Eddie Howe

[Pata]

17 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

😀 shows how much attention I’ve been paying! To be honest, I did think we were out - no idea how the new format works. But yeah, when we’re out. Same point applies, just means we’ve got longer to wait for our form to turn the corner. 

 

Are you sure you're a Newcastle fan? What in the absolute fuck is this?

[Mikky]

1 minute ago, sempuki said:

Missed Bruno and Joelinton tonight. Will we ever win a game without Bruno? We are close to a one-man team.

I mean we were good for the first 35mins - excellent at times tbh 

 

Question is, was anyone confident we could win at 1-0 - I wasn’t - we just aren’t as resilient as previous years - all 4 goals we conceded were soft - then we make subs and everytime we do we look all over the place afterwards 

 

We can’t sustain a game plan for a full match - yes PSG in midweek - but that’s against a team who have played 90 plus games since last season with a small squad that looks totally out of legs 

[The Prophet]

6 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

For 99% of his time here he has played 4-3-3 and made subs on the 70 minute mark. He says ‘we have lots of different ways of playing’. Can anyone identify or name them? 
On the rare occasion he strays from his norms, we often see what looks like progress and the he reverts to type. 
He is what he is as a manager, and that has largely been great up until now but we look predictable, devoid of identity and limited tactically. 
I sincerely hope he can break his own mould and evolve but sadly, I don’t see it happening. 

 

I've read people say "4-3-3 is just the headline, there's more to tactics than that" but they're wrong.

 

Sure, we might rotate personnel, we might regularly alter our off the ball structure, we might have tried a few things with the full backs in attack of late, we might change the shape of the midfield three, we might be showing signs of improvement keeping the ball and the players might regularly talk about different patterns of play, but it's always 4-3-3!

[nufc4eva]

6 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

funny thing is what I noticed with him that little tweaks are made, but only become noticable after a time when we suddenly click and look unbeatable for a time. In 2021, people were saying that we looked worse than under Bruce, then suddenly we were extremely difficult to beat. In 2022-23, we looked like we were falling off the cliff befor ehte Cup Final, and suddenly we looked like a bull in a china shop for the remainder of the season. In 23-24, we were the most atrocious I've seen us bar this season in December, then suddnely looked like a different side going into the final stretch. Last year, we were hopeless in November and early December, and then looked like world beaters for awhile (that one was more obvious because of the Tonali switch).  

 

We've been mediocre for large stretches this year, but almost everyone has. And we're still in most of the competitions (although the Carabao is a nearly impossible tall order). It's a really weird season.

So it's a consistent pattern then, but to progress we need to not wait over half a season to get there. The football we have played all season has been abysmal and any threat we have possessed we often look like we need 10 chances to score 1 goal. I get Howe does tactically improve the team over time but then it all resets by start of the next season and I think formation, tactics or the players he wanted hasn't created a cohesive team that knows how to win games consistently and I don't think it's unfair to say that. Some of our players look to have gone backwards massively.

[nufc4eva]

2 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

I've read people say "4-3-3 is just the headline, there's more to tactics than that" but they're wrong.

 

Sure, we might rotate personnel, we might regularly alter our off the ball structure, we might have tried a few things with the full backs in attack of late, we might change the shape of the midfield three, we might be showing signs of improvement keeping the ball and the players might regularly talk about different patterns of play, but it's always 4-3-3!

And 433 is not really working for teams on this league now. 4231 seems to be the go-to with a few outliers. Arsenal play 433 but have the team to do so and I don't think we do. 

[Displayname]

10 minutes ago, sempuki said:

Missed Bruno and Joelinton tonight. Will we ever win a game without Bruno? We are close to a one-man team.

Played our best match of the season 3 days ago without him though.

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, nufc4eva said:

So it's a consistent pattern then, but to progress we need to not wait over half a season to get there. The football we have played all season has been abysmal and any threat we have possessed we often look like we need 10 chances to score 1 goal. I get Howe does tactically improve the team over time but then it all resets by start of the next season and I think formation, tactics or the players he wanted hasn't created a cohesive team that knows how to win games consistently and I don't think it's unfair to say that. Some of our players look to have gone backwards massively.

until this season he has dealt with a ludicrously small squad that was punching above its financial weight by a significant margin though. And even that is not totally untainted becasue we lost our world class focal point, which has totally hamstrung us. So we really have one less-tainted partial data point so far, and there are still plenty of games left.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Started the game really well, took the lead with a decent goal but then individual errors and we were suddenly 2-1 down, there's just something about Anfield for us

 

We started the second half well but felt after about 10-15 mins it went flat again and I was saying we needed to change things, whether that was tactically or with subs but he waited until they took the lead. But then can he be blamed for Thiaw just gifting them the ball?

 

Always knew this run of games was going to be rough, think the Howe outers/doubters will be active and have a lot to say because I'm not expecting a lot of results to go our way in February 

 

Still fully behind Howe 100% and he absolutely is the manager to start next season for me 

 

[Mattoon]

We're in 4 competitions, all in February, Howe wants to win it all and who can blame him? But how can you integrate that many players and compete in that many games through to February without any time on the training pitch?

