As Newcastle’s stature in the Premier League grows following a trophy in March and another top five finish secured in May, criticism of our start to the 2025/26 season is inevitable when we sit 14th and closer to the relegation zone than the top 10.
The 3-1 defeat to Brentford was worrying last weekend and almost a repeat of the dismal display we saw at West Ham a fortnight ago, leading to conversations about Eddie Howe’s position at the club.
Those debates feel premature and he retains the full backing of the Newcastle hierarchy, with Alan Shearer also insisting that he has too many ‘points in the bank’ to be in any danger of the sack.
However, Shearer has highlighted a big chance he wants to see at Newcastle in the coming weeks, urging Howe’s side to get back to that team that are tough to play against and energetic, questioning where the fight and pressing has gone in recent weeks.
Our former No.9 questions where this ‘intensity is our identity’ style has gone in both home and away games, feeling it’s a key part of our play that’s currently missing.
Speaking to Betfair about Howe’s position and our lack of identity so far this season, Shearer said:
“I guess a manager’s always under pressure to get results, but I think the job that Eddie Howe has done at Newcastle and what he delivered in the Carabao Cup, the trophy, I guess he’s got a lot of points in the bank.
“What I would look at is Eddie’s Newcastle team have always been full of energy, being tough to play against, not giving the opposition any space.
“That in the away performances is missing, and even home form really. The thing that is missing for me is the high press and the energy.”
I agree with Alan, and have asked myself similar questions. What is our identity now? Where has our high-intensity gone?
Perhaps it’s a slight change of approach to help us cope with our busy schedule in league, cup and Europe, but we have looked too easy to play against at times, which was never something you could say about Howe’s Newcastle in our prime.
The worrying thing is midfield. The lack of a goal-scoring number 9 will be fixed soon enough, but the engine room, “the best midfield in the EPL” last year has ground to a halt. Why?
davewallace(Quote)