Eddie Howe has made remarkable progress with new signings such as Anthony Gordon (left) and Alexander Isak (right) under the radar from the Premier League Elite Photo: Getty Images/James Gill
Newcastle United are the greatest of 2023 and Eddie Howe was my manager of the year.
Now the club and its coach are suffering for having achieved so much so soon. Their current form and league position should not be seen as a decline, but as an accurate reflection of the quality of their team.
Newcastle are not currently a Champions League quality team – their early exit from the competition has proven that – and if they qualify for Europe this season it will be another great performance. Howe's performance could be judged with greater clarity if the championship form of this season and last season were reversed.
There is more criticism because there is an unfair perception that Newcastle have gone backwards. More accurately, they have taken a giant leap and are now exactly where they should be at this stage of Howe's reign.
After some of the results over the past 18 months, this fact is becoming increasingly difficult to accept. This is because rapid progress under Howe has created a false impression of how soon the club can and will compete for the biggest honours. They are still well below the level of Premier League winners.
No matter how much money the Saudi owners wanted to spend, there would never be a repeat of Chelsea immediately after Roman Abramovich took over or Manchester City under Sheikh Mansour. The rules of profit and sustainability do not allow this. Just after Mike Ashley sold, I wrote in this column that I couldn't foresee a Premier League title for Newcastle within 10 years. Last summer this might have looked like an underestimation. I support this.
Howe exceeded his immediate ambitions without the transfer budget of Chelsea or City. No manager could have done more than he did in his first full season.
The blessing and curse of any Newcastle manager is that there is so much emotion around the club. When times are good, this support is some of the best and most passionate in the country. The positivity that has developed in the city over the last two years has been a huge asset and will continue to be so as Newcastle continues to make progress.
The danger is that expectations do not match reality. As hard as it is, when things are going well – especially after such a long period without the slightest glimmer of hope – it is important not to get carried away. There have been occasions over the past 12 months where the understandable excitement following excellent results and performances has led to too many people having their head in the clouds when it would have been wiser to keep their feet on the ground.
Too often over the past year I have cheered for Newcastle that a turbulent era is over and good times are returning, only to wince when some of the euphoria gets out of hand with premature predictions of title bids, Champions League success and superstar signings.< /p>
The same applies to difficult periods; It is important that everyone associated with Newcastle does not fall too far after recent results.
The idea that Newcastle could be catapulted to Liverpool's level was naive.
Newcastle's trip to Anfield on Monday is a reminder of how difficult it is to maintain a position near the top of the Premier League. Liverpool's astonishingly terrible 2022-23 season was a key reason for Newcastle finishing in the top four. There was always the possibility that Liverpool would recover with a few good signings.
The idea that Newcastle could immediately catapult to the level of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and a formidable new rivalry would develop was extremely optimistic and a little naive.
What's special about all the recent high-profile, mega-billionaire takeovers is how quickly the new owners seem to have set their sights on Liverpool.
Both Chelsea and Manchester City have been preoccupied with targeting Liverpool ” after receiving investments that changed history, and sought to make a statement about the change in power at the club. the pinnacle of the English game.
These feuds quickly escalated both on and off the pitch, with Chelsea having the resources to continue trying to sign our captain Steven Gerrard as they began collecting trophies, and City continuing the trend by luring Raheem Sterling away from Anfield The 2023 equivalent would be if Newcastle used their wealth to target Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mohamed Salah after qualifying for the Champions League at Liverpool's expense last year. .
It was a complete failure, highlighting Howe's challenge is to keep Newcastle where they were last summer. He is not in the Chelsea market after 2004 or City after 2008 and cannot be expected to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal or City without signing statements year after year.
Some of Howe's top players seemed here to stay.When Declan Rice decided to leave West Ham, I doubt he considered a move to Newcastle, especially when he was replaced by Arsenal.Newcastle were also interested in James Maddison. They offered him when he was at Leicester City, but he ended up being more attracted to playing in London. This is no disrespect, but it shows that the top of the Premier League pyramid remains unchanged despite Saudi investment.
My admiration for Howe stems from the fact that his work on the training ground can be seen in his team's performances. Some of Newcastle's best players under his leadership are those he inherited whose careers seemed to go nowhere; players like Joelinton and Miguel Almiron.
His contracts were not what clubs that regularly compete for big trophies wanted. Nick Pope, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak have all been on the radar of Champions League teams, but none have been beaten to the bitter end.
Newcastle linked with January move for Calvin Phillips . He would be a good signing. This doesn't change the fact that he is a player City don't want and the other top four teams looking for defensive midfielders have chosen not to look for him.
Champions League qualification and additional requirements were always going to do that. difficult year for Howe and Newcastle. The good news for them is that he has learned more about the highest level of the game in the last six months than in the rest of his career, understanding and adapting to the specific demands that must be met to maintain consistent home form while competing in Europe's elite competition.
Even with injuries, choosing the same 10 outfield players for four games in a row and making minimal substitutions has negative consequences. You shouldn't rely on the same players every game, no matter how important they are.
At their best, Newcastle play with an energy and intensity that is simply unbearable when played as a whole team three games a week. lacks the required depth.
There is also a lesson for the Newcastle management, who have so far rebuilt the club in line with a sensible vision.
The idea that they are even considering giving up from The knowledge Hou accumulated would be stupid and would not fit every decision at the moment. Newcastle can still salvage this season with a top-six finish, which would set the stage for further improvement.
There is no doubt that they will eventually return to last season's level and continue to thrive under Howe. When that happens, this season's reality check will feel more like a help than a hindrance.
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