Eddie Howe

[Andy]

4 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

I mean so far they've been crap, surely nobody disputes that. 

 

Surely not, I agree. However, we can't just criticise fans for "writing them off" based on nothing other than fact that Howe has made other players better, that isn't really a sensible approach to critiquing our recruitment. 

[The Prophet]

...but take Ramsey for example. 

 

It's fair to say he hasn't justified paying a Premier League premium for because he's had limited minutes and he hasn't really made an impact when he has played. But we've seen far too little of him to say definitively say he's shite or a waste of money.

 

We had the same kind of comments about Lewis Hall not too long ago.

[Danh1]

I know it’s been said loads but the fact Ramsey cannot get on the pitch ahead of Joe fucking Willock, who has a heart the size of a bastard pea, on derby day speaks volumes.

 

[SUPERTOON]

13 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

...but take Ramsey for example. 

 

It's fair to say he hasn't justified paying a Premier League premium for because he's had limited minutes and he hasn't really made an impact when he has played. But we've seen far too little of him to say definitively say he's shite or a waste of money.

 

We had the same kind of comments about Lewis Hall not too long ago.

Not really comparable imo, Ramsey was bought to impact the first team immediately and he currently 6th choice. He hasn’t been helped by us no longer pressing mind, it’s his biggest strength.

 

 

Edited December 16, 2025 by SUPERTOON

[Andy]

5 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

...but take Ramsey for example. 

 

It's fair to say he hasn't justified paying a Premier League premium for because he's had limited minutes and he hasn't really made an impact when he has played. But we've seen far too little of him to say definitively say he's shite or a waste of money.

 

We had the same kind of comments about Lewis Hall not too long ago.

 

Ramsey isn't a kid like Hall though, he's an experienced premier league player who should really be making more of an impact than he has for the money involved.  Granted injuries haven't helped, but injuries hadn't helped him at Villa either, so that becomes less forgivable as an excuse IMO. 

[UncleBingo]

2 hours ago, TheBrownBottle said:

 

You mention Robson being sacked, and then you suggest the crowd is now fickle and you’d walk away if they chase Howe - but you didn’t walk away when Robson was sacked with the general support supporting the decision?

 

Robson should’ve been sacked much earlier, the issue wasn’t sacking him it was Shepherd being fucking clueless re a replacement.

 

Howe being sacked right now would be massively premature and he should be given the season (unless things really do go belly-up).  But I think there are plenty on here who keep reminding everyone of how in the last two seasons he’s turned this around - the question would be why does he keep needing to turn it around?  Why are we consistently shit before NY?  I’m not sure a corner will be turned this time around  

I disagreed massively when they sacked Robson, he deserved so much better from the board and (some of our fans)......and I don't agree that it was a majority of them either. 

It made us look like clueless, fickle cunts then just as it would nowadays, and Howe has achieved way more than Robson has.

 

[The Prophet]

2 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Not really comparable imo, Ramsey was bought to impact the first team immediately and he currently 6th choice. He hasn’t been helped but is no longer pressing mind, it’s his biggest strength.

 

It's comparable in that both have been called a waste of money because they've struggling to get on the pitch.

 

Fair enough, it makes a mockery of buying Premier League proven, but who knows why he's being held back it could be physical, mental or tactical. For Hall it was two of the three.

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

4 hours ago, Dr Venkman said:

That’s incredibly witty and wholly original. You melt.

 

[SUPERTOON]

I actually really rate Ramsey, I thought he was the perfect Howe player. He’s looking a waste of money currently though because we no longer play to his strengths. 

[nufcjmc]

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

...but take Ramsey for example. 

 

It's fair to say he hasn't justified paying a Premier League premium for because he's had limited minutes and he hasn't really made an impact when he has played. But we've seen far too little of him to say definitively say he's shite or a waste of money.

 

We had the same kind of comments about Lewis Hall not too long ago.

I agree the sample size is too small to draw final conclusions.  The hall example feels slightly different than elanga and Ramsey though.  Hall was 19? and came with a relatively big price tag but not that many chelsea appearances under his belt and was too raw to come straight in. In hindsight hall himself has said the slow approach worked. Elanga is 23? Ramsey 24? Both have much more first team action and should be ready made in theory as they are at least up to speed on the pace and physical strength needed for the league. 

 

Ramsey the knock may have killed any early momentum and the calibre of midfielder hes competing against has minutes lacking. Or Eddie isn't happy with what hes saying in the limited training time yet.

