Eddie Howe

[duo]

I think what hasn't worked in Eddie's favour is the fact the team has over performed for the last few seasons. Yes he's spent money but the team had zero investment for the best part of a decade so the starting base was rock bottom.  Based on our wage bill though we've been punching against our weight. It doesn't excuse some of the inept performances we have seen this season - notably those against Sunderland and Palace yesterday. But it has to be taken into account when deciding if its time for Eddie to go.

 

 

Edited April 13 by duo

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, Minhosa said:

I’m certain that’s why Howe wanted Guehi. His leadership. PL captain at 23/24 years old. Leader. 

Yep - that type of character is few and far. Sometimes it comes with age but Thiaw & Botman dont' have hat extra bit of character which we've lost from the Schar x Burn partnership. The GK issue is also massive.

2 minutes ago, Minhosa said:

The home derby is what’s killed him. Win that and all is ok tbh. Takes a lot to turn things around when you lose your home crowd.  

We lost the derby in-part because of how bad Barca was imo.

 

What was the mood like in training of Thurs? It had to have been different. It's the type of matahc and result that would have players questioning the manager.

[thomas]

22 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

I agree with that as well. However, results (and, by extension, league position) dictate the mood and my central point is that, despite everything, we're only a couple of results away from totally different vibes. If Wissa has like six or seven PL goals - literally if he's just anything other than utterly useless - the whole conversation is different imo.

 

I find it scant consolation that there's a timeline where we're having a good season and I'm in the timeline where we're not.  

[Mikky]

1 hour ago, Menace said:

 

I agree with you. A good striker no doubt gets us in a better position league wise but there is still clear issues within our squad.

1. We've forgotten how to defend
2. Our midfield looks really disjointed
3. Our wingers are under performing

This is a far bigger cry than just a striker issue IMO - and like you said the cracks were starting to appear even when Isak was here and he would barely get a touch of the ball for 40 minutes.

He doesn’t know his best keeper - his starting defence - midfield - forwards - wingers 

 

We concede soft goals 

We don’t know how to construct an attack 

Certain players not performing 

We are so fragile mentally 

Concede from set pieces 

Do nothing from our own set pieces 

Poor subs 

Poor tactics 

EH looks defeated - devoid of ideas 

 

That’s 9 months he’s had to figure this out 

[Minhosa]

4 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I always thought the 2-6 was the end of the SBR reign. We never recovered mentally from that.

 

Barca result could have been similar. It's like when a boxer suddenly gets a real beating. They are often never the same.

 

On the flip side - the team that one the League Cup was the strongest team of characters we've had. The star man left, the stalwarts at the back have aged another year. It's tough.

Never a truer word spoken. 
 

In leadership qualities alone, forgetting experience/ability, if you look at the back four yesterday vs the final, there’s none of the three changes (Thiaw, Botman and Hall) that are more of a leader. Not one. 
 

Thats not to question their ability. I love Hall for example but it does reinforce the point that we’re perhaps overlooking this massive element when signing players. Not one of last summers signings has character. None. 5 softcocks. 

[Kanj]

4 minutes ago, Minhosa said:

Never a truer word spoken. 
 

In leadership qualities alone, forgetting experience/ability, if you look at the back four yesterday vs the final, there’s none of the three changes (Thiaw, Botman and Hall) that are more of a leader. Not one. 
 

Thats not to question their ability. I love Hall for example but it does reinforce the point that we’re perhaps overlooking this massive element when signing players. Not one of last summers signings has character. None. 5 softcocks. 

You have to balance the talent and youth with leadership and mentality. Not often does that come in one package so has to be linked together. Given we signed nobody for many windows and then signed 5 without that in the last summer we failed miserably there. The you add th Isak loss + the aging out and you see why we are where we are. Stomach punch.  

[Minhosa]

2 minutes ago, Kanj said:

You have to balance the talent and youth with leadership and mentality. Not often does that come in one package so has to be linked together. Given we signed nobody for many windows and then signed 5 without that in the last summer we failed miserably there. The you add th Isak loss + the aging out and you see why we are where we are. Stomach punch.  

Aye. With the benefit of hindsight, there’s about 90% of last summers decisions you wouldn’t make again. 
 

They have to learn from it this year. Given the volume of changes that will happen, perhaps up to 8 or 9 imho, some of them have to be players with spines unlike last summer. 
 

Bernardo Silva on a free is going to be an unbelievable pick up for someone. 

[Infinitely Content]

4 minutes ago, Minhosa said:

Never a truer word spoken. 
 

In leadership qualities alone, forgetting experience/ability, if you look at the back four yesterday vs the final, there’s none of the three changes (Thiaw, Botman and Hall) that are more of a leader. Not one. 
 

Thats not to question their ability. I love Hall for example but it does reinforce the point that we’re perhaps overlooking this massive element when signing players. Not one of last summers signings has character. None. 5 softcocks. 

