Very revisionist. And another example of articles denigrating our trophy win. ‘We won, it was incredible, but…’. But what?!? We won a trophy for the first time in 70 years & now it’s not good enough?!? Would you be happy if we’d lost it? And the comments now that we should’ve sold Joelinton ( MoM at Wembley), Wilson ( lots of comments last year about how well he did at West Ham & that we should’ve kept him!) & Almiron, were not comments that I remember reading very often on these pages at the time. Hindsight makes everyone an expert! Though as we’re now selling our best players at the height of their careers, I presume that’s a policy to be commended? Just remember that when we’re in a relegation battle by Christmas. People might see that last season wasn’t such a disaster & stands up pretty well in comparison to our last 20 years. Ultimately though, Eddie’s exhausted, had enough & should take all of our best wishes with him. Let’s see if the ‘new model/ leadership structure’ is all it’s cracked up to be. I’m not holding my breath…
You’re entitled to your view as I am to mine Rob. I’ve contacted Eddie personally through a known link to say thank you for everything he did, that won’t change regardless of how I feel about where we are now.
However we won a Carabao Cup having spent roughly 700m on the squad - find me another manager who is a hero based on that (none) and I would say that Eddie was amazing whilst we achieved but needs another club to make him elite. I hope he finds it.
We’re all entitled to our opinion & I’d suggest he’s a hero for winning our first trophy in 70 years! If that doesn’t get you hero status, I dont know what does. And the vast majority of clubs who’ve won trophies in the last 40 years have spent lots of money, so I can’t see how that’s any measurement of his success or be a stick to beat him with & denigrate that success. I’d hazard a guess that even last year’s ‘bad’ season - 12th in Premier League, last 16 of Champions League, semis of League Cup - is considerably better than anything between 2005-21. It annoys me that Howe’s almost 5 year reign is now being derided as 2 good years & a Mickey Mouse cup. If that was the case, I’m not sure we’d have seen the supporter reaction we did across the whole of his period in charge. He’s clearly knackered & that shows you how taxing it is being a Premier League manager. His time period puts him 3rd in the last 50 years of managers, just behind Keegan & Robson. He should be rightly hailed for that instead of the very faint praise he’s getting now which is massively using the great gift of hindsight. I hope very much that I’m wrong, & I don’t really blame the owners for this or the new manager, but I’d suggest the ‘new model’ that is being implemented to stay on the right side of the PSR rules is no different to the Ashley years. In which case, the whole of Howe’s time in charge may be seen as a short lived glory era & one we want back quickly.
Now hes gone we will never know for sure if he could have turned it around but his body language and the on pitch performances from the players certainly gave no indication that he was going to stop the rot or that he himself still believed he could regain the ground. I dont think he ever recovered from the loss of Isak which seemed to break the aura around the club he had built at a single stroke. Perhaps he was a victim of his own rapid success. The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long.
Spot on with that assessment. Stale and predictable. Hopefully the new manager will bring in some of the young players and develop them. There is talent to be picked from that was not utilised at all. Imagine if we have another 2 or 3 Anderson’s and Mileys just waiting for the chance. At the very least a plan B and ability to change formation during a game to influence the out come.
Eddie was great and will go down in the clubs history as one of the best but his refusal to change and adapt has led us to where we are now. A fresh approach is needed and as you say that should have happened in May
Another great article. Having read Mick’s article earlier, I think I’m somewhere in the middle in terms of my views on how much the blame rests with Howe and how much rests with those above him.
I agree that the right time to go was at the end of the season, and I 1000% agree that Joelinton should have moved on before now (although it looks like he’s going 31st July is far too late in the window for me).
It's interesting to see the borderline opinions of the more clickbait oriented lowlands migrate onto here. And NO shade to any of the views here or in Mick's article (including BTL comments), as they are much more nuanced and gracious than any of those venues (that's why this is my chosen forum, which probably applies to everyone here). I respect them all and am appreciative for people sharing their views.
I'm with you, Pete---I think there's truth to both takes and that makes sense given a football club is an organization, a group of humans, etc., that takes part in a larger---and I think we all agree---increasingly cartel-like institution and structure. At this point, I'm done recriminating. PIF clearly rescued us from the absolute nadir of the FCB, but relative to the potential amerikkkan vulture capitalist replacements, they are simply the devil I know. I am eternally grateful to EH for the best moments and periods as a nufc supporter. He will always have my admiration and respect---I wish him all the best. I always question ownership---I have a problem with authority and I'm a socialist at heart! But I am equally ready, with only the future ahead, to get behind the new gaffer and hope that the lads that have decided to join us, as well as the ones who continue to don the black and white shirt (erm.. and blue... don't get me started on this kit), have success (yes, the hope kills, but here we are). Because that's all I can do as a supporter who loves this club: ask the hard questions ALWAYS (thanks for everyone here doing that btw, including Mick and Ordy), and get behind the lads (and lasses!). HTL
Overall probably a bit harsh. The team and its record were abysmal, the job he did bringing in quality and getting quality from journeymen players deserves respect and gratitude. But since the turn of the year the lack of direction, enthusiasm and commitment has been palpable. Yes time for a change but we need to recognise that he took on a job others wouldn’t and made us proud. Thank you, Eddie.
