Eddie Howe

[Kilcline]

6 minutes ago, Danh1 said:

Personally don’t believe for one minute we’re interested in Mourinho. If we do replace Howe it’ll be for someone who’s happy not to have control over transfers and the like imo. 
 

Seems with that Suggs mush and Wilson coming in we’ll be using data more when it comes to our recruitment 

 

Mourinho is yesterday’s man. 

Explains Woltemade and his baggy trousers if nothing else 

[Strawberry]

2 minutes ago, Mills and Boon said:

 

Who are the world class players we've missed out on then? Joao Pedro, Mbueno, Sesko and that?

They are by far superior players compare to what 220 million got us.

[Joe1984]

3 minutes ago, Robster said:

Not agreeing but these supposed not world class players, are now world class. I wonder what outside influence made that happen.

Liverpool style inhalers no doubt... 😄

[Strawberry]

4 minutes ago, Mills and Boon said:

 

Who are the world class players we've missed out on then? Joao Pedro, Mbueno, Sesko and that?

They are by far superior players compare to what 220 million got us.

[Groundhog63]

41 minutes ago, Strawberry said:

Would you think from all the players who rejected Howe last summer wold they say the same to Mourinho?

At least one would agree to come. Howe is nobody for elite players. PIF also know this.

Are you for real? Unless the Special One was prepared to bump up their weekly bung by about £100k each out of his own pocket, then no. They wouldn't fucking sign.

Loon 😂😂😂

[KaKa]

They will not bring in Mourinho. It just wouldn't make any kind of sense.

 

They are trying to finally move onto a model where they bring in more affordable emerging players to make up the squad, and so will likely be after someone that has shown they will play these sorts of players and can coach them up to develop further. This is everything that Mourinho is not.

 

If the club was in a position to go after more established players and was trying to win now, then perhaps they would have considered him then.

[Mills and Boon]

1 minute ago, Strawberry said:

They are by far superior players compare to what 220 million got us.

 

I mean I'm not for one moment suggesting that Wissa and shan tache are world class. But neither are any of the ones we missed out on. I think only Ekitike has even got the potential in him.

 

I think it's a moot point anyway. I don't think we're in the market for world class talent, more the sort that can come in and improve. I don't think Jose coming in suddenly bumps up our reputation to be snapping up targets from under Real Madrid's nose etc

[Strawberry]

Speaking on this week's episode of Inside the Toon, The Sun's head of sport and Sunday edition co-host Shaun Custis, who supports Newcastle, backed Mourinho for the job.

"I still feel that would be the best appointment for building the club up," Custis said.

"He won European trophies at Roma, and he won a European trophy at Manchester United.

"What is the risk? We have been relegated, and it has been 100 years since we last won the top-flight. It's not going to destroy the club.

"It puts Newcastle United where we want to be and recognised around the world."

 

Make it make sense lads. We are no where we need to be. I dont care about Jose but it is time let Howe to go and PIF to bring world class manager. It is also important to note the new SCR rules doest have any cap on managers wage so we can hire anyone elite.

 

 

Edited April 15 by Strawberry

[The Prophet]

2 minutes ago, Strawberry said:

Speaking on this week's episode of Inside the Toon, The Sun's head of sport and Sunday edition co-host Shaun Custis, who supports Newcastle, backed Mourinho for the job.

"I still feel that would be the best appointment for building the club up," Custis said.

"He won European trophies at Roma, and he won a European trophy at Manchester United.

"What is the risk? We have been relegated, and it has been 100 years since we last won the top-flight. It's not going to destroy the club.

"It puts Newcastle United where we want to be and recognised around the world."

 

Make it make sense lads. We are no where we need to be. I dont care about Jose but it is time how Howe to go and PIF to bring world class manager. It is also important to note the new SCR rules doest have any cap on managers wage so we can hire anyone elite.

 

Who have you got in mind? There can't be a huge pool of world class managers about.

[Mills and Boon]

When's Joey Barton due out of clink?