The back 4 going into next season is a concern for me, a Thiaw and Botman partnership is too fragile for the reasons you've stated. We need a Milenkovic/Ruben Dias type character to come in, a proper Schar/Burn replacement. To lose Trippier from the squad and Schar/Burn, even Pope from the 11 is a tough situation that urgently needs addressing.

[The College Dropout]

11 minutes ago, Minhosa said:

Never a truer word spoken. 
 

In leadership qualities alone, forgetting experience/ability, if you look at the back four yesterday vs the final, there’s none of the three changes (Thiaw, Botman and Hall) that are more of a leader. Not one. 
 

Thats not to question their ability. I love Hall for example but it does reinforce the point that we’re perhaps overlooking this massive element when signing players. Not one of last summers signings has character. None. 5 softcocks. 

Also swap out a decent Nick Pope for Ramsdale. It's a lot of presence and command - gone.

 

Previously - while not perfect we landed a lot of our higher options like a Tonali who does bring that leadership. We've not built on that since, that was 3 years ago.

 

It's the same for quality. We lacked quality on the ball last season... still lack it this season.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

38 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

The decision to continuously spend larger sums on a few positions while neglecting the wider squad has been an absolute back breaker.

 

We actually went into this season with Dan Burn as the backup option at left back and Trippier as the backup option at right back. We still don't have an alternative option to Bruno, that can give anywhere near the type of creativity he brings. We still don't have a true defensive midfielder that can control a game to any extent. 

 

A weak squad playing a high intensity system like Howe prefers is just ridiculous and always has been. Or does he genuinely still see the likes of Burn and Trippier as viable options in the full back positions? That would be far more concerning. The money just hasn't been utilised effectively enough.

 

Ultimately I agree. The recruitment decisions will likely be his downfall. He seems more open to a different approach going forward now, but if the season ends on a really bad note, he might not get the chance as it may be too late.

 

I'm expecting to recruitment to be much better going forward (really we've only had one bad summer anyway) so I think it would be a massive shame if Howe wasn't allowed to work with that for next season. 

[Lotus]

If EH is staying then I think a lot of the players we’ve been linked within would be a mistake. Players learn best by playing and EH is not fond on playing younguns when there’s a more experienced (even if less talented) alternative. There’s also good reasons for that tbf.

I think we’d be better off going for players like Gardner from Everton, Thiago from Brentford. Any player who basically run his bollox off every week. Being good on the ball is overrated in a EH system imo. It’s all about legs. Have to outrun the opposition every week.

 

If we don’t get those type of players then I think Wilson is on borrowed time. 
 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 minute ago, Lotus said:

If EH is staying then I think a lot of the players we’ve been linked within would be a mistake. Players learn best by playing and EH is not fond on playing younguns when there’s a more experienced (even if less talented) alternative. There’s also good reasons for that tbf.

I think we’d be better off going for players like Gardner from Everton, Thiago from Brentford. Any player who basically run his bollox off every week. Being good on the ball is overrated in a EH system imo. It’s all about legs. Have to outrun the opposition every week.

 

If we don’t get those type of players then I think Wilson is on borrowed time. 
 

 

Well I would hope there's agreement in the recruitment team that these targets will be useful to the team. If there's not then it's not going to work anyway. 

[KaKa]

1 minute ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

I'm expecting to recruitment to be much better going forward (really we've only had one bad summer anyway) so I think it would be a massive shame if Howe wasn't allowed to work with that for next season. 

 

Don't think it was just last summer unfortunately. The squad build has been poor. Good players have come in but the money hasn't been spread out evenly enough across the squad over time.

 

As far as Howe goes, the remaining fixtures we now have are Bournemouth and Brighton who are both fighting for Europe and who are somewhat bogey teams at this point. Arsenal fighting for the league title. Forest and West Ham fighting to stay up and then Fulham who are well capable of beating us too.

 

If we get beat in the majority of those games with some particularly embarrassing score lines as well, it's going to be very bleak for him. 

[Ben]

33 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

I'm expecting to recruitment to be much better going forward (really we've only had one bad summer anyway) so I think it would be a massive shame if Howe wasn't allowed to work with that for next season. 

 

Maybe a more positive quote from Hopkinson last week might have helped Howe and calmed the situation down.

[Danh1]

Lee Ryder, normally a figure of ridicule and rightly so, has absolutely nailed it here for me.

 

 

[Nucasol]

6 minutes ago, Danh1 said:

Lee Ryder, normally a figure of ridicule and rightly so, has absolutely nailed it here for me.

 

 

Stunned into silence by Crayons Lee actually nailing it. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

17 minutes ago, Ben said:

 

Maybe a more positive quote from Hopkinson last week might have helped Howe and calmed the situation down.

Yeah agree but I guess he would’ve been criticised by some for backing Howe unconditionally and not understanding how bad a derby defeat is. 

[The College Dropout]

I’ll admit - loads of Eddie’s issues I’ve long been over with. 
 

For example - He always largely makes subs based on timing and scores. When we are good we somehow hold on or get goals to kill teams hopes. When it doesn’t - it doesn’t.  
 

