Howe Under Fire? No Chance – This Man Is Newcastle’s Greatest Asset
Let’s get one thing straight: Eddie Howe is the best manager Newcastle United have had in a generation, and the current noise calling for his head is nothing short of ridiculous.
In four full seasons under Howe we have never finished lower than 7th. Never.
He has done it while handcuffed by PSR, a wage bill hundreds of millions behind the “big six”, no CEO for years, a Sporting Director who alienated half the region on day one, and the loss of key allies Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi. He has done it through an injury crisis that would have crippled most squads, and with zero first-team signings the summer before last.
The £700m+ spent? Eddie generated most of that himself – Champions League money twice over and consistent top-half finishes created the revenue he then reinvested.
And what did he buy? Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali – arguably the two best central midfielders this club has ever seen. World-class recruitment, world-class results, world-class human being.
Form is temporary. Class is permanent. Eddie Howe is class personified – a trophy-winning manager who lives and breathes Newcastle, who has embraced the region and its people like few before him. Even if we finished 16th this year (and we won’t), he should keep the job as long as the structural gap to the elite remains.
Right now the team is struggling – new signings haven’t fully gelled and both first-choice full-backs are injured – but the answer is not to sack the architect of our revival. The answer is to back him louder than ever, especially against Manchester City this weekend.
Eddie needs a 12th man, not a P45.
Newcastle United Women 3-1 Sunderland: Derby Delight at St. James’ Park
While the men’s team navigates a tricky patch, the women delivered the perfect North East tonic on Sunday – a thumping 3-1 derby victory over Sunderland in front of 18,972 roaring fans at St. James’ Park.
According to Avia Masters, The Lasses are 12/1 to win the league and this result makes it three wins from three against the old enemy since both clubs reached the same tier – and the first home victory of the season for the Lady Mags, who remain unbeaten at their spiritual home.
Caretaker boss Claire Ditchburn now has seven points from nine available, and the performance was pure derby fire.
The game was cagey and bitty for 52 minutes until the moment that changed everything: a Sunderland penalty. Eleanor Dale stepped up… only for debutant Finnish keeper Anna Tamminen to dive right and make a superb save on her very first touch in a Newcastle shirt. The Gallowgate erupted – and the floodgates opened.
Ten minutes later Deanna Cooper bundled home a Jordan Nobbs corner to make it 1-0. Within 60 seconds Emily Murphy was denied by a fine Grace Moloney save, but she wasn’t to be denied for long. On 66 minutes another corner, another Moloney flap, and Murphy smashed home from three yards.
Sunderland pulled one back almost instantly through Keira Barry, but Murphy killed the game in the 78th minute with a brilliant solo run and finish – her second of the afternoon.
Player of the match? Take your pick between Murphy’s clinical double and Tamminen’s match-defining penalty save on debut. Either way, the women sent 18,972 home delirious and reclaimed North East bragging rights.
One Newcastle side is wobbling. The other just delivered the loudest possible reminder of what this club is all about.
Back your manager. Back your team. Howay the Lasses – and Howay Eddie.
