Eddie Howe

[r0cafella]

Just now, Super Duper Branko Strupar said:

 

We're battling with clubs that can waste massive amounts of money on the likes of Grealish, Nunez, Havertz, Nkunku, Antony, Gyokores etc and not bat an eyelid. We cant get any wrong. He's expected to outperform again and it's just not at all possible consistently. It's amazing he's done it as much as he has. We're not growing as a club fast enough to expect our team to perform as we do week in, week out. In so many competitions.

 

Absolutely agree and understand your point but that's the remit isn't it? Let's not believe our revenue will be par with the cartel clubs come 2030. It's rough it isn't easy at all but nevermind what people on here say, from what's been said the club expect European football every year. 

 

Swinging back to this board, I think we all knew we couldn't afford to make mistakes In the market and to this point we haven't made one mistake we've made a few and alarmingly it's happened in one window and the window where Eddie had a Free run at it. 

[Heron]

3 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said:

 

For me, playing well is winning comfortably. And by comfortably I mean with the minimum of fuss.  
 

To me, it doesn’t matter about the performance if you’re consistently getting beat or dropping points from decent positions. Because good performances when you lose, are bad performances. 
 

Maybe a last minute defeat happens from time to time, or you drop points from winning positions from time to time.  That’s football. But for it to happen consistently demonstrates that’s there’s a fundamental problem with the players and management.

 

And you see enough of my posts on here to know I defend Eddie and argue with the doom mongers who write him and our players off all the time.

 

But I’m also a realist not a blind optimist. 

I don't share that perception of a good performance. A good performance is playing well (I.e within the teams capability or perhaps even beyond their standard level) for at least half or the majority of the game. If (for example) we play well for 60 if the 90minutes then that's a decent performance in my eyes. Just like you can defend all game and play well - you don't have to attack all game. Therefore you can play well and lose, just as you can play well and draw and we did versus PSG.

 

Ultimately, it's a results business. We all know that. But results aren't that far off previous seasons.

[Rod]

2 minutes ago, Chicken Dancer said:

Even this game was twitchy for large chunks. They had us on the ropes a bit, we regained control about 70 minutes onwards, though the festive wine and cheese may have clouded my memory.

No, you are more or less right. I watched it half sober in my villa in Lanzarote. 2-0 up and then went from comfortable to nervy. 2-1.

[madras]

1 minute ago, Chicken Dancer said:

I think we played well for a half against Arsenal then we almost looked like a little team again, whereas in the past (under Howe) we’d really have taken the game to them. We should have had a penalty like for sure.

 

Liverpool we were class, it remains the best performance of the season (including City H Everton A) for me. Which is a worry itself given it was the second game of the season. I’ll let you have the Villa H game though I don’t agree  I thought we were crap, especially second half.

 

What I think we do agree on though is that the amount of good 90 minute performances are few and far between. I’ve said it a few times but that 22/23 team was really something and it’s probably spoiled my enjoyment a tad, watching us now vs that. I totally understand football evolves but that season was my favourite ever (obviously the shiny thing made last season the most memorable). 
 

I’m eternally grateful for the past 4 years - they really have been the best years of my NUFC supporting life by some distance - I’ve had some wonderful times in town, at aways in this country and in Europe. It’s been a blast and I pray that they continue, but I’m not sure how we’d cope being in Europa/Conference next season. We/Howe havent quite figured out how to compete on all fronts, but very few can. 
 

It probably isn’t, but Saturday really feels like a must win. Even just to ease the pressure a bit. 

Could we stretch that to other teams in the league in general ? Ive watched Arsenal a good few times this season and you'd never think they were top of the league and favourites for the title on performances. I dont even mean being great.

 

I think we are at a transition time in football where what was working has been counteracted and we are waiting for the next stage in evolution but it's not there yet and no one is quite sure what it will be.