The positive is we don’t substitute our way to defeat.  I’ve seen Emery do this - subs ruin the team and the game goes. The negative is he’ll watch the same thing unfold 6 times and do nothing until the other team scores.  
 

That is what it is.   
 

The bigger concern is the lack of football. I don’t expect revolution but it’s been clear to me for over 12 months we need to sign a ball player and we need to play a bit more. Theres been zero progress on this.  So I don’t like where Eddie’s head is tbh.  
 

But don’t trust the regime.  Sign some proper players first. 

[St1pe]

1 hour ago, 500bhp said:

 

We've progressively got worse in the league the longer the season has gone on. I was concerned months ago but people on here kept saying we are only 3 points off CL, then it was only 6 points and now its, well, fuck knows how far off we are. I was concerned after the away derby but was told it was a one off, and then the home derby which presumably was a two off! 

 

Then I was told we'll be OK once its one game per week. That worked yesterday against a team with a shit home record, who always lose if they go behind and who rested their best players. 

 

We make the same mistakes game after game. He doesn't know his best back four or his best front three. His subs are reactive not proactive. I still think he's a very good manager who can improve poor or average players with enough coaching time. Less sure he can improve good or very good players, or maybe that's a bit harsh. He'll leave Newcastle and do very well in his next job I've no doubt. But his journey here is over. I expect us to lose on Saturday (I'll be there giving 100% support to Howe and the players with no booing from me during the game) but won't be surprised if he resigns after. He looks well beaten and needs a rest and time to reset. He deserves to go on his terms before it gets really nasty. 

 

How bad does it need to get for you to think about changing the manager? 16th or 18th or worse. 

Honestly not sure what’s in that list of oh look at me I said we were shit points mean in relation to what I’ve posted. You’ve conveniently missed out another semi final, progression to the Champions League knock out rounds and bar some awful player errors some decent wins. We beat Man U and Chelsea back to back a few weeks back. 
 

Not really interested in going tit-for-tat though. I largely agree that this season has felt like a repeated kick to the knackers and some of it is Howe’s fault. 
 

My point is stop being a massive fanny (not specifically you but more so the fan base) take the shit season on the chin and back the guy for another window to see if he can sort it out because by Christ he deserves it. 

[TheInfiniteOdyssey]

40 minutes ago, Danh1 said:

Lee Ryder, normally a figure of ridicule and rightly so, has absolutely nailed it here for me.

 

 

I say this with no hint of irony, Lee Ryder has offered by far the most balanced, sound takes on NUFC all season.

[500bhp]

9 minutes ago, St1pe said:

Honestly not sure what’s in that list of oh look at me I said we were shit points mean in relation to what I’ve posted. You’ve conveniently missed out another semi final, progression to the Champions League knock out rounds and bar some awful player errors some decent wins. We beat Man U and Chelsea back to back a few weeks back. 
 

Not really interested in going tit-for-tat though. I largely agree that this season has felt like a repeated kick to the knackers and some of it is Howe’s fault. 
 

My point is stop being a massive fanny (not specifically you but more so the fan base) take the shit season on the chin and back the guy for another window to see if he can sort it out because by Christ he deserves it. 

 

If the people who are talking about replacing Howe are massive fannies, does that mean the people who want Howe to stay are massive dicks 😁😁😁. 

 

(No malice intended, just banter mate).

[Kid Icarus]

 

 

Only teasing before anyone takes it too seriously.

 

 

Edited April 13 by Kid Icarus

[Danh1]

24 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

 

 

Only teasing before anyone takes it too seriously.

 

 

 

 

I didn’t have it on my 2026 bingo card either I can assure you. 

 

 

Edited April 13 by Danh1

[Jesse Pinkman]

I really despise the anti-football kick off he does where we just punt it out for a throw in and give possession away the first kick of the game. Sets the tone and something even Tony Pulis would be embarrassed to do 10 years go but it’s seen as a lot more acceptable now. 
 

It’s something a lot of managers did start of the season but quickly realised it didn’t really work yet Howe persists with it.

 

Kinda encapsulates Howe’s mentality where he will just keep hammering plan A in the hope it works eventually. 
 

I think most the Eddie Howe out crowd just don’t believe he will truly revolutionise his system over the summer and I’ve personally not seen any evidence from Howe that he is willing to. Even at the weekend he was talking about just needing to execute better. 

 

 

Edited April 13 by Jesse Pinkman

[SUPERTOON]

2 minutes ago, Jesse Pinkman said:

I really despise the anti-football kick off he does where we just punt it out for a throw in and give possession away the first kick of the game. Sets the tone and something even Tony Pulis would be embarrassed to do 10 years go but it’s seen as a lot more acceptable now. 
 

It’s something a lot of managers did start of the season but quickly realised it didn’t really work yet Howe persists with it.

 

Kinda encapsulates Howe’s mentality where he will just keep hammering plan A in the hope it works eventually. 

 

 

 

Copied PSG with it i think. Not a fan either.