Trophies? Howe about securing survival first
EDDIE’S ONLY FOCUS IS ON BRENTFORD GAME...BUT TOON WILL BE BRAVE AND ATTACKING
FIVE weeks ago co-owner Amanda Staveley insisted Newcastle will challenge for titles and cups in five years.
Yesterday, new boss Eddie Howe delivered a sobering reality check.
He said: “Success now is staying in the Premier League. There will be some bumps and it’s not going to be a smooth road.”
Howe (below) apologised for his croaky voice as there had been “a lot of shouting” during two days on the training ground.
He has inherited a squad five points adrift of safety without a win after 11 Premier League games and in need of reorganising. Clearly getting his points across had taken its toll.
Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi (above) yesterday officially welcomed the man chosen to relaunch the Toon and deliver the Saudi dream of football domination.
But Howe maintained:
“To look too far ahead is a waste of time.”
Bar a rousing speech to his players on Tuesday afternoon, laying down principles they must “suffer for the cause,” Howe is not in the business of tub-thumping. There were no idle boasts or inflated claims as he laid down his very shortterm plans. Brentford at home next week. Improvement, bit by bit. Instead, he was thoughtful and measured – less emotion and inflated hope... and more focused on delivery. The prospect of new players in January was played down. No discussions have taken place. Cut the mad speculation, was the message, even though he is now working for supposedly the world’s richest club. Howe added: “I see all the reports linking Newcastle with this player and that player. It doesn’t do any good for the players here reading that. “I would urge people not to speculate too much. For me it’s the team in the here and now that is my only focus.” Howe insists he has become a better manager during the 15 months since leaving Bournemouth, visiting a host of managers around Europe. He said: “It’s much clearer out of work, the emotions football management brings. I sit here now a better manager. I think I’m more relevant and in touch at the top level.
“I don’t think it’s an easy job. The toughest? I don’t know because I am sure there are plenty of managers around the world who would put their hand up for that.
“I’m very realistic about the situation and the pressures.”
Howe refuses to change his ethos of entertaining, attacking football, even in a relegation fight.
He added: “If you watched my Bournemouth teams we always tried to be on the front foot, play brave attacking football. So I won’t come here and do something I’ve never done.
“Over time you will see changes, because I want to see exciting football, the fans want to see that.”
As he strolled down the tunnel into the empty 52,000-seater stadium Howe said: “When you open the doors, you walk down, you imagine bygone eras and players, it’s incredible.
“When the reality hits you of what it actually looks like, being manager of Newcastle United, and the feeling of pride... it is a very special feeling.”