BREAKING NEWS: Newcastle United tipped to sack Eddie Howe following their lose to Brighton as ‘extra worry’ emerges.
BREAKING NEWS: Newcastle United tipped to sack Eddie Howe following their lose to Brighton as ‘extra worry’ emerges.
Unfortunately, it is one of, if not the single biggest negative of modern day football. Just a fleeting glance at some prominent social media accounts in recent days would have you believe it is time for Eddie Howe to head for the exit door.
“Time to go?” posed one NUFC-centred account, in a post seen by over 40,000 users, in the aftermath of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Brighton – just the Magpies’ second loss of the season – and that was not a standalone message after the St James’ Park showpiece. Scroll back far enough and you will undoubtedly have seen similar, predictable themes after the 3-1 reversal at Fulham last month and potentially even in the aftermath of the drab stalemate with Everton before the most recent international break.
After all, Newcastle have failed to beat Brighton, Everton, Fulham, Bournemouth, Luton and Nottingham Forest, at home, in the last year and they have been poor, performance-wise, so far this term. After a disappointing season of missing out on Europe last year, Newcastle are at risk of being cut adrift from the top four only a quarter into the campaign.
However, taking a step back and offering a more reflective view, Saturday’s defeat can be put down to one thing: Newcastle not taking any of the, many, chances that fell to them at St James’ Park.
Alexander Isak swiped at thin air 12 yards out from goal in the first-half before sending a glorious one on one straight down the throat of Bart Verbruggen moments before Brighton’s opener. The Swede had another handful of opportunities after the break, while Anthony Gordon could have landed himself a brace too.
On another day, Newcastle win that game and subsequently jump up to fifth-place in the process, leaving them with just one defeat in nine games. To add, black and white diehards have repeatedly called for better performances of late – and certainly got that over the weekend.
However, there is certainly some blame to shoulder for Howe – and issues have emerged in recent weeks that need addressing in the near future. The goals have dried up for Newcastle of late and Saturday’s latest blank in front of goal means it is now 438 minutes since the Magpies scored from open play.
Isak is failing to fire, question marks linger over Howe’s best 11 and we are a quarter of the way through the campaign and Newcastle are yet to really get going.
One clip doing the rounds on social media on Monday morning showcased the sheer difference between last weekend’s loss at Brighton and Newcastle’s clearcut win over Crystal Palace this time last year. In the post, shared by Newcastle’s media team 365 days ago, Gordon can be seen sweeping home to finish off a well-worked move that saw numerous bodies in the penalty area, overlapping runs, a perfectly-executed ball into the box and, crucially, a fine finish from one of Howe’s attackers.
Compare that short passage of play to moments of Newcastle’s lacklustre showing in the final third from Saturday and the difference is night and day.
The extra worry lies with the fixture list ahead as Newcastle enter a make or break period of the campaign. Howe is preparing to face Chelsea, both in the league and the cup, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Liverpool in the coming six weeks.
Struggle in those games and Newcastle risk falling too far behind the top four. The north east outfit are already five points off Aston Villa who occupy fourth, with the current top three of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool already beginning to look capable of kicking on and away from the chasing pack.
Howe will point to his record in these situations in the past. After almost three years in the job, the Newcastle boss is yet to endure the kind of lengthy, poor run that would have put his position in true jeopardy. But Newcastle are now winless in their last four Premier League matches their longest winless streak since losing four in a row between December and January last season.
Defensively Newcastle have been solid, with Dan Burn emerging as a contender for player of the season so far this term, while Nick Pope is showing his pre-injury form. There are multiple reasons to be positive despite recent results.
It’s safe to say the vast majority are not hitting the panic button yet. Those aforementioned social media moaners are significantly in the minority and Saturday’s showing, finishing aside, was enough to fend off the usual pile on that occurs after a rare St James’ Park defeat.
However, Howe is certainly in the firing line as the pressure slowly begins to build after a start to the season consisting of varying results – and performances – with the fixture list not getting any easier in the next few weeks.
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