[KaKa]

1 minute ago, Strawberry said:

Speaking on this week's episode of Inside the Toon, The Sun's head of sport and Sunday edition co-host Shaun Custis, who supports Newcastle, backed Mourinho for the job.

"I still feel that would be the best appointment for building the club up," Custis said.

"He won European trophies at Roma, and he won a European trophy at Manchester United.

"What is the risk? We have been relegated, and it has been 100 years since we last won the top-flight. It's not going to destroy the club.

"It puts Newcastle United where we want to be and recognised around the world."

 

Make it make sense lads. We are no where we need to be. I dont care about Jose but it is time how Howe to go and PIF to bring world class manager. It is also important to note the new SCR rules doest have any cap on managers wage so we can hire anyone elite.

 

Mourinho doesn't make sense for where the team currently is as far as the kinds of players he'd have at his disposal, and the players that they can afford to bring in to build up the squad.

 

If they want a big name it would have to be someone younger with a big reputation when they played, that is still on their way up, but that has had some success already and that can grow further with the club going forward.

 

The likes of Xavi and Alonso, and perhaps Fabregas.

[Strawberry]

2 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

Who have you got in mind? There can't be a huge pool of world class managers about.

 Inzaghi would be my choice.

[The Prophet]

5 minutes ago, Strawberry said:

 Inzaghi would be my choice.

 

Not a bad shout, did well at Lazio even before moving to Inter.

[Robster]

Shaun Custis  
Utter prick. Does he support NUFC like Steve Bruce supports NUFC ?

[RS]

Any forriner is better than English 

[Strawberry]

Published 10 February 2026 8:08am GMT

Something needs to change at Newcastle United. That change is not a new manager. But it is the current manager changing his tactics to allow Newcastle to play more like a big team.

Following Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Brentford, there was an emotional response from Eddie Howe. The 48-year-old is an emotional character, which some at the club might find ironic given he is also regarded as sometimes being aloof.

But Howe did publicly question himself. On Monday, ahead of the crucial Premier League fixture away to Tottenham Hotspur, he clarified he still felt he was the right man for the job, but there was also the kicker that he would quit if he no longer believed that.

Absolutely no one at Newcastle wants that to happen. The view is, managers like Howe do not come around very often, and that he is not only talented but very hard-working and dedicated. He has the full backing of everyone, including the club’s owners. It is a great base to relaunch from and has been well-earned.

Howe’s response to pressure? Work even harder and while he was undoubtedly feeling raw after the loss to Brentford, which was met with boos inside St James’ Park and left Newcastle down in 12th place, it is said he is now calmer and totally focused on improving the situation.

But here is the point. There is a debate about how the team play, which is mirrored by how opposition managers regard Howe’s Newcastle. Howe is aware of it and is trying to adapt. Tactical changes are being worked on at the training ground.

Howe is thought to be working on tactical changes in training Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA

Newcastle still go out like underdogs

There first needs to be context. The fact is when Howe was appointed in November 2021, Newcastle were 18th, five points from safety, and staring at the prospect of relegation.

They had the January transfer window – the first opportunity to spend money following the Saudi Arabian-led takeover – and used it well. In came Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimarães, Dan Burn and Chris Wood, with Matt Targett on loan. Wood did not work out, but his signing damaged Burnley, who went down instead as Newcastle hauled themselves up to 11th.

The rest, as they say, is history: Champions League football, winning a first trophy since 1969 and consistently improving the squad. Good times. But one thing did not, really, change. And that was Howe’s approach to the way the team played.

Psychologically, it can be argued, Newcastle still go out like underdogs. They press high, they run hard, they get in and amongst the opposition, they try to get the crowd going. They rely on out-of-possession intensity, man-for-man aggression and running. A lot of running.

To execute this, a manager needs a big squad, to avoid running out of steam. To have two players for every position. Newcastle argue they have that, but whether they are all good enough is a moot point while they have had to navigate the difficulties of profitability and sustainability rules. Injuries have also hit hard in key areas such as defence.

