Newcastle have suffered this season by trying to compete on all 4 fronts for the first time in 20 years.
We have competed in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Premier League, and the Champions League – and our squad was not up to it.
But the good thing is that Eddie Howe and his squad will learn from this season’s experience and hopefully, we can also strengthen the side significantly in the summer.
However, that may be difficult unless we get some transfer money coming in by selling some players.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is sympathetic to Newcastle’s plight this season, and he was asked what it’s like to compete on all four fronts every single season.
This is what Pep said:
“It’s not easy”.
“We have done it, Liverpool and ourselves.” “Arsenal joined us last season but the season before was not that.”
“This question of [how do Newcastle manage], I’m not there so I cannot judge but I wish them all the best.”
” I respect Eddie Howe, he was at Bournemouth so we’ve had many battles.”
“Newcastle, they came up another step, another level and were there and for the first time they play in four competitions.”
“This means they play every three days, especially at the beginning of the season.”
“When you’re doing that for the first time, it’s not easy for any club. I’ve not been there so I don’t know the reason why, but I’m pretty sure they will take lessons from that.”
“They’ve had a lot of injuries with Nick Pope, the goalkeeper, and many important players which is hard when you’re having to play every three, four days – it’s difficult.”
“They have fast-paced quality players, Bruno Guimaraes, and all these players,”
“Fabian Schar last season was unbelievable, but last season he played one game a week. This season he’s played a lot which is completely different.”
“When you have experience, you can handle the training, the minutes, the many things.”
“When it’s the first time it’s hard and I’m pretty sure they will learn their lesson.”
That’s the voice of experience talking.
Newcastle are currently 10th in the Premier League and we need to start winning games to qualify for the Europa League or the Europa Conference next season.
It’s as simple as that.
Premier League Table 2023-2024
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Tottenham | 38 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 66 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 63 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 38 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 23 | 60 |
| 8 | Man United | 38 | 18 | 14 | 6 | -1 | 60 |
| 9 | West Ham | 38 | 14 | 13 | 10 | -14 | 52 |
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9 comments so far
Fenham to Chalfont
Mar 18, 2024 at 12:17 PM
Comment #1Saratoga I responded to you 2 threads back
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 18, 2024 at 12:19 PM
Comment #2Rh,
What will eventually be the undoing of Howe is fans like you sowing discontent in the fan base.
Transfer Sage
Mar 18, 2024 at 12:25 PM
Comment #3Jail
That’s a tad dramatic. Howe will not be undone by fans views on a blog. It will come down to how well he gets the team performing on the pitch.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 18, 2024 at 12:25 PM
Comment #4Eddie Howe.
Came in and saved the club from certain relegation finishing the season with top four form. First cup final in nearly 25 years and CL qualification. Oversaw £40M striker flop to one of the best MF in the PL and a Brazil call up. Seen CW called up to the WC. BDB in the pleminary WC squad, a previously bit part player at Brighton. Jacob Murphy destined for a career in the championship in to a very able squad player, Joe Willock 100% would have made the Euro’s if not for injury, AG called up for England. They are not sacking him because of a poor season littered with unforseen rotten luck.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 18, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Comment #5TS,
It was the undoing of SBR.
mctoon
Mar 18, 2024 at 12:43 PM
Comment #6Well said Bill’s.
Lest we forget.
The reason we thought we were so good was due to a belief instilled in the players and fans by … EDDIE HOWE.
He didn’t change, our luck did.
(Injuries)
He’s still the man.
Novocastrian66
Mar 18, 2024 at 12:43 PM
Comment #7Jail; I disagree with that. The supporters did not get Robson the sack. As I said previously, there was a groundswell of opinion that Robson’s time was up. However, there was not open revolt on the terraces as there was with Souness, Allardyce, Pardew, McClaren and Bruce.
It was ultimately the players who got him the sack. He had lost control of the dressing room. Players were dictating where and when they played.
The narrative that the fans drove him out is not accurate.
The match going supporters are, largely, behind Howe. The keyboard warriors are irrelevant. People echoing what some clown says on a blog or X, for example Simon Bird, are contemptible.
Zele
Mar 18, 2024 at 12:51 PM
Comment #8Well said Raj.
If this season (currently 10th but well within reach of 6th or 7th and possibly Europe) had been last season Howe would be full of praise as we would not be fighting for survival has we have done for so many previous seasons.
The recruitment has been good and the coaching which has improved many players as been exceptional.
The scale of the injuries has been one of the main reasons why this season has been so disjointed. However, would we have seen Livramento, Miley and Hall if everyone had been fit.
I fully expect to see some new exciting players arrive in the summer and some less than exciting players leave.
I fully expect Howe to stay as he has done exceptionally well under very difficult circumstances and has the overwhelming support of the fans and probably the full support of the players and management. He is a credit to the club.
Unused Substitute
Mar 18, 2024 at 1:00 PM
Comment #9Last year Klopp was in a mess at least as bad as ours this time around and a part of their fan base wanted to see him gone. That’s quite similar to what Eddie is enduring at the moment. Unlike the gnasher though he is maintaining his cool and the players still playing for him. Complaining about him, Dúbravka and others is only going to make our messy situation even messier IMO. Hopefully, next year with Minteh getting back and others like Anderson pitching in a little more we will see better days.