On Monday, it was announced Emil Krafth had signed a well-deserved extension to 2024. The right-back was in the final year of his contract and gets some security ahead of an important campaign for the Magpies.
In an interview after the announcement, Krafth raved about the impact of manager Eddie Howe. The Swede has been one of a number of Magpies to not only hail Howe’s impact personally but also prove it on the pitch.
Like his teammate, local lad Sean Longstaff has spoken highly of his new manager’s methods in getting the best out of him. In many ways, Longstaff and Krafth are in a similar position as they are most likely not in Howe’s strongest eleven.
However, they have shown a desire to push hard to try to change that. Longstaff signed a new contract earlier this summer to 2025 and even before committing his future to his hometown club, he spoke glowingly of his new manager.
Yesterday from sunny Lisbon, the 25-year-old spoke to NUFC TV to speak about the club’s transformation under Howe. He also revealed that Howe reached out to him early on about being out of contract in the summer.
Here is some of what Sean said as transcribed in The Chronicle:
“He’d (Howe) been at the club for about a week when he came to me and said he hadn’t realized I was out of contract in the summer and he helped me through that period.
“He is the first manager I’ve had multiple conversations with on the phone. Everything he says I trust. Everything he tells me to do, I’ll do, because I believe it’s going to make me a better footballer.”
Howe has forged a close relationship with his players and it came through in the interviews with Krafth and Longstaff. Emil kept saying Howe has meant everything to him being able to show his qualities on the pitch.
Longstaff also added the following account of Howe’s ability to connect with his players on a personal level:
“We have a fine session and at the end of the fine session, a player or a member of the coaching staff has to give a timeline of their life. The gaffer did the first one, and he goes through his whole life, with pictures, and he talks about his family and he got emotional talking about it. He loved his dog and he spoke about that.
“I came out of the meeting and I was like ‘wow, how can you not want to play for someone that’s willing to basically strip themselves bare and we’ve only known each other five or six days.”
Emil, Sean, Fabian Schar, and Joelinton are just a handful of the players to have renewed life under the new coaching staff. Krafth and Longstaff must continue to keep their heads down and fight for every chance they get. There is going to be a tremendous battle to get into Howe’s eleven each week.
18 comments so far
The Ledge
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #1Who are these posters that said we have an unlimited budget??
lesh
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:42 AM
Comment #2And Nottingham Forest Close to yet another signing!
Lots of incomers makes for problems integrating them and could cause problems for the club. If they get off to a good start, they’ll have done well.
The Last Jedi
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:42 AM
Comment #3I couldn’t understand a word Gazza was saying apart from the F word lol
Near end of window likes of Barca, Chelsea, PSG, Juve, Atletico will be looking to get rid of players desperately so I think we can afford to wait as long as Wilson stays fit for the first 4 or 5 games of the season
IrishRob
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:42 AM
Comment #4I’ve a feeling that to an extent we’re holding out for the last week of the window to sign players for better value.
The Last Jedi
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:43 AM
Comment #5We need 2 number 9s more than anything to cover Wilson and score the goals. We can’t rely on Wood
geordie157
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:43 AM
Comment #6Cal Roberts has signed for Aberdeen, decent move for him.
Do tend to try and keep an eye on where our former youngsters end up, MacKenzie Heaney is at South Shields, hopefully he works hard and does well. He’s another who was dubbed as a youngster who could be a potential star.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:46 AM
Comment #7[Repost from last thread]
On the question of goals in the side, the way I see it is this.
Can we get more goals out of the likes of Wilson, Wood, Maxi, Miggy, Willock etc. The answer is a resounding yes.
