The knives are out over who is to blame for the Newcastle United demise.
The Eddie Howe resignation only confirms what we have all been thinking.
The shocking Newcastle United pre-season performance in the hammering at Bristol City, hot on the heels of a dour 1-1 draw at non-league Gateshead, should have already raised alarm bells in the ears of most Black and White supporters. Or should I say now to be Black and White with Blue piping supporters.
Newcastle United are staring at relegation. Eddie Howe knows that too.
Eddie could see how loud those bells will be ringing should Newcastle United lose 4-0 in their opening Premier League game against Liverpool at St James’ Park and follow it with a 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Stadium against Spurs. You can also add a few decibels to those pealing bells if Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali manage to find the net!
Newcastle United were undoubtably streets ahead of Spurs in terms of their maturity and development as a Premier League side and on their best day they could take it to Liverpool as they did so admirably in the Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle and Tottenham, however, appear to have swapped identities over the pre-season. Newcastle United now seriously staring at a relegation battle whilst Spurs are viewing the lofty heights of a top six finish. The season is a mere three weeks away. Watch this space. The metamorphosis of each team is about to unfold!
Fans have heard for weeks that the Newcastle United leadership is all on the same page. But what if everyone hasn’t read the script and they are on the wrong page? Well now I guess we know. Eddie Howe is not on the same page.
Losing your leaders such as Kieran Trippier, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, and now allegedly the captain, Bruno Guimaraes, wanting to move must have a devastating psychological impact on those who remain onboard, including the manager.
What is the message? Gordon and Tonali and almost certainly Guimaraes are effectively saying we no longer believe in this project. Things look better elsewhere.
Well Eddie Howe has seen that things look better elsewhere too!
Ironically, it appeared fine to offer young European untried players lucrative contracts, of course they will grab at the opportunity. But how can they possibly fill the void that your departing leaders have left behind?
The vision may make economic sense but it looks like football suicide. What happens to these young stars when they are naively exposed to the heat of the Premier League? Some of them have barely played in a handful of games. What happens to their star potential when their confidence is shot to pieces? Ask Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa for the answer to that question!
It was imperative that Newcastle United replaced their departing leaders. Eddie Howe must have seen that. Don’t allow the economic decision makers to define your football team. The Newcastle United hierarchy should have been looking first and foremost at future leadership. It has been clear for weeks now that Bruno Guimaraes will be leaving. Who will be steering the ship? Or is the plan to set sail without a captain?
Newcastle United endured numerous sobering defeats last season when Bruno Guimaraes missed games through injury. They badly missed his leadership. It didn’t look like they had leaders in waiting. Dan Burn and Fabian Scar are mature, experienced players, but they will struggle at the selection table. Leaders need to be on the field and not missing in action.
The smartest move that Newcastle’s deadly rivals, The Unmentionables, made last Summer was to grab hold of Granit Xhaka. How much did that signing shape the season that unfolded for the Mackems? European football at the close of the season and two results that we don’t care to mention.
Why aren’t Newcastle United doing something similar?
I can see why the investment in youth makes economic sense and offers aspiration in the longer term. These young players will hopefully mature into Premier League stars. What is of major concern, though, is what happens in the shorter term. The new season is barely three weeks away. Newcastle United have so many gaps to fill, both in positional terms and in terms of leadership.
The squad is badly undermanned. Eddie Howe is reputed to be a genius on the training ground. But did he have the players available and time available to work his magic before the new season? The answer is sadly no.
A relegation fight inevitably brings about managerial sackings and club unrest. I’m sure Eddie Howe could see what lay ahead and decided on a pre-emptive strategy.
It is time for recrimination. It’s time for knives out! It’s time for answers!