[Heron]

8 minutes ago, HaydnNUFC said:

Hate to nitpick but I personally really didn’t like the Arsenal at home performance. We shouldn’t have lost it really given Pope’s error leading to one of their goals (can’t remember which one) which would’ve been a good result seeing how well they’re going this season, but in the second half we contributed absolutely nothing offensively bar long balls in Elanga’s direction. I don’t remember us having a shot of any description, I know it’s Arsenal but barely an attack worthy of the name in a half of football at SJP is really poor. Don’t care who we’re playing.

I will agree to disagree. If you're winning then sitting in and defending for a half isn't in itself an issue (even if that means you barely muster up a shot). The plab works if individual mistakes aren't made. For the most part - we haven't picked up points cause individuak mistakes were made. Some of which were Howes but many of which were players in the team.

[midds]

Genuinely can't wait for this season to end, it's been nothing more than frustration and pigshit for 7 months already

 

[Heron]

9 minutes ago, Chicken Dancer said:

I think we played well for a half against Arsenal then we almost looked like a little team again, whereas in the past (under Howe) we’d really have taken the game to them. We should have had a penalty like for sure.

 

Liverpool we were class, it remains the best performance of the season (including City H Everton A) for me. Which is a worry itself given it was the second game of the season. I’ll let you have the Villa H game though I don’t agree  I thought we were crap, especially second half.

 

What I think we do agree on though is that the amount of good 90 minute performances are few and far between. I’ve said it a few times but that 22/23 team was really something and it’s probably spoiled my enjoyment a tad, watching us now vs that. I totally understand football evolves but that season was my favourite ever (obviously the shiny thing made last season the most memorable). 
 

I’m eternally grateful for the past 4 years - they really have been the best years of my NUFC supporting life by some distance - I’ve had some wonderful times in town, at aways in this country and in Europe. It’s been a blast and I pray that they continue, but I’m not sure how we’d cope being in Europa/Conference next season. We/Howe havent quite figured out how to compete on all fronts, but very few can. 
 

It probably isn’t, but Saturday really feels like a must win. Even just to ease the pressure a bit. 

 

And win we will. Mark my word.

 

*I will banish myself for a fortnight if not.

[Chicken Dancer]

Just now, madras said:

Could we stretch that to other teams in the league in general ? Ive watched Arsenal a good few times this season and you'd never think they were top of the league and favourites for the title on performances. I dont even mean being great.

 

I think we are at a transition time in football where what was working has been counteracted and we are waiting for the next stage in evolution but it's not there yet and no one is quite sure what it will be.

Nah you are right to be fair. I think my frustrations come from what I know we can and did do and now just don’t.

 

I’d expect us to control certain games but we just seem incapable, and it’s an awful feeling going 1-0 up and just waiting for the other team to score and then probably go on to win. 
 

He’s still the don in my eyes but the season is slowly disappearing with a very tricky few weeks ahead. I fear the worst, but the good news is it will take a lot for SJP to turn. There’s been nowt in the ground, but I think everyone has the same concerns on forums/pubs. 
 

Very big game Saturday. 

[bobbydazzla]

3 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

 

It's a trend across the league tbf, due to loads of factors. I can't think of a team in the league that are particularly impressive most weeks, including those nearest the top of it. 

 

You talk about us labouring against Wolves for example, the team bottom of the league. Villa beat them by 1 goal (their usual screamer) and Arsenal also won by 1 goal (in injury time). Both at home. 

 

 

 

I don’t really care about trends across the league. I care about Newcastle regularly conceding late goals, giving up leads easily, rarely being able to keep a clean sheet, rarely winning away from home and conceding 3 or more goals in numerous games. 
 

Because I know Eddie Howe has the ability to coach a team who can be much better than that. 

[Chicken Dancer]

2 minutes ago, Heron said:

 

And win we will. Mark my word.

 

*I will banish myself for a fortnight if not.

The forum would be a worse place without your optimism, so I don’t think you should do that (especially when I’m not confident we do them at all  )

 

Who else will be here to tell us we’re gonna go to the Etihad in a few weeks and win?

[Interpolic]

Just now, bobbydazzla said:

I don’t really care about trends across the league.