 

I'd love for us to be in the CL again next season, facing the best teams, showing our mettle on the big stage but we're spread too thin, we don't have the resources to be in 4 competitions in February, plain and simple! The Carabao already looks lost but Howe will still have his best teams out there fighting tooth and nail and I can't help but admire that.

 

Bookmark this if you like, but the seasons end, when all the comps are done and we only have the league, we will be smashing teams left and right again.

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, Mattoon said:

We're in 4 competitions, all in February, Howe wants to win it all and who can blame him? But how can you integrate that many players and compete in that many games through to February without any time on the training pitch?

 

I'd love for us to be in the CL again next season, facing the best teams, showing our mettle on the big stage but we're spread too thin, we don't have the resources to be in 4 competitions in February, plain and simple! The Carabao already looks lost but Howe will still have his best teams out there fighting tooth and nail and I can't help but admire that.

 

Bookmark this if you like, but the seasons end, when all the comps are done and we only have the league, we will be smashing teams left and right again.

It's not responsible for everything, but that preseason was fucking disastrous.

[Wolfcastle]

We played fine there under Gullit. 2-0 up, they get a scandalous red-card in their favour (if you can believe such a thing) and then loads of spawny deflections later they've won 4-2.

Played fine in that game but in the bigger context it didn't mean we weren't pretty naff. Same I fear applies now. Playing well for a half there doesn't begin to wash away the standard flat performances and results over the course of the season to date.

 

 

Edited January 31 by Wolfcastle

[Kid Icarus]

16 minutes ago, Colos Short and Curlies said:

 

I think it's possible to have consistency in the league in both our positions whilst still accepting a drop off.

 

Leeds away, Sunderland away, West Ham away (I can go on). Those performances can't be put down to the Champions league and they are the difference to entering the final stretch competing for top 6 and looking at mid table.

 

Anyone expecting progress in league position in our first couple of cl seasons is mental, but we also shouldn't expect such a drop in consistency 

Leeds away we had no striker, Sunderland and West Ham was in a poor run of form, no doubt, We've been inconsistent all season, but if you want a bit of a look outward, we're still near the too of the form table, that's how inconsistent everyone is. 

 

 

Edited January 31 by Kid Icarus

[Mattoon]

Just now, Vinny Green Balls said:

It's not responsible for everything, but that preseason was fucking disastrous.

 

We were royally screwed, by players, by Liverpool, by the rat and finally by DR Congo, chefs kiss. It's not the only thing but its important and one of a slew of mitigating factors to a tumultuous season.

[nufc4eva]

Just now, Vinny Green Balls said:

until this season he has dealt with a ludicrously small squad that was punching above its financial weight by a significant margin though. And even that is not totally untainted becasue we lost our world class focal point, which has totally hamstrung us. So we really have one less-tainted partial data point so far, and there are still plenty of games left.

We lost 1 player, doesn't really cover the way we play though, I could get it if we just didn't score goals but the whole setup looks off. He probably didn't need to spend 250m on players to send us backwards. The way we play isn't evolving, looks all over the shop and tactically doesn't really work

[TheBrownBottle]

3 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

until this season he has dealt with a ludicrously small squad that was punching above its financial weight by a significant margin though. And even that is not totally untainted becasue we lost our world class focal point, which has totally hamstrung us. So we really have one less-tainted partial data point so far, and there are still plenty of games left.

Agreed - I think any assessment of that nature has to be at the end of the season.  It has to be done ‘in the round’.  At present we have no indication of where we’ll finish, nor how far into the cups we’ll go.

 

I am worried about the away performances generally, though - that needs fixing irrespective of wider context.  

[Holmesy]

7 minutes ago, Pata said:

 

Are you sure you're a Newcastle fan? What in the absolute fuck is this?

Honestly mate, my interest in football in general has been on the decline for a while, and with it my interest in us. I’m still a fan but nowhere near as invested as I used to be. The protection of the cartel is sickening, VAR is a nightmare, the officiating is corrupt, football is generally formulaic, the players are media trained pussies, and I have to say, we’re boring as fuck to watch. I never used to miss a game, now I can take it or leave it and catch the result later. Age is definitely playing its part but this era of football is the worst there has ever been imo. 

[Geordie Ahmed]

1 minute ago, Mattoon said:

We're in 4 competitions, all in February, Howe wants to win it all and who can blame him? But how can you integrate that many players and compete in that many games through to February without any time on the training pitch?

 

I'd love for us to be in the CL again next season, facing the best teams, showing our mettle on the big stage but we're spread too thin, we don't have the resources to be in 4 competitions in February, plain and simple! The Carabao already looks lost but Howe will still have his best teams out there fighting tooth and nail and I can't help but admire that.