Opposition managers have identified it. In the Champions League last September, there was one of the most visible examples as Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s head coach, stood in his technical area and urged his players to just keep the ball so Newcastle would burn themselves out. They did and Barcelona won 2-1. It was no disgrace for Newcastle and one of those goals was an outstanding strike from Marcus Rashford (who scored both). But it was still a loss.

‘If you keep trying to play like that then you have to recruit properly’

In a sense, Howe turned Newcastle into a Geordie Atlético Madrid – even if he is a far different character than Diego Simeone, the ultimate big-dog underdog. At times it almost feels like a throwback style of play, although even Simeone would struggle with it in the Premier League, where the football is more physical and more athletic than La Liga.

But even Simeone resorts to defending deeper at times while managers like Oliver Glasner and Antonio Conte sit back and counter-attack, which requires less energy and a lot less physical capacity.

Howe? It is, as one manager put it, “all guns blazing and if you keep trying to play like that then you have to recruit properly and make sure you are ready for injuries”.

No one doubts that Howe has done a brilliant job. But is it sustainable to play the way he has asked Newcastle to play if you are in charge of a team who want to compete on all fronts and have as many matches as they do?

So maybe there has to be an adaptation. Newcastle’s first-choice midfield is Bruno, Sandro Tonali and, probably, Lewis Miley, moving on from the running power of Joelinton. That is a very good trio, among the best in the Premier League, who are all comfortable in possession and want to play the ball through the “thirds”, as the coaches say. They are capable of gaining that level of control through ball possession as well as running power.

Sandro Tonali (right) and Bruno Guimaraes are among the best midfielders in the Premier League Credit: John Thys/Getty Images

The test for Howe is can he adapt as a coach, having helped take Newcastle such a long way already? The level of determination he shows, and his work ethic, suggests so. And it will be fascinating to see if there are tactical differences in the way Newcastle play in the coming weeks – maybe even against Tottenham – and whether what has happened actually emboldens Howe.

When, as a manager, a certain way of doing things has brought success, it is not easy to come away from that. But it is almost as if Howe needed this bad run to be braver and make changes, which it looks like he will do.

It is hardly a crisis and the fan noise, although not ignored, is certainly not shrill. It does not help that the new players – Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa in particular – have struggled to find their feet. But, again, that is not unusual with Howe. It takes time to adapt working for him and Anthony Gordon, not enjoying his best season now but in the England squad, and Lewis Hall, who may follow him, are examples of that.

If Newcastle had beaten Aston Villa in late January they would have gone fourth in the league, they were in the semi-finals of the League Cup, fourth round of the FA Cup and doing well in the Champions League. That was only two weeks ago. The big dip in form has come at the wrong time, but football can be fickle. It can quickly change. The question is: can Howe?

[Strawberry]

Just now, Strawberry said:

Published 10 February 2026 8:08am GMT

Something needs to change at Newcastle United. That change is not a new manager. But it is the current manager changing his tactics to allow Newcastle to play more like a big team.

Following Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Brentford, there was an emotional response from Eddie Howe. The 48-year-old is an emotional character, which some at the club might find ironic given he is also regarded as sometimes being aloof.

But Howe did publicly question himself. On Monday, ahead of the crucial Premier League fixture away to Tottenham Hotspur, he clarified he still felt he was the right man for the job, but there was also the kicker that he would quit if he no longer believed that.

Absolutely no one at Newcastle wants that to happen. The view is, managers like Howe do not come around very often, and that he is not only talented but very hard-working and dedicated. He has the full backing of everyone, including the club’s owners. It is a great base to relaunch from and has been well-earned.

Howe’s response to pressure? Work even harder and while he was undoubtedly feeling raw after the loss to Brentford, which was met with boos inside St James’ Park and left Newcastle down in 12th place, it is said he is now calmer and totally focused on improving the situation.

