Paul Merson has been talking about Newcastle United and Eddie Howe.
The former England and Arsenal player speaking as United approach their 51st match of the season.
Paul Merson giving his opinion with NUFC having eight Premier League games remaining.
The 50th Newcastle United match of the season came on Wednesday at the Nou Camp, as United exited the Champions League at the last 16 stage.
Paul Merson giving his view: “I tell you what, up to the last minute of the first half against Barcelona at Camp Nou, Newcastle were really good. And to get blown away like that in the second half, it was like they ran out of legs! To be fair, Newcastle were really good in three out of four halves against Barcelona across the two legs. Even though the aggregate score reads 8-3, they were much better than Chelsea who lost 8-2 to PSG.”
I think that is spot on, from the moment that penalty was awarded just before half-time, it became a bit of a horror show.
However, that doesn’t alter the fact that Newcastle deserved to win at St James’ Park against Barcelona and then arguably deserved to have led at half-time on Wednesday. Newcastle played really well in that first half and caused Barcelona plenty of problems in their defensive third, that only undone by the first goal where two United players slipped, then a free-kick that was unbelievably poorly defended.
Paul Merson adding: “Eddie Howe is a top manager. I don’t think Newcastle can do any better than him at the moment. They should stick with him.”
Once again, Merson spot on.
Eddie Howe was massively undermined by the way Alexander Isak behaved last summer and the abysmal failure of the Newcastle United owners to give him the support he needed ahead of the season.
The NUFC owners woeful in their handling of the Isak situation and after Eddie Howe told them how vital it was to get his targets in as soon as possible, it ended up that only one of the eventual half dozen signings had any pre-season with their new teammates. Plus of course the lack of decisive action (not helped by having no CEO or Sporting Director working last summer!) from the NUFC owners, when it came to timely action in signing Howe’s top targets, especially strikers Joao Pedro and Hugo Ekitike.
Paul Merson giving his view to Sportskeeda: “The main problem for Newcastle has been their midfield three not being available together for most of the season. Obviously, summer signings Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have been a long way off replacing Alexander Isak as well. I was not on board with the move for Wissa from the beginning. To spend that amount of money on a player based on just one season, I couldn’t see how it made sense”.
The number of injuries has been crazy this season and of course Bruno Guimaraes not back until after the international break, whilst fingers crossed Sandro Tonali will be okay after having been forced off at Barcelona.
Turning to more immediate matters and Newcastle United looking to make it three Premier League wins in a row and keep climbing the table, following the brilliant wins (with 10 men) against Man U, then away at Chelsea.
Paul Merson predicting a 2-0 win in Sunday’s derby, Eddie Howe and United to continue moving up the Premier League: “Sunderland are nowhere near the team they were at the start of the season. So if I had to pick a team to win the derby this weekend, it will be Newcastle.”