MY ACCOUNT
One month on from the jubilant post-takeover scenes outside St James’ Park, Newcastle remain a club firmly in crisis.
Despite their wealth, it was never going to be a quick fix for the club’s new owners — inheriting a limited team desperately fighting for survival and coached by a largely unpopular figure in Steve Bruce.
With ex-Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe appointed as his replacement yesterday, we take a closer look at the stark situation the 43-year-old enters on Tyneside.
Dire straits
Howe watched on from the stands on Saturday evening alongside Newcastle director Amanda Staveley as his prospective new side grinded out a 1-1 draw at Graham Potter’s Brighton.
Though the result was certainly not one to be sniffed at, it meant the Magpies headed into the international break as the only Premier League club still searching for their first win of the season.
Norwich’s surprise 2-1 triumph at Brentford — which ironically proved to be the last game of Canaries boss Daniel Farke’s tenure — means only goal difference separates the Toon from the rock-bottom Canaries, with both clubs five points adrift of safety.
Before any talk of January reinforcements can begin, the new manager must find a way of making use of what he already has.
With a packed festive schedule ahead, 27 points are up for grabs before the turn of the year.
Howe’s experience of the Premier League’s lower reaches is certain to have played a part in the thinking of Newcastle owners, with an immediate impact effectively a mandatory requirement.
Encouraging elements
As bleak as things have looked recently, this is near enough the same Newcastle squad that secured a relatively comfortable 12th-placed finish last term.
Eventually ending up 17 points clear of the relegation zone, the timely returns of maverick winger Allan Saint-Maximin and reliable goalscorer Callum Wilson from injury proved enough to help the Magpies surge to safety.
That duo also have nine goal involvements between them this term, meaning Howe has a reliable attacking base to form his new-look team around.
Of course, 29-year-old Wilson is a familiar face to Howe having excelled under him at Bournemouth — as did Ryan Fraser, who will be hoping to rediscover his best form after flattering to deceive since his arrival in September 2020.
Meanwhile, left-back Matt Ritchie will also be delighted to reunite at St James’ Park with his former manager.
Fragile backline
One of the first things Howe will need to do is toughen up a defence that has been far too porous for far too long.
The Magpies have kept a miserly four clean sheets in 34 Premier League matches during 2021, with three of those coming against last season’s relegated trio of Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United.
Rio Ferdinand was quick to flag the problem area during his punditry for BT Sport on Saturday evening. The Manchester United legend said: “The shocking defensive stats are the area that he [Howe] needs to hone down in.
“The foundations for any football club to do well, defensively you have to be strong and stand firm at times when things are going against you.”
Howe’s Bournemouth side conceded 330 goals over the course of their five-season stay in the top flight, averaging out at 66 per season.
At their current rate, Newcastle will concede exactly the same amount this term.
Style of play
Perhaps another reason the Magpies turned to Howe is his penchant for maximising a squad’s attacking quality rather than prioritising its defence.
The general consensus among Toon supporters is that new recruits are required to bolster a sub-par backline — but Howe’s approach could see the Magpies attempt to out-gun opponents in the meantime.
Former Bournemouth defender Tommy Elphick, who captained the Cherries to two promotions under the Englishman’s tutelage, offered some insight into his former manager’s tactical preferences.
Elphick said: “His style is exciting and fast-paced. We always went to win the game, whether it was against Manchester City in the Premier League or Oldham in League One. When we were in front, we wouldn’t stop.
“There may be teething problems, though. He will ask the centre-backs to split, midfielders to drop in and put an onus on goalkeepers to use their feet.
“But it’s not boring to watch — we went with a purpose to attack and score goals.”
Questionable recruitment
Once a few games are under the belt, talk on Tyneside will inevitably turn to the transfer window as club’s Saudi-backed owners are expected to flex their financial muscles.
Howe’s recruitment record at Bournemouth has been publicly called into question on several occasions but a mix of shrewd acquisitions and expensive errors makes any firm conclusion tricky to reach.
While the Cherries doubled their money on Nathan Ake and turned healthy profits on the likes of Aaron Ramsdale and Tyrone Mings, big moves for Jordan Ibe and Jefferson Lerma proved less successful.
Meanwhile, the jury is still out on Dominic Solanke.
The Englishman, 24, failed to net in his first 38 Premier League appearances after his £19million arrival but has since established himself as one of the Championship’s most reliable strikers.
While Howe’s level of involvement in future transfer dealings currently remains unclear, scrutiny over new signings will be higher than he has previously experienced.
Mammoth project
While the new man has plenty on his plate in the immediate future, the longer-term prospects look bright for the Magpies — and the opportunity for Howe is huge.
Speaking after the appointment, Staveley said: “He is a great fit for what we are trying to build here.
“We are delighted to welcome Eddie and his staff to St James’ Park and very much look forward to working together towards our collective ambitions.”
The club have seemingly identified Howe as a man capable of taking on a project, with his respected standing in the game suggesting he possesses the level-headedness required for such a sizeable job.
Ending a 15-month sabbatical to take the role, he clearly views the Newcastle hotseat as a chance to propel his managerial career onto another level.
There are sure to be bumps in the road — but it could just prove to be a perfect fit.
