As the noise gets louder around Eddie Howe, Newcastle United must decide what their ambitions are
Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson and head coach Eddie Howe(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
On October 20, 2021 Newcastle United sacked Steve Bruce. It was 13 days into the PIF-led takeover and the consortium finally put him – and the fans – out of their misery.
That was 1,572 days ago. Or four years, three months and 19 days if you prefer. In many ways, a long period – especially if you’re a football manager.
And especially if you manage Tottenham Hotspur or Chelsea.
Let’s take Spurs for starters. On the day that Bruce and the rest of the Steves got the bullet, Nuno Espirito Santo was still in charge at the club (although only for another fortnight or so). He’s now at West Ham, of course, via Nottingham Forest while Tottenham are currently managed by Thomas Frank, although for how long is anyone’s guess given some of the rumours coming out of North London.
Frank didn’t succeed Santo. He replaced Ange Postecoglou, who in turn replaced Antonio Conte, via two caretaker managers in Ryan Mason and Christian Stellini. In total, since Bruce departed St James’ Park, Spurs have had six managers, two of them caretakers.
It’s a point worth making ahead of Newcastle’s trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday where they will be led by the only manager they have had during that same period: Eddie Howe.
As the noise around the Magpies boss increases in volume, amid a series of poor results and worrying performances, have a look at what could await Newcastle should they decide to move on from their manager. Have a look at Spurs, a club that has regularly pulled the trigger in a hunt for bigger and better.
While Newcastle have finished fourth, seventh and fifth in the last three seasons, Spurs have ended eighth, fifth and 17th. They now sit in 15th spot after another campaign of struggle.
Of course, Newcastle aren’t having a season to write home about this year. Languishing in 12th is a huge disappointment to everyone concerned, especially after the summer spend. It’s a poor Premier League this season too, where only a modicum of consistency – see Man United – could get you into the Champions League spots.
What sets Newcastle apart from Spurs, however, is the stability and consistency that PIF and Howe have provided in recent years. It’s easy, of course, to be stable when you are winning games and everything is flying but when the pressure is on, when a dip inevitably comes, this is when the mettle of your leadership is shown.
Mauricio Pochettino led Tottenham to the Champions League final in May 2019. Five months later he was sacked with the club in 14th, his first blip in charge. How’s that worked out for you since, Spurs? Jose Mourinho, Conte, Postecoglou, caretakers galore – they’ve all come and gone and still the club is no better off.
There’s nothing wrong with chasing the dream. There’s nothing wrong with striving for more, to be better, to reach for the stars. But also, there’s nothing wrong with stability, continuity and backing a successful manager when he needs it. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
There’s also nothing wrong with understanding the pace in which you want to progress, and the realism around it. David Hopkinson’s stated aim of winning the Premier League and challenging for Champions Leagues by 2030 is a nice soundbite and he’s right in stating that he has to set timelines on targets, but unless Newcastle can somehow double their revenues in the next four years they are still going to be in the wake of Man City, Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and even Spurs. There’s no new stadium on the horizon and no magic wand.
What are Newcastle United? With the eighth-biggest wage bill in the league, they should be in and around that position, challenging for cups and European places. If that sounds familiar then it’s because that’s what they are achieving. Getting into the Champions League is the target, but with four or five spots available they will have to punch above their weight, which Howe has done continuously.
This season has been poor and the manager is accountable on a lot of levels but the mitigating factors are staring everyone in the face. And still they keep punching – a cup semi-final, Champions League progress. It could be better but in a season of undoubted transition, it could be worse too.
What else do Newcastle fans want? Winning the title isn’t easy – Liverpool have done it twice sine 1990; Arsenal look set to end a 22-year drought this season; Chelsea’s last triumph was 2017; Man United will be 13 years since they lifted the trophy.
In the last 20 years Newcastle finished fifth once and 10th twice until Howe came long. Now you have people calling for his head.
The other thing he has done is connect to the region. It’s not ‘just a job’ for him. Howe is committed to his work, to the history and fabric of the community. He’s not a coach who moves from gig to gig. He cares about this club and the people around it. I’d rather have that than a rent-a-job manager parachuted in for a couple of years.
Chelsea are often used as the model that works, regularly changing managers and still winning trophies. That’s not the type of club I want to support, though – ruthless, soulless, with an entitlement that makes you want to scream.
There’s a risk that Newcastle could go that way. There’s an element of the fanbase already a way down that route.
We will see over the next few months what kind of a club it wants to be.