Newcastle United have started their third full season with Eddie Howe as manager. I’ve now watched Howe lead the team to victory in over 50 matches. I have seen what works and what needs improvement. And while I am not a good football analyst by any means, Howe’s style, tactics, and his wear and tear on the squad are now apparent. So after 18 months of not writing about Newcastle United, it’s time for me to briefly share what I think about the Eddie Howe era.
Under Eddie Howe’s leadership, Newcastle United is a team that plays HARD. They don’t over-perform. If they truly over-performed, they would advance to the knockout state of the Champions League last season (although they nearly did). Ten years ago, we Newcastle fans were sad, just wishing for a team that tried. Now we have a team that plays very hard. Last season, I think that led to too many injuries.
Now Newcastle find themselves starting a season that demands they finish in the top four, or at least the top six. That’s a tremendous amount of pressure. Oh, and they have to do it with a rotation of defenders and right wingers because their last summer transfer window focused on regulation-mandated sales. They acquired one very good left back / center back in Lloyd Kelly. And that was it.
The results have really been all over the place, as Newcastle have displayed an unsustainable mixture of poor passing. defensive mistakes and an offence essentially led by three players, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes.
I used to think that Eddie Howe has a system, and he just forces his players to fit into that system. But in most matches this season, I don’t think Howe has been sure of who he wants to start. The system has not been fully enforced. Howe’s system demands speed, intensity and full use of the sidelines up and town the pitch. That’s not possible with a low pass completions rate, as we’ve seen in the first month of this season. It’s also not possible if the squad can’t run as fast as they did in the previous two seasons.
In order for Howe’s system to be enforced, it needs to be sustainable and the players need to be fit. We’re starting to see fitness levels rise in the last two matches against Manchester City and Wimbledon. We need to see a trend. But two objectively solid performances matches is a start.