A few days on from that Tyne and Wear derby disaster, the feeling of frustration and anger at Sunday’s display still lingers as a Newcastle United fan.
It was unacceptable on so many levels, and Bruno Guimaraes did not hold back in his post-match assessment, calling the performance a “mess” when speaking to the media moments after our 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.
Almost 48 hours later, Eddie Howe faced the media on Tuesday morning, taking some tough questions on what went wrong, the players’ mentality on the day and how he’s responded such a damaging defeat.
Starting with Bruno’s comments, Howe admits he was “90% right” in his assessment, but played down claims that we “were a mess”, insisting we were well organised off the ball, just so poor on it:
“Bruno’s comments were 90% right, initially. I don’t think we were a mess. I don’t think the other parts of his original comments were wrong.
“We weren’t a mess – we were very well organised. We just didn’t deliver the performance that we wanted to.
“Bruno is very emotional and that’s part of his success. That’s why he’s such an outstanding player for us and leader for us.
“It’s making sure our messaging is right to the outside world. The mindset now is we can’t affect the past – we can only affect the future. We need to do that today.”
He is partly right in terms of our defensive shape, with us allowing Sunderland just one shot on target. However, it doesn’t feel like the right time to defend any aspect of our performance on Sunday after such a flat display, especially when Bruno was probably referring to us being a “mess” in possession more than anything (which we were).
Another reporter then asked why the players didn’t seem quite as ‘up for it’ compared to our rivals, to which Howe said:
“The players knew everything they needed to know ahead of the game. There was no stone left unturned in that regard, I can assure you of that.”
“Sometimes the game takes a path that maybe looks different to the reality. People will draw perceptions from the scoreline, but the players knew, and the players are hurting, and the players didn’t want to produce that type of performance.”
The boss was measured in his post-match assessment on Sunday, but was reminded of the level of animosity being felt within the fanbase at such a poor display.
Responding to that and his approach after our most damaging defeat of the season, Howe explained why he must always keep his criticism constructive and remain level-headed:
“Part of my job is to remain very level. If you don’t and you join the emotional rollercoaster that football brings, you can damage relationships which are hugely important.
“I have to be constructive in my feedback and criticism which I will endeavour to do because we have to be very honest with the players and they have to be honest back with us.
“Then we have to find a way forward and we have to find a way to get consistent results which is what we’re still searching for this season.”
On that search for consistency and the lack of it this season, Howe conceded it’s a “horrible feeling” to see his side deliver performances well below what they are capable of, questioning if it may be a mentality issue for the first time:
“It’s a horrible feeling, because when you enter a game you want your players to go on to the pitch and give absolutely everything they have within their soul and their body to get a positive result.
“That’s the only thing I ever ask a player to do. Then I back their abilities once they go on to the pitch with that mindset to deliver a really good performance.
“There have been a few times this season where I’ve left a game unsure on that, and that’s mentality. That’s knowing you’re representing yourself and your families when you enter the pitch.
“Your job is to do your best, and I think we have lost a little bit of that, and it’s up to us to try and find a way to get that glue back.”
Howe then discussed how we can respond to Sunday’s disappointment and the heavy criticism that’s come our way, urging everyone to stay together while we still have so much to play for in league and cup:
“I can’t do that myself, it’s going to be us together as a group. I understand it (the criticism).
“All I urge the supporters to do is what they’ve always done since I’ve been here and that’s support the team when they’re playing.
“We have a huge group of games to come and we have the opportunity to still make this an amazing season so while we’re in that position while everything can still be positive we have to attack it with all of our efforts combined.”
Finally, Howe was also asked if his Newcastle side have gone backwards after such a poor start to the league season, admitting we’ve faced some “bumps” in our adjustment to a new-look side built at the end of a tough summer:
“We’ve entered a new dynamic for the team and we’re adjusting to that and I think with that comes some bumps and some rough patches. I don’t know whether backwards is the right word.
“I think we’re changing and morphing into something else and hopefully that something else will be very positive in the future.”
Sorry Eddie. You’re a superb manager. But we were a mess. Pretending otherwise is denial.
Peaco(Quote)
said: “It’s clear we didn’t play well [against Sunderland]. Certainly in possession, out of possession and defensively [was better]. This was the mess mentioned by Bruno
J(Quote)
Howe is trying tobe diplomatic and too nice.
FFS this type of performance has been going on for most of this season and quite a few times last season as well where the players don’t turn up.
It’s about time as a manager he deals with it.
Joseph(Quote)
sunderland where bad… but us where a mess shambles no passion fight apart from bruno eddie looked a worried man on the touchline in my eyes can it get worse prob not … move on to next match
ian barber(Quote)
He’s not wrong. The team were defensively organised against Sunderland.
But so what? It means nothing if there is barely any attacking threat whatsoever and there wasn’t, and that’s been the case for most games this season. Yet he still tries 4-3-3 with Woltemade up top on his own. It’s just ridiculous. It was actually better with Gordon up front because the team was creating chances. Not finishing them, but at least creating something. The worst football to watch is when a team doesn’t even create chances. I think this is basically what Bruno was getting at. In terms of attack, it was, once again, terrible. Why? Because it was 4-3-3 with Woltemade up top on his own (and therefore no attacking press) once again. It’s Howe’s fault. 100%.
Howe Out(Quote)
We all know this was a dustbin of a performance, an awful shambles, but there’s no point expecting Eddie to criticise any of his players. Righty or wrongly (and I’m quite sure, rightly) Eddie will never do this.
Most interviews with managers/players are a total waste of time for this reason.
davewallace(Quote)
No European footie next season definitely puts a wrecking ball to PIF and the 2030 agenda .. affecting commercial income ,sponsorships and TV money .. the
Mike(Quote)
No European footie next season definitely puts a wrecking ball to PIF and the 2030 agenda .. affecting commercial income ,sponsorships and TV money .. that outcome will be the end of the Howe era .. and perhaps that’s a good thing as the current group are looking a bit jaded with new additions like elanga and Ramsey poor and constant injuries to botman and co .., all things must pass
Mike(Quote)