Howe’s post match press conference was illuminating for what he didn’t say more than he did say
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe gestures from the touchline against Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)
Eddie Howe said in Friday’s press conference that his fire to rediscover Newcastle’s top form is burning brighter than ever but the evidence on the pitch in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth did not reflect that.
Newcastle succumbed to an eighth defeat in 11 matches in the Premier League and a fifth in their last six games at St James’ Park. If Howe is prepared to ‘fight harder than I’ve ever fought before’, that message wasn’t evident with his team’s performance.
United were flat, listless and devoid of any inspiration and while Howe stopped short of criticising his players, his hesitation in his post match press conference when asked whether his players share the same fire he possesses to turn it around was more powerful than any other answer he delivered.
“Erm,” Howe replied before taking seven seconds to continues his response.
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“Yeah, I’m hesitating because I’m speaking on behalf of other people, and that’s very difficult to do. Erm, I believe they do. From what I see in the training ground I don’t see any sense of poor attitude or poor commitment to their work.
“I see a group of players giving their all. I don’t see an issue with that. If I did I would say so or I would say behind the scenes and make the following adjustments so obviously my team selection in part represents that as well.
“I pick who I feel trains well and I pick who I feel deserves to play based on what I see. Of course that represents a statement if you like but that has always been the case.
“Of course we all need to give more. The players need to give more. I need to give more to turn the results around.”
It felt like a manager protecting his players but also being very careful to answer in a diplomatic way that did not absolve any blame for another sorry episode in a brutal season.
But the hesitation spoke volumes and, Howe portrayed a manager frustrated that his players are not carrying out the message he is delivering on the training ground.
“Rigidity is something that we don’t coach at all,” Howe added.
“Fluidity is. I thought there were some really good bits again today up until the box, up until the final third. Of course, people could maybe contradict that, but I thought there were some good moments.”
The question is whether Howe’s message is still being well received by his players or if it is being ignored. He believes he can turn the situation around at Newcastle but the answer to that question will come in the final five games of the season.
“Of course it can,” Howe replied when asked if the situation can be rectified.
“It’s just winning games. It’ s a very simple remedy but very hard to deliver. Momentum is against us at the moment. You could feel that in the big moments.
“You’re looking at big players to swing momentum your way and they haven’t done that individually enough.”