is a good personality fit and capable of working with him. Of course,we're never going to have a fully modern structure where the DoF is the one who provides organizational continuity and the manager reports to the DoF. Howe has achieved far too much over the past few years while our first two DoFs have floundered for that to ever happen.

 

But there's no reason why we couldn't bring in someone who is willing to work with him as an equal. Howe should be able to concentrate on putting the best team on the pitch possible for the upcoming season, while the DOF can focus more on long-term sustainability and success.

 

 

Edited August 10, 2025 by oldtype

[Ben]

1 minute ago, KetteringMag said:

If we get Wissa before start of season has it really been that bad minus the rejections/Isak saga ? And also look at Liverpool for example today , they’ve spent nearly £300m but still look 3 players short .. Not many clubs are running around with massive squads these days bar Chelsea 

 

Man City's looks the most balanced squad 

[Menace]

3 minutes ago, KetteringMag said:

If we get Wissa before start of season has it really been that bad minus the rejections/Isak saga ? And also look at Liverpool for example today , they’ve spent nearly £300m but still look 3 players short .. Not many clubs are running around with massive squads these days bar Chelsea 

 

Yes - still well short of what we need. We've essentially swapped the same amount of bodies going out with bodies coming in. We needed more bodies previously. I don't think we have the depth to compete even with Wissa coming in. Miley is our only midfield backup - I'm completely writing Willock off.