TOON CRIER
There is a lot to shout about under Eddie... now they must step it up big time
By
NOBBY SOLANO was blown away by Newcastle’s second-half comeback in the Premier League.
But the Peruvian has warned the Geordie faithful that the winds of change at St James’ Park will take time to deliver the success that the club’s Saudi owners crave.
Only Liverpool and Manchester City picked up more points than Eddie Howe’s side in the final 19 matches of the season.
And while survival was the name of the game when the ex-bournemouth boss arrived, those priorities have changed dramatically since January.
The mood on the Tyne is buoyant. Solano, though, is calling for patience as Howe looks to bring in reinforcements this summer.
Solano said: “Eddie has come in and given the Newcastle fans what they have been waiting for for so long. Under Mike Ashley, there was no ambition.
“Now the new owners have come in and they want to go for it. But it will take time.
“The new owners have come in but you have to be patient. The first aim must be to get back into Europe.
“But the competition is so strong. You’ve got teams that have been built over a number of years.
“You’ve got Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham – they’re all still way ahead of Newcastle at the moment. Newcastle have to build step by step.
Fantastic
“Just to get into Europe would be fantastic. That has to be the first aim. After that
Eddie
Howe must be given the time to build a team that can get stronger and stronger.”
Newcastle’s business in the January transfer window was perhaps an indication of Howe placing as much emphasis on mentality and attitude as talent.
The arrival of Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Matt Targett and Chris Wood transformed Newcastle’s season. Meanwhile, the signing of Bruno Guimaraes (below) has brought back memories of the glory days of the mid-1990s, with the Brazilian setting pulses racing.
Newcastle’s upturn in fortunes not only saved them from dropping into the Championship, it also served to make them a much more attractive proposition as they look to splash the cash this summer.
Maintaining the feelgood factor will, Solano says, involve getting the right players in for the right price.
“You can bring in great players but the most important thing is to
build a team,” he said. “If you don’t build a team and rely on individuals then that will only ever get you so far.
“I think you have to be realistic. If you’re a top, top player then you want to be playing in the Champions League.
“That’s why I think Eddie needs to do what Bobby Robson did. He needs to build a Newcastle family – a group of players that believe in each other and that the fans believe in too.
Mentality
“You need players with the right mentality, players that work really hard, not for themselves but for the team.”
Solano, the assistant coach of Peru, was speaking from Barcelona, where his country are training before meeting Australia in their play-off for a place at Qatar 2022.
The last time the pair met, the South Americans won 2-0 at the World Cup in Russia four years ago. Another win would see Peru qualify for back-to-back World Cups for the first time since 1982.
“It’s a huge game, particularly because it’s a one-off,” said Solano. “There are no second chances.”
Eddie needs to do a Bobby Robson now and build a Newcastle family – a group of players that believe in each other and that the fans believe in too