Eddie Howe

[Zero]

As said, Howe has done more than enough to have at least a season time to turn things around. And he also deserves a Jan transfer spree to buy players and save the team. The only scenario that he would be sacked before the end of the season is we couldn’t pick up a few points and continue our bad run so that we are within relegation zone around January.l, which is hugely unlikely.

 

The question that worth discussing now, however, is whether the bad run is down to the players, or Howe. And somewhat I think this time it’s more on the players which, in a way, even more difficult to resolve. 
 

Pope has been great in dominating the air for a few years. I fully expect him to come out and catch those high balls. And then these few matches he played like Woodman who looks like an easy target to bully. 
 

Burn looked like having a mental collapse after committing the first foul that got overturned. Yes we all shouted for subbing him out. We all know Howe fucked it up. But then I also understand that to Howe, Burn is the one he trust most. He wanted the team leader(s) to stand firm and stabilise the team during difficult time. Just like what Howe said in hindsight subbing Burn out must be right. However you also can’t deny that for a veteran like Burn, he really shouldn’t commit the second foul. Just keep calm and focus. He isn’t an amateur player. He is a professional veteran, a team leader with loads of experience. 
 

Nevermind the others like Botman, Joe, Elanga, , Gordon and BG (yes, sorry captain). The only players that really playing up to their ability are probably Thiaw, Murphy, WTMD and Trippier (considering his age). 
 

That’s why I asked the question re the grounds covered stat. The team or the players simply don’t feel right. They are letting Howe down. It’s not like Howe has lost the dressing room but the players do feel like no longer giving their best on the pitch. The drive is missing.

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by Zero

[Optimistic Nut]

It was the end of November last season where Tonali changed from rotation with Longstaff to being one of the first names on the sheet. It'll be interesting to see if he makes the changes we think need to be made in a couple of weeks. 

[r0cafella]

6 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

It was the end of November last season where Tonali changed from rotation with Longstaff to being one of the first names on the sheet. It'll be interesting to see if he makes the changes we think need to be made in a couple of weeks. 

I think this is apart of the worry honestly. We replaced a lower midtable steady player with someone who is top class. We don't have that luxury this tike around, Wissa might help albeit it is an unknown in black and white and Tino will help but none of these guys solve some of the fundamental issues we have. 

 

We aren't getting relegated or anything like that but I wouldn't be surprised to see us finish lower midtabke which would be a bit of disaster as we really needed to consolidate European football. 

[Zero]

18 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

We bought a squad to rotate though, we have 200m less excuses when it comes to tiredness this time around. 

if most of the core players are underperforming then rotation cannot help much.

[JoeyBartoon]

The sale of Isak  and signing of Woltemade changed everything, all his signings prior were geared towards his 4-3-3 set up. There lies the issue for me, he’s needed to come up with another offensive appraoch and hasn’t come up with it.

 

I love Woltemade, but his game is played entirely in front of defenders. He’s never going to make those runs down the channels or stretch the pitch — the kind of movement that would really help the others around him. That’s not on him, of course; it’s on Eddie to figure out a different approach.
 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by JoeyBartoon

[Jewel]

1 hour ago, Groundhog63 said:

 

Clown. There's literally no one, ever, suggested Howe's "beyond criticism" 😂😂😂

 

For my part I'm just constantly astounded at the arrogance of the people on here who, genuinely, think they see things Eddie and his team don't. It's hilarious 😂😂😂

 

Is it playing FM? Not sure?? 

 

Never mind the entitlement, disrespect and lack of appreciation 😉

 

This is a football fan forum, what exactly are you expecting here?

 

Naturally, people are going to be giving their opinions and takes on the situation. Given our current run of form, a lot of that will be negative, obviously. There are some on here who straightaway equate that with wanting Eddie Howe sacked, which is beyond ludicrous. If expressing displeasure and concern is not allowed, then you might as well shut down every forum that exists.

 

Apart from the bolded, the rest of your post is a load of nonsense. Maybe there is a little bit of entitlement, but not a single person has disrespected or shown a lack of appreciation for the job Eddie has done, from what I can see.

[Jewel]

10 minutes ago, Zero said:

if most of the core players are underperforming then rotation cannot help much.

I suspect not all of it is underperforming. Some of them are simply not good enough for where we want to be. And some of them simply do not fit in to the style of play Eddie Howe wants.

[Groundhog63]

5 minutes ago, Froggy said:

 

Like you said, there's a lot of gaslighting going on. It wasn't half the forum saying "get Eddie out." and I've already admitted to hyperbole with my original statement. It was easily half and more expressing concern though at whether or not he could turn it around, and a lot of posters were afraid to say what they were really thinking.

 

Howe is treated like a God by many on here and if you even suggest he might not be elite you're called an idiot and hounded. He's been brilliant for the majority of his tenure, but there are glaring mistakes being made now and I'm genuinely just interested in the reaction.

 

The latter bit first, if I may. What's an "elite" club or manager? 

Clubs who are regularly in the mix, win more than they lose and, more importantly, aren't hindered by PSR? Helped by it, rather? The Cartel? 

