The Cook is goosed roars angry Howe
EDDIE HOWE has told Steve Cook to do his talking on the pitch after his public criticism of Bournemouth.
The veteran centre-back (below) said the 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle in midweek was “embarrassing” and claimed the Cherries “played like kids”.
Bournemouth have now lost six games out of seven – and all three since the resumption – to sit 19th with six games to go.
Manager Howe, preparing for a daunting trip to Old Trafford, was furious with Cook’s public comments about a heated postmatch meeting among the players and has demanded a united front for the last six games of the campaign.
“I don’t think they are helpful for us,” said the Bournemouth manager. “The conversations in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room. I think when you don’t perform well, everything needs to be internal.
“I don’t think it is healthy to read about ourselves in that way. We know recent performances have not been good enough. We don’t need to be too clever to work that out.
“But staying together, staying unified, and staying positive with each other vocally is hugely important. Talking is great. But talking does not win football matches. There is only one place that the players show they care and that is on the football pitch.
“You have got to do your talking on there. You can’t do it off the pitch. You can’t say how much you care in interviews and this, that and the other. On the pitch, that is where the supporters see you play. I was only actually aware of the story this morning so that may be something I have a chat with Steve about, yes.”
The trip to in-form Manchester United is followed by fixtures against Tottenham, Leicester and Manchester City. No wonder Bournemouth are odds on with the bookies to go down.
The Cherries have lost 16 out of 21 and won only twice since December. And Howe, a club legend as a player and manager, looked like he was feeling the strain in his pre-match Zoom conference yesterday.
“Fearing the sack is not helpful and productive in any way,” he claimed.
“What am I going to do – sit at home and worry about my future? No. I am going to try to make the team play better and focus my energy on what we deliver on the training ground, how I speak to the players.”