Harry Redknapp has been talking about Newcastle United.
This follows Saturday’s 2-2 draw at St James’ Park against Bournemouth.
The Cherries going into a 2-0 lead inside 35 minutes, only for United to stage a spirited fightback and score two goals of their own.
It was deja vu for the visitors, again!
The opening match of this Premier League season Bournemouth had led at Manchester City until the 84th minute, only to lose the game very late on. Whilst against Everton at home Marco Rose saw his team lead for most of the match, only for the scouse mackems to equalise in added time.
Bournemouth fan, former player and manager, Harry Redknapp reflecting on Jacob Ramsey scoring in the 88th minute to bank a point for Newcastle United and deny the Cherries their first win of he season: “It was another good performance from the Cherries at the weekend at Newcastle, but they again conceded late on to drop points. The first half was a fantastic performance, but the equaliser came late once again and it’s now a bit of a trend. As a manager, you’ve got to be careful you don’t overemphasize that fact, because then it can get in the players’ heads: ‘oh my God, we’re winning, but there’s ten minutes to go, are we going to concede?’ It’s just one of those things.”
Harry Redknapp going on to explain to the Bournemouth Echo: “You’re going to come under pressure late on at Newcastle, with 50,000 Geordies or whatever it is up there, they’re one behind, they’re going to be putting you under some pressure. So, you expected what came really. There was always a chance you might concede and you’ve got to accept that and keep moving forward.”
A busy schedule sees both Newcastle United and Bournemouth swiftly back in the action.
Whilst United take on Millwall at The Den in the Carabao Cup third round, Bournemouth host Lincoln tonight.
Harry Redknapp in no doubt as to how Marco Rose and Bournemouth should approach this cup clash: “We’re quickly onto the League Cup and that’s a competition that Bournemouth have an excellent chance of winning. I think personally I’d want to be going strong rather than rotating if I was Marco Rose. I wouldn’t want to find myself in trouble, in another game without a win. I’d want to get a win…I think I’d want to start with a good team because it’s a cup that Bournemouth’s got a chance to win.”
Less than 18 months ago, Eddie Howe led Newcastle United to glory at Wembley against Liverpool.
Harry Redknapp thinking it is a realistic chance for Bournemouth to emulate United: “We’ll be one of the teams with a real chance of winning that this year, and to go to Wembley would be fantastic. I wouldn’t be throwing this competition out the window. You saw what it meant to Newcastle United a couple of years back when they went to Wembley and what it meant to that club. So, I’d want to be going for it.”
Bournemouth fans have never seen their club win a single major trophy in their entire history and as Harry Redknapp says, they are capable of winning something now with the quality of their team.
A win tonight and you are through to the last 16 and if getting a generous fourth round draw, very quickly the quarter-finals could be reality.
For most Newcastle United fans, Sunday 16 March 2025 was the first time they had seen their team win a major trophy in 56 years. Having experienced that feeling, it simply makes you want more of it.
Eddie Howe and Newcastle United did it in the toughest way possible when winning the League Cup 18 months ago, United defeating the likes of Chelsea, Forest, AFC Wimbledon, Brentford, Arsenal (twice!) and Liverpool to lift that trophy.
Back in 2023 though when reaching the final, Newcastle United had very much the luck of the draw. Ending up facing a Southampton side in the semi-finals who were doomed to relegation, which followed three home ties against beatable opposition and the only away draw at lower league Tranmere.
The luck of the draw plays a huge part in cup competitions and just maybe Newcastle United will experience it again, if they can get past Millwall tonight.