 

Elanga in theory for competition  only has 30 year old Murphy in theory to compete with who has according to howe needed to manage minutes due to two different knocks and hes simply not shown enough to warrant keeping Murphy out of the side. Will we reassess after a full season and have a different positive view? I hope so just there is no signs no spark to say there is a player in there other than referring to stats from forest a team who played fundamentally different to us.

 

I hope this kills the theory they need to know the league altogether for us going into future windows. 

[TheBrownBottle]

6 minutes ago, UncleBingo said:

I disagreed massively when they sacked Robson, he deserved so much better from the board and (some of our fans)......and I don't agree that it was a majority of them either. 

It made us look like clueless, fickle cunts then just as it would nowadays, and Howe has achieved way more than Robson has.

 

I was there at the last home game of 03/04 vs Wolves - and it was most definitely the majority; not in terms of booing (who the fuck even boos in any case?), but pretty much everyone fucked off at the final whistle.  The 5k-ish who stayed back to clap the team may have still backed him.  

 

And it isn’t fickle at all to expect better results based upon significant spending in the transfer market.  Managers shouldn’t get unlimited time.  

[Heron]

For me - I am trying to decipher what is the emotions of losing to Sunderland (rather embarassingly) and what is reasonable concern from our season to date. I think there's a lot in a bit of a muddled grey area.

 

This is a guy who has demonstrated his ability to take a sinking ship and devise a cohesive, defiant team unit that was greater than the sum of its parts. A team that took us from relegation to the top 10, and onwards to the Champions League ahead of what many considered ahead of the clubs likely or natural upward trajectory.

 

He took us to a cup final and the club collectively got so erect we spaffed our load all over our trousers before we got near the trophy, we went away, we achieved the same again and we learned. We won. We won our first domestic trophy for 70years. A lifetime for some people. For others our first major trophy for 56years.

 

Sure, we're not really "clicking", but we're  2 wins away from the Champions League spots. We're in a cup quarter final with a favourable tie, we're progressing steadily in the Champions League and have given good accounts of ourselves versus some decent sides. We have the FA Cup yet to compete in.

 

Sure, our away form is fairly wank and at least 3 of them you can say were absolutely abject performances, but the whole season hasn't been as horrific as folk are making out.

 

I find it really sad to see that despite all of Eddie Howes form to date, his professionalism, his honesty, the way he has carried himself on behalf of the club, we seem to fall at the very first hurdles where faith is concerned for him.

 

Every season without fail, as soon as we have a sticky patch this question rears it's head, like we're just hovering with the axe above his helpless head. It's minging man. This guy has gave us some of the purest and most joyous moments in our Newcastle supporting lives.

 

He is absolutely not void of criticism, there are things he does that I don't agree with too, but fuck me, he's earned far more leeway than many fans online are seemingly willing to give him. People will likely get a rude awakening if we hound him out.

 

I honestly don't think we could have had better since the takeover and I don't think we can get an obvious improvement on him in our existing situation. We're competing with "big 6" clubs who are a commercial closed shop and outperforming two of them at (least) across his tenure. The most comparable outfit in Villa we've beat to a cup in that time and also CL in the last season.

 

It's really not as bad as folk are making out like and I find some of the rationale being provided just speculative, farfetched or really selective. Just my opinion (I'm sure folk will argue the opposite) but our league positions and cup positions and win rates don't lie...

 

 

Edited December 16, 2025 by Heron

[Weezertron]

If it takes a year for every 40m+ signing to be good enough to get into the team. I'm Howe out 

 

And i'm 100% Howe in. 

 

But thats taking the piss. 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2025 by Weezertron

[Danh1]

Just now, Weezertron said:

If it takes a year for every 40m+ signing to be good enough to get into the team. I'm Howe out 

 

And i'm 100% Howe in. 

 

But thats taking the piss. 

 

 

 

A 40 million player signed from the Premier League so that they settle quicker than a potentially cheaper player from overseas also. Mental. 

[Heron]

One or two signings out of how many?

 

Recruitment is also just one area of management and has been our most volatile area owing to ever changing backroom staff and PSR stipulations that didn't really exist until they thought we might oust the preexisting super powers.

 

What about his handling of the media, his stewardship of the club, his coaching, his tactics, his man management?