Wilson – has now moved to Newcastle and has had a full pre-season under Howe, so will be fitter than he has ever been while at the club. A full season fit he scores at least 20 goals in the PL. (An increase of 12 goals)
Wood – had his worst goalscoring return in the PL last season, and has scored at least 10 goals in every other season while in the league. As a rotational striker I would back him to get 5-10 goals next season (An increase of 3 – 7 goals)
Maxi – Howe has laid down the gauntlet regarding his fitness and he seems to have answered this question. Can he improve his decision making in the final third and be the talismanic genius we know he can be? Absolutely. A good season for Maxi and he scores 10 goals. (An increase of 5 goals)
Miggy – one of the players who started to bloom towards the end of the season and has looked sharp pre-season. With an extended run in the team at RW and and starting the season high in confidence he could nab 5+ goals and chip in with assists (An increase of 4 goals+)
Willock – was a free scoring gem when we first signed him on loan and is one of the players I will be keeping an eye on this season in terms of seeing how much Howe can bring him back to that box-to-box midfielder making late runs in the box. With an extended run in the side he could easily nab 5 goals next season from midfield. (An increase of 3 goals)
By keeping players fit and with an upturn in performances from players already in the squad we could add 25 – 30 goals on our return from last season.
Would any of you bet against that happening?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:48 AM
Comment #8Having 4 first-team strikers in a side which players 1 up front doesn’t seem like an overly wise transfer strategy Jedi.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #9*plays
Tyran21
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:55 AM
Comment #10Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Well said #7
dazzler
Jul 26, 2022 at 11:56 AM
Comment #11I think if we can upgrade RW and bring in a No 10 (Paqueta please) then we can survive without a striker until Jan. Lets see how fit Wilson can stay, with Wood as a backup and we have several young players in the U23 that are highly thought of who can play from the bench. I think going hammer and tong for a striker right now could be a mistake IMO.
Adamn_92
Jul 26, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Comment #12https://twitter.com/NUFC_Index/status/1551586195142070274
Following on from the article by Neil, these are good words from Longstaff. Perhaps goes someway to explain why his performances dropped quite significantly. Now with positivity around the place and less pressure on him, he can start to focus on playing and getting back to his best, then pushing on and improving. He’s already shown improvement since Howe arrived, i’m sure we’ll see that continue.
Davas
Jul 26, 2022 at 12:08 PM
Comment #13I agree with Ruddy and think we’ll see more goals from these players. I know it’s just pre-season but looking at the clips you can see players looking for the ball, making runs into the box, looking for the runs into the box so more chances are going to be created and this will improve the more they play this way.
A far cry from holding on and giving it to maxi to do something.
Davas
Jul 26, 2022 at 12:08 PM
Comment #14Really looking forward to tonight’s game to see how we do against a top side.
IrishRob
Jul 26, 2022 at 12:12 PM
Comment #15Can’t believe ye guys had a friggin tornado in Newcastle yesterday.
The roar out of the thing is scary!
https://twitter.com/TotallyNUFC/status/1551607033249628161?s=20&t=MPm1CPf8fva0tiPFvmQEPg
DjMickyg
Jul 26, 2022 at 12:24 PM
Comment #16I think part of our issues going forward will be eddie is too nice. 3 or 4 of those players shud be gone now but hes going with them which will end up getting him sacked in the long run. I can still see us struggling this year against the bigger teams they all have improved there squads where as all we did was improve the defense. Southampton signed a top youth from bordeaux yesterday and we cant even compete. To me our scouts are rubbish and also being tight with the money isnt helping. U neee a few big names for players to want to come and unfortunately we hav a manager dats not known outside of england and no stars in the team to entice players to come. New owners always bring in a big name players ours didnt bother.
eggman
Jul 26, 2022 at 12:50 PM
Comment #17djmickyg
which 3 or 4 ?
You cant just get rid of everyone and replace
Some of these were handed v good contracts before the new owners came in.
Likes of gayle, clarke have been moved on
EH has already shown he can improve what he has – this will increase value if they are moved on
Which big names are you after?
DjMickyg
Jul 26, 2022 at 1:04 PM
Comment #18Eggman
Longstaff,shelvey,willock,
Osimhen and paqueta the below will follow
Olmo, florian wirtz, pino,samuele ricci, nunez,