 

That's a ridiculous thing to say in all honesty like  

[bobbydazzla]

8 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

 

That's a ridiculous thing to say in all honesty like  

No it’s not. 
 

Everyone else isn’t impressive most weeks so it’s ok if we aren’t too is a ridiculous thing to say in all honesty.

 

 

 

Edited February 4 by bobbydazzla

[LionOfGosforth]

11 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Absolutely agree and understand your point but that's the remit isn't it? Let's not believe our revenue will be par with the cartel clubs come 2030. It's rough it isn't easy at all but nevermind what people on here say, from what's been said the club expect European football every year. 

 

Swinging back to this board, I think we all knew we couldn't afford to make mistakes In the market and to this point we haven't made one mistake we've made a few and alarmingly it's happened in one window and the window where Eddie had a Free run at it. 

 

This has truth to it but it's also quite harsh as it's the first window where we lost an elite "purple", and then had to replace him during a window where apparently all of the ESL clubs all wanted the same players we did. Had we got even one of the players he clearly badly wanted, whether that was Ekitike, Mbeumo or maybe Pedro let's say, I think things feel and look different. So just saying he had a "free run at it" is a bit disingenuous.

[Heron]

10 minutes ago, Chicken Dancer said:

The forum would be a worse place without your optimism, so I don’t think you should do that (especially when I’m not confident we do them at all  )

 

Who else will be here to tell us we’re gonna go to the Etihad in a few weeks and win?

Depends who you ply with enough drink

 

Perhaps a bit sad/yawn for some but my family motto is actually "Nil Desperandum" or as a modern take you can use the words of Sam Fender "I must repel the dying light" and I use this wherever I feel I need to. Maybe that's just my coping method, but in tough times it helps drag me through.

 

My feeling is that being positive in times of negativity gives people the leadership or direction to get out of it - otherwise we'd all spiral downwards. Appreciate sometimes it's delusional.

 

Anyways...now I'm just talking philosophical shite. but with the likes of Howe and the lads - I am fairly convinced if we shake some of this over saturation and football fatigue off and get right behind them, we can cause a few upsets and climb the table.

 

 

Edited February 4 by Heron

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, LionOfGosforth said:

 

This has truth to it but it's also quite harsh as it's the first window where we lost an elite "purple", and then had to replace him during a window where apparently all of the ESL clubs all wanted the same players we did. Had we got even one of the players he clearly badly wanted, whether that was Ekitike, Mbeumo or maybe Pedro let's say, I think things feel and look different. So just saying he had a "free run at it" is a bit disingenuous.

Maybe harsh but is it true?

 

Yes we lost our striker it's true nothing to debate but clubs lose players every summer, it's apart of the game your recruitment operation is probably defined by how well you succession plan ultimately. 

 

I've already set my stall out but I wouldn't be doing anything until the end of the season regardless, we aren't getting relegated so a circumspect approach is needed. 

[Interpolic]

Just now, bobbydazzla said:

No it’s not. 

 

 

It is. If the entire league is struggling to put in aesthetically pleasing and dominant performances consistently then there must be reasons for that. There have been discussions on here about potential reasons such as the increasing reliance on physicality, set pieces, low blocks etc, plus the narrowing of the field from top to bottom. 

 

Our PL results have overall been disappointing, particularly away, and we're 2 or 3 wins short of where I was hoping we'd be. But in terms of performances, why is squeaking past Wolves good enough for Arsenal and Villa but not good enough for us? Most teams are labouring to most of their wins this season, there aren't many dominant performances anymore. That's why the league-wide trend is important context. 

[LionOfGosforth]

1 minute ago, r0cafella said:

Maybe harsh but is it true?

 

Yes we lost our striker it's true nothing to debate but clubs lose players every summer, it's apart of the game your recruitment operation is probably defined by how well you succession plan ultimately. 

 

I've already set my stall out but I wouldn't be doing anything until the end of the season regardless, we aren't getting relegated so a circumspect approach is needed. 