But here is the point. There is a debate about how the team play, which is mirrored by how opposition managers regard Howe’s Newcastle. Howe is aware of it and is trying to adapt. Tactical changes are being worked on at the training ground.

Howe is thought to be working on tactical changes in training Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA

Newcastle still go out like underdogs

There first needs to be context. The fact is when Howe was appointed in November 2021, Newcastle were 18th, five points from safety, and staring at the prospect of relegation.

They had the January transfer window – the first opportunity to spend money following the Saudi Arabian-led takeover – and used it well. In came Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimarães, Dan Burn and Chris Wood, with Matt Targett on loan. Wood did not work out, but his signing damaged Burnley, who went down instead as Newcastle hauled themselves up to 11th.

The rest, as they say, is history: Champions League football, winning a first trophy since 1969 and consistently improving the squad. Good times. But one thing did not, really, change. And that was Howe’s approach to the way the team played.

Psychologically, it can be argued, Newcastle still go out like underdogs. They press high, they run hard, they get in and amongst the opposition, they try to get the crowd going. They rely on out-of-possession intensity, man-for-man aggression and running. A lot of running.

To execute this, a manager needs a big squad, to avoid running out of steam. To have two players for every position. Newcastle argue they have that, but whether they are all good enough is a moot point while they have had to navigate the difficulties of profitability and sustainability rules. Injuries have also hit hard in key areas such as defence.

Opposition managers have identified it. In the Champions League last September, there was one of the most visible examples as Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s head coach, stood in his technical area and urged his players to just keep the ball so Newcastle would burn themselves out. They did and Barcelona won 2-1. It was no disgrace for Newcastle and one of those goals was an outstanding strike from Marcus Rashford (who scored both). But it was still a loss.

‘If you keep trying to play like that then you have to recruit properly’

In a sense, Howe turned Newcastle into a Geordie Atlético Madrid – even if he is a far different character than Diego Simeone, the ultimate big-dog underdog. At times it almost feels like a throwback style of play, although even Simeone would struggle with it in the Premier League, where the football is more physical and more athletic than La Liga.

But even Simeone resorts to defending deeper at times while managers like Oliver Glasner and Antonio Conte sit back and counter-attack, which requires less energy and a lot less physical capacity.

Howe? It is, as one manager put it, “all guns blazing and if you keep trying to play like that then you have to recruit properly and make sure you are ready for injuries”.

No one doubts that Howe has done a brilliant job. But is it sustainable to play the way he has asked Newcastle to play if you are in charge of a team who want to compete on all fronts and have as many matches as they do?

So maybe there has to be an adaptation. Newcastle’s first-choice midfield is Bruno, Sandro Tonali and, probably, Lewis Miley, moving on from the running power of Joelinton. That is a very good trio, among the best in the Premier League, who are all comfortable in possession and want to play the ball through the “thirds”, as the coaches say. They are capable of gaining that level of control through ball possession as well as running power.

Sandro Tonali (right) and Bruno Guimaraes are among the best midfielders in the Premier League Credit: John Thys/Getty Images

The test for Howe is can he adapt as a coach, having helped take Newcastle such a long way already? The level of determination he shows, and his work ethic, suggests so. And it will be fascinating to see if there are tactical differences in the way Newcastle play in the coming weeks – maybe even against Tottenham – and whether what has happened actually emboldens Howe.

When, as a manager, a certain way of doing things has brought success, it is not easy to come away from that. But it is almost as if Howe needed this bad run to be braver and make changes, which it looks like he will do.

It is hardly a crisis and the fan noise, although not ignored, is certainly not shrill. It does not help that the new players – Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa in particular – have struggled to find their feet. But, again, that is not unusual with Howe. It takes time to adapt working for him and Anthony Gordon, not enjoying his best season now but in the England squad, and Lewis Hall, who may follow him, are examples of that.

If Newcastle had beaten Aston Villa in late January they would have gone fourth in the league, they were in the semi-finals of the League Cup, fourth round of the FA Cup and doing well in the Champions League. That was only two weeks ago. The big dip in form has come at the wrong time, but football can be fickle. It can quickly change. The question is: can Howe?