 

Bookmark this if you like, but the seasons end, when all the comps are done and we only have the league, we will be smashing teams left and right again.

 

His absolute desire to win is what's hurting him

 

Say we got knocked out of the League Cup to Spurs I think we'd have better performances/results in the league and there would be less criticism of him

 

I don't think we can cope with 4 competitions, especially if we don't get favorable draws in the FA Cup, something has to give and maybe that's something Howe needs to do

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, nufc4eva said:

We lost 1 player, doesn't really cover the way we play though, I could get it if we just didn't score goals but the whole setup looks off. He probably didn't need to spend 250m on players to send us backwards. The way we play isn't evolving, looks all over the shop and tactically doesn't really work

1 player who was world class.

 

And you missed my point. Many have complained every season that we look tactically over the shop until we don't. Yeah, of course I hope he can get us being more consistent. But sometimes his tweeks probably take a bit to bear fruit. And there are valid reasons every season why we have struggled at times. But his overall form table since he's been here doesn't lie.

[Mikky]

5 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

once again, he's young and new to these competitions. We seriously don't have enough data points to know if it's beyond his level.

But that’s ultimately his remit - At least Europa Lg every season and runs in the cup - it’s a heck of a lot of pressure on him - but that comes with the territory - that’s why I said you can’t be sentimental in these situations - as much as we all like him and I love what he’s achieved - there are things I haven’t liked - signings, tactics, team selections, in game management - I need to be seeing things that make me positive but I don’t - it’s the same every week 

 

Maybe this is the residual impact of a shitshow that was the summer - that’s on the clubs head, but these were his signings and then have by in large been poor 

[nufc4eva]

If he goes and magically turns over a 2-0 deficit to City this week I may get it but if he plays full strength, we lose, players knackered and lose to Brentford on Sat or a shit draw then questions should be asked. I would have accepted not competing in carabou this season with champions league and prioritise the league and getting through that.

[Toonjam88]

I’m not currently a Howe out but the fact you can’t question him recently because it makes you not a fan pisses me off. I think there are loads of questions to be asked. Why sign Ramsey, Elanga and Wissa for £140 million when we have spent millions on a scouting network who would surely get better players for less (and before anyone says that wasn’t Howe, this Summer was a Howe window) Questions need to be asked and yes he won our first trophy in decades and he will be a legend but fuck me don’t question people being a fan for asking those questions makes you less of a fan as your happy with the status quo. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, Holmesy said:

Honestly mate, my interest in football in general has been on the decline for a while, and with it my interest in us. I’m still a fan but nowhere near as invested as I used to be. The protection of the cartel is sickening, VAR is a nightmare, the officiating is corrupt, football is generally formulaic, the players are media trained pussies, and I have to say, we’re boring as fuck to watch. I never used to miss a game, now I can take it or leave it and catch the result later. Age is definitely playing its part but this era of football is the worst there has ever been imo. 

unfortunately I feel you here, man. In some twisted ways, it would have been nice to still have Ashley so I could just check out completely. The sport was always prone to corruption, but it's on another level, and represents the entire state of the world.

[Mattoon]

Just now, Geordie Ahmed said:

 

His absolute desire to win is what's hurting him

 

Say we got knocked out of the League Cup to Spurs I think we'd have better performances/results in the league and there would be less criticism of him

 

I don't think we can cope with 4 competitions, especially if we don't get favorable draws in the FA Cup, something has to give and maybe that's something Howe needs to do

He does, but he won't, its what makes him who he is, never give up, never give in, like I said he'll still go full strength at the Etihad and he'll still want his players to run themselves into the ground for the win and yes it will continue to be detrimental to the league. He won't change, I just wish he had the equality of resources to show he can do it his way.

[Mikky]

8 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

until this season he has dealt with a ludicrously small squad that was punching above its financial weight by a significant margin though. And even that is not totally untainted becasue we lost our world class focal point, which has totally hamstrung us. So we really have one less-tainted partial data point so far, and there are still plenty of games left.

The summer was the clubs fault and not on EH (he should not have been in the place to  lead) - it’s hurt us massively because it was all over the show and not in any way strategic like it should have been 

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, Toonjam88 said:

I’m not currently a Howe out but the fact you can’t question him recently because it makes you not a fan pisses me off. I think there are loads of questions to be asked. Why sign Ramsey, Elanga and Wissa for £140 million when we have spent millions on a scouting network who would surely get better players for less (and before anyone says that wasn’t Howe, this Summer was a Howe window) Questions need to be asked and yes he won our first trophy in decades and he will be a legend but fuck me don’t question people being a fan for asking those questions makes you less of a fan as your happy with the status quo. 

we absolutely should be questioning some of his decisions. Some may be too early, but others are dead on. I don't know why he take sso long to make changes. I've brought this up before, but Steve Kerr has done some baffling things with Golden State, but it's hard to argue with the success of both coaches (Kerr is obviously on a different level), Golden State was hopeless without Curry, except when they had Durant..