Shaka shows His delight at just Howe positive United are
GOALKEEPING LEGEND IS THRILLED TO SEE MAGPIES PLAYING ON FRONT FOOT
SHAKA Hislop has applauded Eddie Howe for ridding Newcastle United of the abject defensive tactics which were never in keeping with the type of football some generations of Toon fans were brought up on.
After Newcastle were promoted in 2017 their early years back in the top flight were all about parking the bus and grinding out results simply to survive.
Under Rafa Benitez in 2019 the Magpies were starting to evolve after the arrival of Miguel Almiron as an attacking force - but Steve Bruce stated after replacing the former Real Madrid boss that the players were too set in their ways and a “low block” was still needed to ensure survival.
Howe ditched parking-the-bus tactics soon after his arrival in November and while it took time to pick up results the second half of the season proved to be a real success as a front-foot 4-3-3 system resulted in an 11th-place finish.
Hislop knows Howe well from their stint together at Portsmouth in the early noughties and is excited about the future at St
James’ Park. He said: “I know Eddie Howe took on his coaching badges at a very young age at Portsmouth. “When he was at Pompey he was injured and started taking on his coaching.
“You’ve now seen how he has matured in that position.
“You see his beliefs in football and that he likes to play a certain way.
“There was no thinking of when you are down at the bottom of the Premier League you need to play a certain way. Eddie has saved the team by playing an attacking way. “They were comfortable long before the end and they can now look forward to what is to come in the future.
“It is refreshing to see somebody like Eddie bring that new thinking to Newcastle.”
United’s rise from the relegation scrap to the mid-table area came after Howe scrapped the Magpies’ back five and installed a three-man attack with more creative midfielders also in the engine room.
Hislop is a pundit with ESPN in the United States and admits Howe’s tactics turned heads across the Atlantic.
Hislop said: “In a way football needed it - not just Newcastle. “He has shaken off the old stereotypes and knowing Eddie the way I do it is great to see him leading that charge.
“Yes, he has only been here a short time and we will see what is to come of course but the icing on the cake for me is Eddie changed the way the game should be played at the bottom of the Premier League.” Hislop was part of an impressive recruitment drive by Kevin Keegan in 1995 as the goalkeeper, Warren Barton, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand were unveiled to fans. Now he is hoping for another summer to r e m e m b e r, adding: “I have
The icing on the cake is Eddie changed the way the game should be played at the bottom of the Premier League Shaka Hislop
been following events at Newcastle and far more closely in the last six months.
“I cover football in the US for ESPN so I have been able to see everything that is happening.
“The big change this new ownership has brought is a new energy and optimism.
“The promise which new owners bring and spending power does that.
“Regardless of that, though, what you are seeing from Eddie Howe is the way this team is now playing every week.
“I remember the days from 1995 to 1998 and the football we played.
“The fans responded with what they wanted to see.
“To see that back at St James’ Park atmosphere wise is the best part of it all.
“While we can sit back and think of what is to come and dream about what is next, just seeing better football and recognising this is what this city demands and deserves - that has been the best part of the last six months.”