We're definitely not an "elite" club 😂. 

I don't play FIFA or FM so have no idea what an "elite" manager is, other than one who's successful at an "elite" club 🙄

What I do know is Howe's a great manager. Probably the best I've seen at NUFC. Certainly in the mix with Keegan and it's those two by a country mile and I find it a bit alarming when people start suggesting replacing him with the likes of The Special One 😂😂😂

 

As for the former and on the subject of hyperbole, how many is "a lot" and how do you know they're frightened to post their real thoughts? You an agony Uncle by DM? 

"Dear Froggy, I think Howe's a knacker and want Klopp but my hand shakes when I try to type it. They'll call me a clown again 😭"?? 

 

You saying "a lot" is similar to the bloke yesterday saying "90% of us can see it, why can't Howe?" or "we all screamed for him (Hall) to start but...."

Totally made up numbers to bolster their own opinions. 

It's a bit like having a beef with someone at graft and ending it with "and I'm not the only one that thinks it" 

Just have the balls to own one's own opinion and the courage of one's own conviction without conjuring up imaginary allies, lads. 

 

 

[Groundhog63]

7 minutes ago, Jewel said:

 

This is a football fan forum, what exactly are you expecting here?

 

Naturally, people are going to be giving their opinions and takes on the situation. Given our current run of form, a lot of that will be negative, obviously. There are some on here who straightaway equate that with wanting Eddie Howe sacked, which is beyond ludicrous. If expressing displeasure and concern is not allowed, then you might as well shut down every forum that exists.

 

Apart from the bolded, the rest of your post is a load of nonsense. Maybe there is a little bit of entitlement, but not a single person has disrespected or shown a lack of appreciation for the job Eddie has done, from what I can see.

Aye, I know it's a forum for, and of, opinions. 

That's why I posted mine. 

 

👍

[TheBrownBottle]

4 minutes ago, Groundhog63 said:

 

I find it a bit alarming when people start suggesting replacing him with the likes of The Special One 

 

No-one suggested replacing him with Mourinho.  That conversation was obviously tongue-in-cheek  

 

I don’t think it is unreasonable to ask why the performances aren’t there.  Howe has been backed to the hilt - he’s spent three quarters of a billion in four years, this is his squad.   For all the PSR talk, he has only been hampered relative to the Man City’s of the world - we’re not performing relative to PL middleweights and also-rans.

 

That doesn’t at all mean that Howe should be sacked - that would be a ridiculous overreaction.   But if he can’t receive criticism for poor form and performances he should receive no credit for good form and performances. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, TheBrownBottle said:

No-one suggested replacing him with Mourinho.  That conversation was obviously tongue-in-cheek  

 

I don’t think it is unreasonable to ask why the performances aren’t there.  Howe has been backed to the hilt - he’s spent three quarters of a billion in four years, this is his squad.   For all the PSR talk, he has only been hampered relative to the Man City’s of the world - we’re not performing relative to PL middleweights and also-rans.

 

That doesn’t at all mean that Howe should be sacked - that would be a ridiculous overreaction.   But if he can’t receive criticism for poor form and performances he should receive no credit for good form and performances. 

And based on someone suggesting it last November, along with having rotating managers. It was one of the more spectacularly ludicrous suggestions out there

[TheBrownBottle]

Just now, Vinny Green Balls said:

And based on someone suggesting it last November, along with having rotating managers. It was one of the more spectacularly ludicrous suggestions out there

Got you - apologies, didn’t realise that someone had seriously suggested it!   

[Froggy]

1 hour ago, Groundhog63 said:

 

The latter bit first, if I may. What's an "elite" club or manager? 

Clubs who are regularly in the mix, win more than they lose and, more importantly, aren't hindered by PSR? Helped by it, rather? The Cartel? 

We're definitely not an "elite" club 😂. 

I don't play FIFA or FM so have no idea what an "elite" manager is, other than one who's successful at an "elite" club 🙄

What I do know is Howe's a great manager. Probably the best I've seen at NUFC. Certainly in the mix with Keegan and it's those two by a country mile and I find it a bit alarming when people start suggesting replacing him with the likes of The Special One 😂😂😂

 

As for the former and on the subject of hyperbole, how many is "a lot" and how do you know they're frightened to post their real thoughts? You an agony Uncle by DM? 

"Dear Froggy, I think Howe's a knacker and want Klopp but my hand shakes when I try to type it. They'll call me a clown again 😭"??  

 

You saying "a lot" is similar to the bloke yesterday saying "90% of us can see it, why can't Howe?" or "we all screamed for him (Hall) to start but...."

Totally made up numbers to bolster their own opinions. 

It's a bit like having a beef with someone at graft and ending it with "and I'm not the only one that thinks it" 

Just have the balls to own one's own opinion and the courage of one's own conviction without conjuring up imaginary allies, lads. 

 

Your points are all fair enough as I'm presenting my opinion as fact which is wrong to do, but I'm convinced there's a lot more that are verging are Howe out and they're afraid to admit it.

