Eddie Howe: Is He Still The Right Man For The Job?

Munster Mag, long time member of Ed's original blog and now posting again here made the comments below earlier on today - comments that echo the thoughts of many fans who are concerned about the direction the club is going in and Eddie Howe's ability to manage and navigate NUFC through what looks like a very difficult period.

Colin to call us also rans in terms of the top 5 or 6 just isnt accurate any more. We arent near them and both Eddie and PIF are culpable.

As for Eddie, for all his bullshit talk when he arrived about collating his training and tactics onto software, im pretty positive is that all we are going to see this season is 433 and the same old wide wide play that we have seen from him.

As always, Munster Mag doesn't mince his words, but there is no doubt that his concerns are valid and it motivated me to reply in an article for members to express their opinions.

Eddie Howe: An analysis & prediction

Munster, we are also rans in the sense that we can't hope to attract the targets that the the top 6 are bidding for and with Villa in the CL and Manzambi choosing them - that means we have dropped even further behind.

In a race, also rans are at the back of the field of leading runners and I think effectively in terms of an attraction to the elite players that is where we are now.

Whatever term is used to describe where we are, we aren't where we thought we would be before the start of last summer's window.

As for Eddie and 4-3-3;

I've been a critic of that system since the end of the 24/25 season as even though it was the most successful in decades it was becoming clear that not only had PL teams sussed us out, but that a high press wasn't working against teams who had stopped trying to play out from the back.

Persisting with 4-3-3 with Wolt as a ST when our tactics remained to break quick from defence - when Wolt was dropping deep and lacked pace - was a criticism that I aimed at Eddie often last season.

Eddie then pushed Wolt back into midfield in a 4-3-3 which didn't work, and then tried him as a 10 near the end of the season. Little wonder that Wolt seemed lost, his confidence clearly shot, and many fans doubting his future as a Toon player.

So...

I agree with your point about 4-3-3.

Before the start of last season I posted that Eddie had to show that he had more strings to his tactical bow than a 4-3-3 high press, IMO he failed that test.

Our runs in the LC and CL glossed over our poor PL form, at least until we were out of both competitions.

After that, fans expected that as we wouldn't have two games a week, week in week out, Eddie would have more time in training to address our PL form.

But nothing changed, and the home defeat to Sunderland, completing their double, epitomised our season as yet again we went ahead only to lose the lead and game as we had done regularly all season.

Not being able to hold onto a lead, especially late on in games, cost us a record number of points and the blame for that repetitive failure has to lie largely at Eddie's door.

A thought...

Has Eddie's tactical shortcomings played a part in our top players wanting away?

Every manager in every job has a ceiling beyond which their abilities cease to improve results. Often, the first people to notice that are those working for them.

They see the drive and motivation weakening. They don't see solutions and innovation to solving recurring problems. Their own motivation and work ethic then starts to drop off.

That starts a spiral that only goes one way; downwards.

There is no doubt that at times in his pressers last season, especially late on, that Eddie looked shorn of his usual upbeat and positive attitude. He looked close to broken and defeated.

I said at the time that if he carried that frame of mind into training it would be noticed by the squad and get tongues wagging - and that is never a good thing because there are always those who will fear the worst, spread negativity, and in turn that affects morale and commitment.

Some players were accused by fans of not giving their all towards the end of last season - could that last paragraph explain the reason, along with the realisation by our top players especially that the 'project' had hit a brick wall?

In summary;

Eddie has a lot to prove this season, and I have no doubt that he was made aware of that at the Matfen Hall meeting with PIF.

His balance in the bank after winning the LC and CL qualification in 24/25 was spent last season. It is now stalled on empty.

This season he has to start topping it up - and quick.

Eddie's task has now been made all the harder by the top players who have left - with Bruno potentially to follow - and the policy so far of signing untested young players who cannot be expected to have an immediate and consistent impact this season.

In some ways he is almost back to where he started as NUFC manager.

Many fans were sceptical then that he was the right choice.

And many are sceptical now that he still is.

IMO he has 10 games max to prove that he has learnt the lessons of last season and that he can turn out a team that clearly has a new tactical direction that gets results.

I sincerely hope he does exactly that.

If not... I think the patience of fans and PIF will be quickly exhausted.

In that scenario I think Eddie might well resign, but still be fully paid up by PIF in recognition of the tremendous work he has done since his appointment.

Again... I hope Eddie succeeds.

And... I have no doubt that he knows how crucial those first 10 games are.

In fact... the first three might be even more crucial.

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