 

 

Edited December 16, 2025 by Heron

[UncleBingo]

3 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

I was there at the last home game of 03/04 vs Wolves - and it was most definitely the majority; not in terms of booing (who the fuck even boos in any case?), but pretty much everyone fucked off at the final whistle.  The 5k-ish who stayed back to clap the team may have still backed him.  

 

And it isn’t fickle at all to expect better results based upon significant spending in the transfer market.  Managers shouldn’t get unlimited time.  

I think the Wolves walk out was more apathy than directly wanting Robson sacked, certainly any chanting was at a minimum and only really happened at Villa away. I didn't bother with message boards back then, but based my opinion on my mates, where I sat in the Milburn and from away games as I was a regular back then.

 

It set us back eons and ultimately led to Mike Ashley. Be careful what you wish for.

[Cornah]

8 minutes ago, Heron said:

For me - I am trying to decipher what is the emotions of losing to Sunderland (rather embarassingly) and what is reasonable concern from our season to date. I think there's a lot in a bit of a muddled grey area.

 

This is a guy who has demonstrated his ability to take a sinking ship and devise a cohesive, defiant team unit that was greater than the sum of its parts. A team that took us from relegation to the top 10, and onwards to the Champions League ahead of what many considered ahead of the clubs likely or natural upward trajectory.

 

He took us to a cup final and the club collectively got so erect we spaffed our load all over our trousers before we got near the trophy, we went away, we achieved the same again and we learned. We won. We won our first domestic trophy for 70years. A lifetime for some people. For others our first major trophy for 56years.

 

Sure, we're not really "clicking", but we're  2 wins away from the Champions League spots. We're in a cup quarter final with a favourable tie, we're progressing steadily in the Champions League and have given good accounts of ourselves versus some decent sides. We have the FA Cup yet to compete in.

 

Sure, our away form is fairly wank and at least 3 of them you can say were absolutely abject performances, but the whole season hasn't been as horrific as folk are making out.

 

I find it really sad to see that despite all of Eddie Howes form to date, his professionalism, his honesty, the way he has carried himself on behalf of the club, we seem to fall at the very first hurdles where faith is concerned for him.

 

Every season without fail, as soon as we have a sticky patch this question rears it's head, like we're just hovering with the axe above his helpless head. It's minging man. This guy has gave us some of the purest and most joyous moments in our Newcastle supporting lives.

 

He is absolutely not void of criticism, there are things he does that I don't agree with too, but fuck me, he's earned far more leeway than many fans online are seemingly to give him. People will likely get a rude awakening if we hound him out.

 

I honestly don't think we could have had better since the takeover and I don't think we can get an obvious improvement on him in our existing situation. We're competing with "big 6" clubs who are a commercial closed shop and outperforming two of them at (least) across his tenure. The most comparable outfit in Villa we've beat to a cup in that time and also CL in the last season.

 

It's really not as bad as folk are making out like and I find some of the rationale being provided just speculative, farfetched or really selective. Just my opinion (I'm sure folk will argue the opposite) but our league positions and cup positions and win rates don't lie...

 

 

 

 

[HaydnNUFC]

14 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

I was there at the last home game of 03/04 vs Wolves - and it was most definitely the majority; not in terms of booing (who the fuck even boos in any case?), but pretty much everyone fucked off at the final whistle.  The 5k-ish who stayed back to clap the team may have still backed him.  

 

And it isn’t fickle at all to expect better results based upon significant spending in the transfer market.  Managers shouldn’t get unlimited time.  

 

Just from what I've heard from others, read and researched (as I only turned 3 during 03-04, so feel free to pull me up if talking shite again  ) that the football had turned dour; we won 13 games in 38, won 2 league away games all season which were both in October and we finished on 56 points. Competing with Liverpool, Charlton and Villa for a European spot whilst exiting both domestic cups early doors. And the performance against Marseille was the straw that broke the camel's back for many, all the while we lost to Man City (who finished 16th) and failed to beat either Southampton who had nothing to play for or an already relegated Wolves to miss out on Champions League late in the season.

 

Then summer 04, the two clubs who we were competing with in the previous couple of seasons for CL spots in Chelsea and Liverpool (less so Chelsea due to the Abramovich takeover) both moved on their well liked statesman-like managers in Houllier and Ranieri and replaced them with Benitez and Mourinho. We should've done the same with moving Robson on but didn't, instead waited until 4 games into 2004-05 to sack Robson and replaced him with Souness of all people. Robson, imo, if he wasn't going to be sacked in summer 04 he should've been given 2004-05. 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2025 by HaydnNUFC

[AJ9]

13 minutes ago, Heron said:

For me - I am trying to decipher what is the emotions of losing to Sunderland (rather embarassingly) and what is reasonable concern from our season to date. I think there's a lot in a bit of a muddled grey area.