 

Worth noting these aren't my thoughts on the matter either. My thoughts are that Howe is a great coach and that people wanting him sacked are morons. Manchester United fans are from the school of backing their managers to the hilt though, and we're often criticised for it.

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by Froggy

[Groundhog63]

3 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

No-one suggested replacing him with Mourinho.  That conversation was obviously tongue-in-cheek  

 

I don’t think it is unreasonable to ask why the performances aren’t there.  Howe has been backed to the hilt - he’s spent three quarters of a billion in four years, this is his squad.   For all the PSR talk, he has only been hampered relative to the Man City’s of the world - we’re not performing relative to PL middleweights and also-rans.

 

That doesn’t at all mean that Howe should be sacked - that would be a ridiculous overreaction.   But if he can’t receive criticism for poor form and performances he should receive no credit for good form and performances. 

 

I must've missed the tongue in cheek emoji then 😋

Me bad 😂

 

I'm not surprised people are ranting mate, given the league form, but there are some wild takes like. 

 

 

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, Froggy said:

 

Your points are all fair enough as I'm presenting my opinion as fact which is wrong to do, but I'm convinced there's a lot more than are verging are Howe out and they're afraid to admit it.

 

Worth noting these aren't my thoughts on the matter either. My thoughts are that Howe is a great coach and that people wanting him sacked are morons. Manchester United fans are from the school of backing their managers to the hilt though, and we're often criticised for it.

Different horses for different courses I'm afraid Frogman. Your revenue and these rules (which your club loves btw) means any mistake you guys make is hardly punished as your insulated by the restrictions placed upon the likes of us and Villa. Meanwhile we make one mistake and it can set us back 5 years. 

 

I haven't seen one poster who's worth talking about on here say Howe out, I see people questioning decisions and critiquing as they should do, this is a football forum after all. 

 

We aren't backwards in coming forwards if people want the manager out they will say as is tradition. 

[500bhp]

45 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

We bought a squad to rotate though, we have 200m less excuses when it comes to tiredness this time around. 

And we don't rotate very often especially in PL, Bournemouth aside. We are essentially playing the same team as two or three years ago. Only Thiaw and Big Nick started yesterday, otherwise it was our 2023 team. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

7 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Got you - apologies, didn’t realise that someone had seriously suggested it!   

The alternating managers every year bit was the wildest take I’ve heard yet.

[Dokko]

Most annoying thing is if we'd beat wham and Brentford we'd be on the same points as Liverpool, and it would have still been a poor start for us.. Such a shame we bottled it, would have been another few weeks of hilarious crying from the escousers.

 

 

[KennyUtd]

This cunt been sacked yet...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm only joking lads, calm down. 😆😁😄

[Dr Venkman]

2 hours ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

But Froggy‘s claim that it was half the forum after a Chelsea game is an exaggeration

Agree. Froggy is the real issue here, we shouldn’t forget that.

[Kid Icarus]

10 hours ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

Also did you forget the 17-18 season? A fair few on here were calling for Rafa’s head in December and January.

I remember it well yeah.

 

 

But I also remember thinking that why it was still a minority view was in no small part because of his standing in the game and that it meant having faith in him to sort it out was based on something.

 

Howe has that more this season than last, but it's not at the level of a league and Champions League winner.

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by Kid Icarus

[stozo]

I mean Howe is unsackable for me. But just to provide even more balance to proceedings - we've won 50%+ of our games since the last international break. We also won 50%+ of our games before the last international break. If we continue winning 50%+ of our games moving forward then we are going to either win a trophy or qualify for the Champions League. Calm down everyone.

 

[TheBrownBottle]

32 minutes ago, stozo said:

I mean Howe is unsackable for me. But just to provide even more balance to proceedings - we've won 50%+ of our games since the last international break. We also won 50%+ of our games before the last international break. If we continue winning 50%+ of our games moving forward then we are going to either win a trophy or qualify for the Champions League. Calm down everyone.

 

The maths don’t work  

[stozo]

2 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

The maths don’t work  

Not quite but not a million miles off right? 14 Prem wins would land us 42 points plus the 12 we have already takes us to 54. Throw in a turning a few draws and you are into the low 60s which is probably the Champions League.

 

Obviously If some of our 50% of wins come from cup competitions, the league position deteriorates but given where we are on the League Cup especially you’d imagine a decent chance for a trophy.

 

I’d love to see a simulation of what a 50%+ win rate does, but I imagine in 75%+ of scenarios it’s trophy or CL qualification. 

 

 

[The College Dropout]

6 hours ago, Mountain said:

 

 

The issue is the tactics and philosophy. We can't just rely on one player changing everything, Eddie has had a lot of money to change things as he wishes.

 

 

 

 

The money has been spent so now what?

 

For me the issue is the squad. It's not one another manager can greatly improve anyway imo.

 

People keep talking about the money spent and it largely doesn't matter to me. Is it a stick to beat Howe with? The money was spent poorly. Nothing can be done about it now. It's about what we can do going forward.