A completely transformed Miguel Almiron. As I think most fans would agree, Eddie Howe and Newcastle United Technical Director, Dan Ashworth, have done as well as can be expected in augmenting the squad with their much improved transfer budget. As defenders, midfielders and finally, a new striker came in, it seemed as if logically, the next area for them to make a move would be on the right wing. Rumours about signing James Maddison from Leicester City have been rife for months but in the meantime, what on earth has happened to Miguel Almiron? (more…)
Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe. There is no doubt that Newcastle United have improved significantly in the last year. The expenditure has been considerable and so far, the new signings have been a credit to Eddie Howe and Technical Director, Dan Ashworth. However, the hyperbolic talk of how the Magpies are now the richest club in the world, a club which is about to brush aside even the likes of Liverpool and Man City aside is misguided.
The first reason of course is ‘Financial Fair Play,’ something that Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris St Germain didn’t have to worry about in the early days of their new wealth, but that has been discussed already. However, there is something else, whilst Newcastle’s spending has increased significantly, so has the spending of many other clubs in what was a record busting transfer season just gone. (more…)
Alexander Isak: a £60 million panic buy? To say that Newcastle United have made mistakes in the last few years when it comes to strikers would be an understatement. Carroll, Slimani, Joselu, Muto, Joelinton and Chris Wood are just a few of the strikers we’ve signed who couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo. There are also the strikers who disappointed at Newcastle, but went on to thrive elsewhere, like Alexander Mitrović and Ivan Toney, who can now be seen banging them in on a regular basis at Fulham and Brentford respectively. Rondon was OK ish but he only lasted a season, and even when Eddie Howe seemed to have an answer at last with Callum Wilson, he become the biggest injury magnet in the Premier League. (more…)
Howe: Still has a long way to go to change old habits Undoubtedly, things have improved at St James’ Park since the early days of this season, when the Magpies were struggling to get out the bottom three. However, there is one thing which hasn’t changed, and has actually got marginally worse in the 20 games since Eddie Howe took over, goals, or lack of them.
Eddie Howe’s record for goals scored per game is actually lower than Steve Bruce’s was in the first eight games of the season before he was sacked. Whilst Bruce’s side scored an average of 1.25 goals per game, in his 20 games so far, Howe’s side has managed only 11 goals, with a goals per game average of only 1.1. (more…)
There’s much to think about for Eddie Howe. Despite all the tales of future world class signings, future Champions League competition and all the rest, it has been a frankly awful season for Newcastle United so far which has seen them rooted within the bottom three. A nightmare December run of games against Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester City and finally, Manchester United certainly didn’t help, but as the games get ever more crucial, what lies in store in the next few games for Newcastle and our basement rivals in the race for survival? (more…)