 

This is a guy who has demonstrated his ability to take a sinking ship and devise a cohesive, defiant team unit that was greater than the sum of its parts. A team that took us from relegation to the top 10, and onwards to the Champions League ahead of what many considered ahead of the clubs likely or natural upward trajectory.

 

He took us to a cup final and the club collectively got so erect we spaffed our load all over our trousers before we got near the trophy, we went away, we achieved the same again and we learned. We won. We won our first domestic trophy for 70years. A lifetime for some people. For others our first major trophy for 56years.

 

Sure, we're not really "clicking", but we're  2 wins away from the Champions League spots. We're in a cup quarter final with a favourable tie, we're progressing steadily in the Champions League and have given good accounts of ourselves versus some decent sides. We have the FA Cup yet to compete in.

 

Sure, our away form is fairly wank and at least 3 of them you can say were absolutely abject performances, but the whole season hasn't been as horrific as folk are making out.

 

I find it really sad to see that despite all of Eddie Howes form to date, his professionalism, his honesty, the way he has carried himself on behalf of the club, we seem to fall at the very first hurdles where faith is concerned for him.

 

Every season without fail, as soon as we have a sticky patch this question rears it's head, like we're just hovering with the axe above his helpless head. It's minging man. This guy has gave us some of the purest and most joyous moments in our Newcastle supporting lives.

 

He is absolutely not void of criticism, there are things he does that I don't agree with too, but fuck me, he's earned far more leeway than many fans online are seemingly willing to give him. People will likely get a rude awakening if we hound him out.

 

I honestly don't think we could have had better since the takeover and I don't think we can get an obvious improvement on him in our existing situation. We're competing with "big 6" clubs who are a commercial closed shop and outperforming two of them at (least) across his tenure. The most comparable outfit in Villa we've beat to a cup in that time and also CL in the last season.

 

It's really not as bad as folk are making out like and I find some of the rationale being provided just speculative, farfetched or really selective. Just my opinion (I'm sure folk will argue the opposite) but our league positions and cup positions and win rates don't lie...

 

 

 

 
love this post 

[magorific]

Can’t believe the number of people not mentioning the loss of Isak in their deliberations re Howe and this season.

If you’d asked any NUFC fan early this year whether they’d expect a drop-off in the event of Isak leaving in the summer, who’d have said no? That’s without taking into account the failure to then land Howe’ preferred targets as Isak’s replacement.

The guy had scored 44 league goals for us in two seasons…

[The Prophet]

17 minutes ago, Weezertron said:

If it takes a year for every 40m+ signing to be good enough to get into the team. I'm Howe out 

 

And i'm 100% Howe in. 

 

But thats taking the piss. 

 

 

 

 

...but it doesn't because every signing is different.

[Weezertron]

26 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

...but it doesn't because every signing is different.

We can't afford to miss. Not my words. 

 

Edit: I'm obviously being hyperbolic in response to those above who keep mentioning to have patience with signings. I do think that the price paid for players is important in relation to when they come good. Cheaper talent from abroad can be afforded more time. 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2025 by Weezertron

[Terrymac1966]

Howe can change this. 

Positive attacking approach home and away Eddie sit the defence on half way and attack attack attack....risk and reward football like Bournemouth 🙂

[Danh1]

Just now, Terrymac1966 said:

Howe can change this. 

Positive attacking approach home and away Eddie sit the defence on half way and attack attack attack....risk and reward football like Bournemouth 🙂

I’ve never known us go after sides at home like we have done under Howe prior to this season. Not content with 2/3 goals and going out to score more and more.

 

That Burnley game would’ve been a cricket score last season or the season before. Hope we can go back to that. 

[Chicken Dancer]

5 minutes ago, Danh1 said:

I’ve never known us go after sides at home like we have done under Howe prior to this season. Not content with 2/3 goals and going out to score more and more.

 

That Burnley game would’ve been a cricket score last season or the season before. Hope we can go back to that. 

The team that qualified for the Champions League first time round would have been about 4-0 up at the hour mark. The energy in that team was ridiculous, by far my favourite season of attending games. 
 

Obviously last season had the cup so will always be the best, but 22/23 was definitely my favourite Newcastle side.