Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson was recently speaking at a briefing about the club’s accounts and was asked a question about Eddie Howe and how the future looked regarding the NUFC manager.
Hopkinson replying: “I don’t have a stance on [Eddie Howe’s] future. What I can tell you is that the derby loss hurt. Eddie’s our manager. I expect to have a great run to the end of the season and we’ll talk about the future when it’s time. We are not looking to make a change at the moment. We are still in the midst of the season.”
The Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson seemingly putting Eddie Howe on notice (ED: An exclusive from The Times has reported that following those comments, the Newcastle United hierarchy have made clear to Eddie Howe that nothing has changed and they still see him as the person to take the club forward, that he will still be in charge for next season. The Times reporting that Hopkinson himself had informed Howe that his comments had never been intended to suggest he didn’t fully back the manager, that he didn’t have in mind making any change this summer).
While the headlines will naturally focus on the hunt for European football and the final league standings, I want to focus on three critical, yet understated factors.
Factors to consider, that may help to reveal whether this era is still on track or nearing its conclusion.
Attacking identity – Progression or stagnation?
Eddie Howe has created many fluid, attacking teams that are pleasing on the eye, this iteration of the team is sadly, not one of them. It is hard to believe we have gone almost the whole season without seeing any kind of progression in the team’s attacking identity or style. The team has struggled to consistently create good opportunities from open play all season, ranking only 13th in open play expected goals (OPxG) this season in the Premier League.
In Eddie Howe’s version of 433, the team is set up to play with a centre forward who is:
Mobile, fast, works well alone and in large areas of space, pinning the centre backs by running in behind and into the channels to create space for the midfield to operate in, get on the end of through balls, attack crosses and be the teams main shooter.
Whereas Nick Woltemade is not particularly mobile or fast, works best in tight spaces, likes to drop deep and combine with teammates, play through balls into the final third, does not attack crosses and is the team’s 2nd or 3rd highest volume shooter.
Square peg, round hole. The polite version would be that the team is not playing to the record signing’s strengths, like at all. The less polite version would be that they are actively playing to his weaknesses, they spent a record fee on this player and are literally playing him in a role which is the complete opposite of his skill set.
The potential solutions to this are many but suffice to say that all options would involve some form of change which we have yet to see this season. Will a couple of weeks on the training ground have aided a transition? Fans are not crazy for asking; if the team is not playing to the strengths of its most expensive ever signing, its centre forward who is supposed to be the face of the club for the next half decade and beyond, then what are we even doing here?
All eyes on the prize?
Much is made of managers ‘losing the dressing room’ and whilst I do not think Eddie Howe is in any danger of this happening – there is still value to be found in assessing the players’ commitment to the cause.
Fighting for a Conference League place is hardly what most of these players would have dreamed of when joining the club. Away days to Alkmaar, Mainz and Warsaw hardly set the pulse racing and with the World Cup on the horizon, it would not be unrealistic to see how some of the players might hold back a little in preparation of what is to come.
Of particular interest should be some of the players who have been linked with moves away.
In my opinion, Tino Livramento for one has looked disinterested at times since coming back from injury and whilst there is more than enough credit in the bank with him, it is something to watch going forward.
Can Eddie Howe continue to motivate the likes of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon to keep putting their bodies on the line for the club with such a mediocre looking prize at the end of it?
Is he even that into us?
Is Eddie Howe interested in leading this next stage of the club’s evolution?
Generating extra revenue from player sales seems to be a key part of attempting to bridge the gap between the top revenue earning clubs and the challengers like Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe has consistently been a voice of the opposite approach. Refusing to trade some of the club’s better players (and bizarrely Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie?!), it is fair to ask the question, does he even want to work in this environment going forward? He benefitted from a break last time he left Bournemouth, went on a manager gap year and came back refreshed and with some new ideas, maybe he wants to do the same again?
I will be watching and listening to see and hear with how much excitement Eddie Howe speaks about the club and the project going forward.
Is this enthusiasm and excitement maintained during the run in, even if performances and results do not arrive?
Will Eddie Howe be consistently singing from the same hymn book as the CEO – talking of an exciting summer (which I think it is) ahead and the potential and progression of this group?
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