I enjoyed the read. Thanks for putting it out there. I'm sad, but we'll see whether it ends up being for the best.
The coaches I've admired, across the sports I've followed (and played) had one thing in common: they had an aura about them. Hard nosed arm wavers, cold calculating pirates, strategic field generals, whatever. They all had a mystique that was visible to one and all. (See Barry Alvarez for a prime example)
Sadly Eddie had lost his mojo. The magic was gone. He wasn't invincible and everyone could see it. I'd hoped he'd recover but he didn't. His zest for the game is missing. I hopes he gets it back where ever he goes.
Here's to Eddie and whoever has the helm next season. Cheers!
We went into the our final game against Fulham with two targets. To finish above the mackems and to scrape into Europe. The team selection, tactics and substitutions were baffling and so far as I’m concerned that was the first real sign that Eddie was himself baffled.
I’ll always have the greatest respect for Eddie and am grateful, as we all are, for the cup but I had zero confidence in him turning it around this season.
Good luck to him and his family. Welcomed back anytime with open arms.
Ordy - They should call you 'The Hammer' - you've hit the nail on the head, again. Yes, time for a rest for His Eddiness and a recharge - whilst NUFC must try to regain top half respectability - with those first three league fixtures, I doubt it will happen immediately. We live in interesting times.
The rules dictate that revenue is King, Eddie was successful when allowed to spend and as Ashley never spent there was scope for that in the beginning but once spent could not be repeated. It hardly matters who the manager is when faced with these tailored to 6 ruling club rules. We shouldnt be craving silverware we should be craving increased revenue but without silverware what chance have you of doing that ? Don't get relegated and get the big infrastructure projects underway if the club are in anyway serious about actually being competitive, everything else is just bald men arguing over combs.
Absolutely right Stephen. My reaction, when I heard he was gone, was not surprise but relief. There was no evidence that next season was going to be any different from the last few months of 25-26. Eddie looked gone, lost, unable to select a decent eleven and no idea how to get the best out of the signings he wanted. But he goes with our blessings and thanks for our best day as a Geordie for decades.
I now go into the next season with a modicum of optimism, instead of dread.
Very revisionist. And another example of articles denigrating our trophy win. ‘We won, it was incredible, but…’. But what?!? We won a trophy for the first time in 70 years & now it’s not good enough?!? Would you be happy if we’d lost it? And the comments now that we should’ve sold Joelinton ( MoM at Wembley), Wilson ( lots of comments last year about how well he did at West Ham & that we should’ve kept him!) & Almiron, were not comments that I remember reading very often on these pages at the time. Hindsight makes everyone an expert! Though as we’re now selling our best players at the height of their careers, I presume that’s a policy to be commended? Just remember that when we’re in a relegation battle by Christmas. People might see that last season wasn’t such a disaster & stands up pretty well in comparison to our last 20 years. Ultimately though, Eddie’s exhausted, had enough & should take all of our best wishes with him. Let’s see if the ‘new model/ leadership structure’ is all it’s cracked up to be. I’m not holding my breath…
You’re entitled to your view as I am to mine Rob. I’ve contacted Eddie personally through a known link to say thank you for everything he did, that won’t change regardless of how I feel about where we are now.
However we won a Carabao Cup having spent roughly 700m on the squad - find me another manager who is a hero based on that (none) and I would say that Eddie was amazing whilst we achieved but needs another club to make him elite. I hope he finds it.
We’re all entitled to our opinion & I’d suggest he’s a hero for winning our first trophy in 70 years! If that doesn’t get you hero status, I dont know what does. And the vast majority of clubs who’ve won trophies in the last 40 years have spent lots of money, so I can’t see how that’s any measurement of his success or be a stick to beat him with & denigrate that success. I’d hazard a guess that even last year’s ‘bad’ season - 12th in Premier League, last 16 of Champions League, semis of League Cup - is considerably better than anything between 2005-21. It annoys me that Howe’s almost 5 year reign is now being derided as 2 good years & a Mickey Mouse cup. If that was the case, I’m not sure we’d have seen the supporter reaction we did across the whole of his period in charge. He’s clearly knackered & that shows you how taxing it is being a Premier League manager. His time period puts him 3rd in the last 50 years of managers, just behind Keegan & Robson. He should be rightly hailed for that instead of the very faint praise he’s getting now which is massively using the great gift of hindsight. I hope very much that I’m wrong, & I don’t really blame the owners for this or the new manager, but I’d suggest the ‘new model’ that is being implemented to stay on the right side of the PSR rules is no different to the Ashley years. In which case, the whole of Howe’s time in charge may be seen as a short lived glory era & one we want back quickly.
Now hes gone we will never know for sure if he could have turned it around but his body language and the on pitch performances from the players certainly gave no indication that he was going to stop the rot or that he himself still believed he could regain the ground. I dont think he ever recovered from the loss of Isak which seemed to break the aura around the club he had built at a single stroke. Perhaps he was a victim of his own rapid success. The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long.