This Article from Burt in February sums Eddie perfectly. Lovely man and legend for the club but time for us to part ways.

[r0cafella]

3 hours ago, SUPERTOON said:

Mental if so, im done if Mourinho gets it tbh.

José is like worst case  

 

Appointing him is an admission we know absolutely fuck all. 

[Kid Icarus]

Listening to the Athletic podcast and Ornstein seems to be saying that the club is committed to Howe and that the bigger thing to worry about is that the project at ownership level is looking directionless (surprise, surprise) and that we'll probably lose one or two of Gordon, Tonali, Livramento with little indication that we can replace them with as good or better players.

 

 

Edited April 15 by Kid Icarus

[NUFC91]

6 hours ago, Kid Icarus said:

Listening to the Athletic podcast and Ornstein seems to be saying that the club is committed to Howe and that the bigger thing to worry about is that the project at ownership level is looking directionless (surprise, surprise) and that we'll probably lose one or two of Gordon, Tonali, Livramento with little indication that we can replace them with as good or better players.

 

 

 

 

I don't get how there is little indication that we can't sign a good or better player, looking beyond last summer we made some solid signings.

 

Let's be honest as much as Paul Mitchell gets slagged off he had a track record of signing some players for small fees that then sold for good money, even at Leipzig he signed Cunha, Konate, and Laimer who now plays for Bayern to name a few. Who knows what happened there but was it naive to move him on until after the summer?

 

It just seems there's this narrative that we can't sign good players after the summer, but I think lessons will be learned from that transfer window.

 

 

Edited April 16 by NUFC91

[Chicken Dancer]

2 hours ago, NUFC91 said:

 

I don't get how there is little indication that we can't sign a good or better player, looking beyond last summer we made some solid signings.

 

Let's be honest as much as Paul Mitchell gets slagged off he had a track record of signing some players for small fees that then sold for good money, even at Leipzig he signed Cunha, Konate, and Laimer who now plays for Bayern to name a few. Who knows what happened there but was it naive to move him on until after the summer?

 

It just seems there's this narrative that we can't sign good players after the summer, but I think lessons will be learned from that transfer window.

 

 

 

Think the top and bottom of it is that there were people at the club who didn’t like his comments about the transfer policy being unfit for purpose. He wasn’t wrong of course, but suppose he could have said these things privately. (He probably did though)

 

Don’t think Howe will ever be able to successfully work with a DOF long term, which is just based on a personal hunch.  

[JP]

Well known that Gordon is an absolute fav for Eddie, if club is open to selling I'd be leaning more towards the club also changing manager.

 

[Collage]

Mourinho would talk more about sir Bobby than Carver did to hide the fact he wasn't fit for purpose.

[TRon]

8 hours ago, Kid Icarus said:

Listening to the Athletic podcast and Ornstein seems to be saying that the club is committed to Howe and that the bigger thing to worry about is that the project at ownership level is looking directionless (surprise, surprise) and that we'll probably lose one or two of Gordon, Tonali, Livramento with little indication that we can replace them with as good or better players.

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly, despite my criticisms of Howe, I think the club will do everything they can to give Howe another crack at it next season. They could go for someone else like Iraola or Glasner ( just examples off the top of my head) but they won't have the same commitment to the club that Howe does. 

 

Howe won't leave unless he feels it's no longer his club. I don't think any replacement would have that attachment. 

 

That said, I'm still not convinced his football style will work for a team playing CL football every season. 

[Yorkie]

31 minutes ago, JP said:

Well known that Gordon is an absolute fav for Eddie, if club is open to selling I'd be leaning more towards the club also changing manager.

 

 

Howe, thankfully, seems to understand more than anyone else associated with the entire club that the financial regulations are horrendously imbalanced, and that we're cornered into selling. He desperately wanted to keep Anderson but accepted the sale.