READY AND STABLE
Toon a real four-ce now roars Eddie
EDDIE HOWE believes Newcastle’s “rare stability” has put them on course to pinch Tottenham’s top-four place.
The Toon boss says tomorrow’s clash with rivals Spurs is his side’s biggest game of the season.
Despite being fifth Tottenham are in turmoil. They don’t have a head coach, director of football Fabio Paratici resigned yesterday – and star striker Harry Kane’s future at the club is in doubt. Howe has backed his players to bounce back from their heaviest defeat of the season against Aston Villa last Saturday and finish their top-four quest.
He said: “We’ve been stable and very well run from above. There has been a clarity in terms of what we can and can’t do – a vision.
“The hard bit is to try to carry all of that out day-to-day. But that stability and trust has enabled us to be successful.
“It’s rare to have that stability at a Premier League club because the high pressure you are working under.
Hopefully it can remain for as long as possible.”
The first home game of the new Saudi regime was against Tottenham 18 months ago. Since then Newcastle have gone from relegation dodgers to Euro contenders and spent £250m on transfers.
Howe said: “I feel the club has changed a lot.
The training ground, obviously, and huge improvements internally. The playing squad has evolved and the feeling has changed.
“There is an opportunity to achieve something really special.”
The 3-0 loss at Villa left Howe in a “terrible mood”, but he says there has been “positive energy” during training to get back on track.
He added: “One of the really important characteristics of our team is that we support each other and take constructive criticism in the right way.
“We’ve had a cup final which was a huge game for us but, in terms of league games, playing Spurs will be right up there because we are running out of games and we don’t have long left to get the points we need.
“I don’t see any signs that the squad is not coping with any pressure to secure European football.
“We are equipped. We have what we need, we just need to show that on the pitch.”