Spot on with that assessment. Stale and predictable. Hopefully the new manager will bring in some of the young players and develop them. There is talent to be picked from that was not utilised at all. Imagine if we have another 2 or 3 Anderson’s and Mileys just waiting for the chance. At the very least a plan B and ability to change formation during a game to influence the out come.
Eddie was great and will go down in the clubs history as one of the best but his refusal to change and adapt has led us to where we are now. A fresh approach is needed and as you say that should have happened in May
Yep.
Another great article. Having read Mick’s article earlier, I think I’m somewhere in the middle in terms of my views on how much the blame rests with Howe and how much rests with those above him.
I agree that the right time to go was at the end of the season, and I 1000% agree that Joelinton should have moved on before now (although it looks like he’s going 31st July is far too late in the window for me).
It's interesting to see the borderline opinions of the more clickbait oriented lowlands migrate onto here. And NO shade to any of the views here or in Mick's article (including BTL comments), as they are much more nuanced and gracious than any of those venues (that's why this is my chosen forum, which probably applies to everyone here). I respect them all and am appreciative for people sharing their views.
I'm with you, Pete---I think there's truth to both takes and that makes sense given a football club is an organization, a group of humans, etc., that takes part in a larger---and I think we all agree---increasingly cartel-like institution and structure. At this point, I'm done recriminating. PIF clearly rescued us from the absolute nadir of the FCB, but relative to the potential amerikkkan vulture capitalist replacements, they are simply the devil I know. I am eternally grateful to EH for the best moments and periods as a nufc supporter. He will always have my admiration and respect---I wish him all the best. I always question ownership---I have a problem with authority and I'm a socialist at heart! But I am equally ready, with only the future ahead, to get behind the new gaffer and hope that the lads that have decided to join us, as well as the ones who continue to don the black and white shirt (erm.. and blue... don't get me started on this kit), have success (yes, the hope kills, but here we are). Because that's all I can do as a supporter who loves this club: ask the hard questions ALWAYS (thanks for everyone here doing that btw, including Mick and Ordy), and get behind the lads (and lasses!). HTL
Well said!! 👏
cheers, mate
Overall probably a bit harsh. The team and its record were abysmal, the job he did bringing in quality and getting quality from journeymen players deserves respect and gratitude. But since the turn of the year the lack of direction, enthusiasm and commitment has been palpable. Yes time for a change but we need to recognise that he took on a job others wouldn’t and made us proud. Thank you, Eddie.
I enjoyed the read. Thanks for putting it out there. I'm sad, but we'll see whether it ends up being for the best.
The coaches I've admired, across the sports I've followed (and played) had one thing in common: they had an aura about them. Hard nosed arm wavers, cold calculating pirates, strategic field generals, whatever. They all had a mystique that was visible to one and all. (See Barry Alvarez for a prime example)
Sadly Eddie had lost his mojo. The magic was gone. He wasn't invincible and everyone could see it. I'd hoped he'd recover but he didn't. His zest for the game is missing. I hopes he gets it back where ever he goes.
Here's to Eddie and whoever has the helm next season. Cheers!
We went into the our final game against Fulham with two targets. To finish above the mackems and to scrape into Europe. The team selection, tactics and substitutions were baffling and so far as I’m concerned that was the first real sign that Eddie was himself baffled.
He should have walked then.....
Brutally honest and a view I share.
I’ll always have the greatest respect for Eddie and am grateful, as we all are, for the cup but I had zero confidence in him turning it around this season.
Good luck to him and his family. Welcomed back anytime with open arms.
Aye.
You won’t be surprised to hear that I’m in complete agreement with you.
As am I.
Me three.
Ordy - They should call you 'The Hammer' - you've hit the nail on the head, again. Yes, time for a rest for His Eddiness and a recharge - whilst NUFC must try to regain top half respectability - with those first three league fixtures, I doubt it will happen immediately. We live in interesting times.
😁👏
Brave but spot on Ordy. We were rumbled, pure and simple.
I just hope we get some players on for the new man.
It would be nice.
The rules dictate that revenue is King, Eddie was successful when allowed to spend and as Ashley never spent there was scope for that in the beginning but once spent could not be repeated. It hardly matters who the manager is when faced with these tailored to 6 ruling club rules. We shouldnt be craving silverware we should be craving increased revenue but without silverware what chance have you of doing that ? Don't get relegated and get the big infrastructure projects underway if the club are in anyway serious about actually being competitive, everything else is just bald men arguing over combs.
Excellent assessment of Eddies time in charge.
Good article Stephen I agree with everything you said.
Absolutely right Stephen. My reaction, when I heard he was gone, was not surprise but relief. There was no evidence that next season was going to be any different from the last few months of 25-26. Eddie looked gone, lost, unable to select a decent eleven and no idea how to get the best out of the signings he wanted. But he goes with our blessings and thanks for our best day as a Geordie for decades.
I now go into the next season with a modicum of optimism, instead of dread.
Howay the Lads!
Is my favourite cousin going to?
Thoroughly agree with this article. I've was saying for over a year we were stale and there was no alternative to "plan A".
Far too predictable. I'd still like to know why Steve Nickson left?
Was it down to the Howes, Eddie & Andy?