HOWE’S WAY Toon success built on respect
EDDIE HOWE’S cultural reboot of Newcastle has laid the platform to transform the club.
Toon may have spent £94million on five new players in January to help avoid relegation, which has helped their recent revival.
But five months into the job and Howe has been quietly working behind the scenes to build a fresh club attitude that is as valuable as their big-money transfer spend.
“Respect is a huge word,” said Howe. “Between staff and players.
“Knowing we are all there for the same purpose. Everything we do is to create a better working environment, and respect.
“Players may be earning millions of pounds and be big names, but everyone is important. Every staff member, or player.”
He moulded an under-performing squad who didn’t win a game until December 4 – and only once until January 15 – into a squad who then won six in seven games before two recent defeats.
The transformation started on Howe’s first day when players and staff filled in forms detailing aspects of their lives.
It included names of their partners, kids, birthdays and outside interests.
Howe said: “It is healthy and can start relationships and conversations that normally wouldn’t happen. We have had some interesting talks.
“We’ve done a mixture of things. The culture of any organisation will determine its success.
“It is about how people interact with each other. You can stimulate that. Get people talking and mixing.”
And Howe (right) reiterated his approach is built around one word – respect. He said: “It’s how you behave day to day.
“We have some great professionals here and some great people.
“And if you have great people you have a chance of making a great team.”
That has been illustrated by the dressing room pictures taken after victories which include those who played, but also subs, physios and kit men
– perhaps 50 staff.
“That’s something I started at Bournemouth.
You have to enjoy the high points together too,” said Howe.
On the pitch he has updated his training sessions and tactical plans from his Bournemouth days and got them into digital format.
Players walk into work and find clear, concise notices on the day’s training and the aims.
Physically they all maxed out in Dubai by cycling in an altitude chamber.
“It was interesting to see their characters under that stress,” said Howe, who relaxes between the hard work with the occasional game of tennis.
“As you get older and your playing days get further away you forget how players think. “You must never lose that and try to understand their emotions that go into training, playing, winning and losing.
“With experience you get better at handling it.
“I don’t want to get too far away from a player’s mentality. I try to use my experience to intervene when I see a problem.”