Howe making right choices yet again as Toon start in style
NEWCASTLE United beat Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park to start the Premier League season in style with fans sent home delighted with the overall display.
Eddie Howe started with a 4-3-3 formation and his team stayed on the front foot for the entire game - even late on as they looked to add more gloss to the scoreline.
United were not under any major pressure from their fanbase with the delirium of new owners and admiration for Howe still clear, but there was definitely a need for three points against Forest.
With games against Manchester City and Liverpool later this month and a tough trip to Wolves to come after next weekend’s clash with Brighton2, seven to nine points will represent a good start from the opening five matches.
Anything more would be spectacular but after match day one it is definitely a case of so far, so good.
Howe’s call on Sven Botman looks like a great decision
Howe had referenced Bruno Guimaraes’ gradual progress from late substitute to a regular starter in his pre-match pess conference.
Yet few expected him to leave £34million Botman man on the bench.
The Dutchman will have mixed feelings over missing out on a place in the starting line-up. especially if he is thrown in at the deep end against City or Liverpool without having a feel of things from the start.
Yet after the game nobody could argue with Howe’s choice to start with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn.
Schar’s screamer sparked the new season into life while Burn was a towering presence at the back and looked unplayable at times.
With Jamaal Lascelles limping off in the warm-up with an injury, Schar and Burn’s partnership is now theirs to lose.
Newcastle hierarchy treat every win as important - as directors visit the locker room.
Last season Newcastle United coowner Amanda Staveley made a habit of passing on congratulations to the squad and backroom staff after the game.
During the Mike Ashley era, there was an air of novelty about the owner’s appearance as he would turn
up for the season opener or curtain-closer and rarely in between.
The Ashley era is over now at St James’ Park and the only trace of his time as owner is an old picture in the press room which shows the ground with Sports Direct signs around it.
The Ripon financier sums up the passiont the current ownership model have though and was there to roar the Magpies to an opening-day win.
Newcastle director Majed Al Sorour, along with David and Simon Reuben, also watched on with the Saudi golf supremo also making a visit to the dressing room area after the game.
Callum Wilson’s opening day record is impressive as he notches again
Wilson’s debut against West Ham two years ago came with a well-taken goal at the London Stadium on opening night.
He was then at it again with a strike against the Hammers
last term in a 4-2 defeat. His record was maintained when he looped home a quality strike against Forest and he now stands just one goal short of opening day goals behind none other than Alan Shearer.
Wilson’s goal tally for Newcastle is now 20 goals in just 39 starts.