Eddie Howe has two primary approaches to handling the pressure of managing Newcastle United during a challenging midwinter season.
His boxer dog, Willis, has been receiving extended walks in the Northumberland countryside near the Howe family’s new home north of the city. Meanwhile, his owner deliberately avoids paying attention to the media’s coverage of the team’s recent losing streak, consisting of six defeats in their last seven games.
“I find the dog to be a valuable asset,” he stated. “He is always eager for physical activity, which helps me to disconnect. Additionally, I intentionally steer clear of the media and prioritize what I consider to be important. The small number of supporters I have encountered have been incredibly understanding and empathetic towards my situation.”
“I choose to ignore criticism, but I am aware of the story being told. I am not unintelligent. I am aware of the inquiries being made. This does drive me. As a human being, it naturally affects me. I strive to do my best and I am highly motivated.”
Howe is focused so intensely on his job that he has deliberately adopted a reclusive lifestyle. His dedication is such that even Rafael Benítez, the most workaholic of his recent predecessors, almost looks a dilettante by comparison.
Unfortunately, Howe’s once successful tactics seem to have vanished. Although Newcastle achieved a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, their thrillingly aggressive high-pressing approach showcased the manager’s impressive training ground strategies.
This season, however, participating in the Champions League has significantly reduced Howe’s coaching schedule, and their exhausting style of play has caused fatigue and injuries among their limited first-team players. It has become a regular occurrence for Howe to have two goalkeepers on the bench, possibly as a hint to the team’s majority owners from Saudi Arabia that additional players are necessary.
Due to financial fair play rules, the Saudis are limited in their ability to make moves in the transfer market. Additionally, injuries have hindered Howe’s ability to rotate his starting lineup. Some may argue that this is a consequence of not giving players rest during a Carabao Cup run, which ultimately concluded with a loss to Chelsea in the quarter-finals on penalties.
“I have complete confidence in the team’s ability and character,” he stated. “We have simply faced some tough challenges in the past few weeks, which is natural. However, we must not let those challenges linger and turn into months of difficulty. Our goal is to bring our strongest qualities back onto the field.”
He is aiming to begin the process at Liverpool on Monday evening as Newcastle faces a potentially challenging January, including additional Premier League matches against Manchester City and Aston Villa after their FA Cup third-round visit to Sunderland on Saturday.
Howe’s performance in his first two years as manager on Tyneside has been exceptional, making his job seemingly secure compared to other top-tier managers. However, the thoughts of Newcastle’s UK-based minority shareholders – Amanda Staveley, her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi, and Jamie Reuben – are clear in their full support for the manager to continue leading the team at St James’ Park for a long time. On the other hand, the intentions of the Saudis are still unclear.
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However, it would likely come as a surprise if Howe was not given the opportunity to address the situation, as the British-based ownership always anticipated a challenging season. Despite this, Howe remains hopeful for the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League.
He stated that European football will always be a goal for their team. They remain ambitious for this season and have not lost hope or confidence in their ability to make a comeback. They will strive for a spot in the top four if it is achievable, and have not ruled out any possibilities.
“At this club, one must consistently demonstrate their abilities. The players, including myself, are all subject to scrutiny and it is part of our job to constantly find ways to improve and meet expectations. We acknowledge that we need to raise our performance.”
Howe has faced criticism for not having an alternative strategy in place when the intense, aggressive press fails and becomes a risky move. However, considering Newcastle’s successful use of a defensive approach to draw against Paris Saint-Germain and take Chelsea to penalties, this criticism may be unwarranted. Howe firmly believes that all relevant statistical indicators indicate that the team’s primary system should continue to be considered the first choice plan.
“I have many weaknesses, like everyone else, but one of my strengths is remaining composed in high-pressure situations,” he stated.
“It is crucial to avoid overreacting and judging your team based on isolated moments in a football match. I will not be swayed by negative results.”
Source: theguardian.com
