Across Premier League era, numerous Newcastle United managers have arrived at St. James’ Park, none have achieved what Eddie Howe has.
Kevin Keegan was just a few results away from winning the Premier League.
Both Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ruud Gullit took the club to FA Cup finals, finishing runners-up.
Sir Bobby Robson brought Champions League football back to Tyneside.
Plus of course, the club had the anomalous season when Alan Pardew’s team finished fifth in 2012 and achieved European football under Mike Ashley’s ownership.
It is fair to acknowledge that Howe has had financial backing since he arrived in November 2021, but it’s also right to point out, the club’s spending on players (transfer fees and wages) has not reached the heights many fans and pundits had anticipated when the Saudi Arabia PIF majority ownership took over.
While expectations were that Newcastle United would immediately become one of the league’s biggest spenders, Premier League spending regulations have meant that the club’s outlays have often been more measured, with only a few signings each window rather than large-scale recruitment.
Due to these FFP/PSR hurdles, the club has had to play it safe in most transfer windows, recruiting individuals with a certain value attached and those who don’t necessarily have the status. Players such as Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, and Lewis Hall have come in, and although some football fans may have been aware of their ability, the majority would not have expected what they would become.
Eddie Howe has had challenges on this front and players who do have the status, such as James Maddison, Hugo Ekitike, and Benjamin Sesko, have all opted instead to join one of the “Premier League Big Six”. This has resulted in the recruitment team having to be clever in the market, also the club resting heavily on Howe’s coaching ability.
Newcastle’s plan has thrived under Eddie Howe, staying up in his first season, securing Champions League football twice, and delivering a long-awaited domestic trophy to the fans. He has overachieved in modest circumstances.
This season, however, the plan hasn’t worked, and the newest recruits have struggled. Yoanne Wissa, Anthony Elanga and Nick Woltemade in particular have been the three who can’t seem to gel in the team, and it’s become a huge problem.
What also has been an issue is a drop in performances from experienced members of the squad, most notably Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon. Both played key roles in last season’s success and it may be that without Isak, the two can’t perform to the same standard in the league.
Howe has had to combat this, along with injuries to key players throughout the campaign. Add on the midweek Champions League fixtures and it’s a tough balance to get right when players aren’t performing to the level required.
Although it seems evident that loyalty has gone in football, Eddie Howe should not be part of that concept. What he has given Newcastle fans is something that will be hard to replicate in the short-term and what was achieved last season should not be discredited.
This summer is a huge one for Newcastle United, both Sporting Director Ross Wilson and Eddie Howe need to be aligned, with no repeat of what happened with Wilson’s predecessor, Paul Mitchell.
Players need to leave, players need to come in. What is imperative is that Eddie Howe takes this responsibility on and is given next season to get it right again.
(Simon also has his very own blog)