 

No doubt we need to review quite a bit in the summer. I would expect a lot of discussion around the squad, our playing style (hugely dependent on how many competitions we're in) and quite a bit of trading amongst it all. With a proper executive structure and a real DoF in place for once(the merits and skillsets of both to be determined), we should be in a better place for all of that.

[madras]

8 minutes ago, LionOfGosforth said:

 

No doubt we need to review quite a bit in the summer. I would expect a lot of discussion around the squad, our playing style (hugely dependent on how many competitions we're in) and quite a bit of trading amongst it all. With a proper executive structure and a real DoF in place for once(the merits and skillsets of both to be determined), we should be in a better place for all of that.

Id guess thats already started and quite possibly why we didnt strengthen in the window gone.

[Wolfcastle]

12 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

 

It is. If the entire league is struggling to put in aesthetically pleasing and dominant performances consistently then there must be reasons for that. There have been discussions on here about potential reasons such as the increasing reliance on physicality, set pieces, low blocks etc, plus the narrowing of the field from top to bottom. 

 

Our PL results have overall been disappointing, particularly away, and we're 2 or 3 wins short of where I was hoping we'd be. But in terms of performances, why is squeaking past Wolves good enough for Arsenal and Villa but not good enough for us? Most teams are labouring to most of their wins this season, there aren't many dominant performances anymore. That's why the league-wide trend is important context. 

I agree that there's something off with the league. Seems with the exception of Arsenal and since Amorim was sacked Man United almost all the PL teams this year to last seem less good and all are worse to watch, its been a horrible season generally.

The difference to Arsenal and Villa edging past Wolves and us is their other results allow for it.  We labour against Bournemouth and Brighton every season but have supplemented it with convincing wins and performances elsewhere which isn't happening now.

[Magpie Mover]

1 hour ago, Heron said:

That's fairer, but I do expect Howe to fix all this if the backroom staff don't continue to shaft him and he's given time and backing as has been the case before.

He was given 250m of backing and we are a worse team for it. Defensively we were a shambles today.

[Kanj]

More good than bad with Eddie. Love the bloke forever. I worry the summer transfers may come back to haunt us and him. And I hate admitting that.  

[Mike]

49 minutes ago, midds said:

Genuinely can't wait for this season to end, it's been nothing more than frustration and pigshit for 7 months already

 

 

I've been here since August, pretty much.

[Zero]

It really depends if you think Howe has to be, partly or not, responsible for the mess happened in the DOF position, which ultimately leads to the multiple transfer window failure, and Howe take control of the business last summer - fuck it up royally

 

I mean, Ashworth left, Mitchell left. No problem, they are cunts. But did they really get the power to take control of the transfer, or did Howe always get the final say and hence they feel no point to continue?

 

Not a dig at Howe, but whether he is a victim of this mess is debatable. And some of his “rules” are really frustrating. Say absolutely no loans, because they won’t be helpful in the long run. Fine. But if we are fucking short-handed then these loans must be useful. I still in shock that we didn’t bring in a cover for the full back position, especially the left back.

 

 

 

Edited February 5 by Zero

[Decky]

1 hour ago, Whitley mag said:

Eddie for England, claw back some of the money he wasted in the summer through the compo.

 

Get Fabregas from Como, top players will want to play for him and the football might become watchable again. 
 

The club needs a reboot and I’m afraid if where going to be top dogs by 2030 it’s not happening with Eddie.

 

 

 

 

Problem with Eddie for England is nothing can happen until at least after the World Cup, and it'll probably be weeks after the World Cup. I couldn't see them doing it before then and announcing he's taking over later.

 

Knowing how long it takes the club to do things we'll be appointing a new manager with almost no time left in the transfer window, or maybe even after it's shut.

 

 

Edited February 5 by Decky

[LTA]

2 hours ago, Yorkie said:

 

Hell of a pitch that, mind. Remind me who Thiaw snubbed in favour of whom last summer...

he didnt snub Como for us. Milan got a new manager who cancelled the deal. Then they sold him to us for double the fee