Newcastle’s failed bid for Unai Emery on Wednesday morning has left the north-east club in the lurch, occupying the relegation zone and currently managerless after Steve Bruce was sacked two weeks ago. Yet with Eddie Howe now linked with the vacant managerial role, there is an element of excitement on Tyneside – especially after comments made by Howe in the past.
Howe was linked just hours after Unai Emery turned the job down to stay at Villarreal following his side’s 2-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League.
Reportedly citing a lack of forward-planning from the board over the job, the Spaniard ruled himself out of the running.
Howe has now been touted as manager, with Sky Sports reporting that Newcastle are officially in talks for the former Bournemouth manager.
And having led Bournemouth to safety for four seasons on a modest budget, Howe’s comments about the football he will play should excite Newcastle fans.
Having been renowned for breeding Bournemouth’s attacking flair, Magpies fans will no longer be dreading the defensive-style of football Steve Bruce produced.
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“We always decided to go on the attacking side because we know that if we pictured Bournemouth at our best, it was free-flowing attacking football, it was not sitting back, soaking up pressure and defending,” Howe told Sky Sports.The Magpies’ upcoming fixtures are crucial, with Brighton, Brentford, Norwich and Burnley in their next five.
Three of these could be considered relegation six- if the Toon don’t take anything from those Premier League status could well slip away from them.
However, with Amersham-born Howe having experienced relegation battles aplenty before, he knows what it takes to climb out of the drop zone.
“We prided ourselves on that and worked on that continually to be better at our attacking play.
“We looked at that as our best form of defence, to attack and attack hard.
“I don’t think you can be something you are not; my mindset is to try to win games first, rather than not lose.
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“My mindset when I go into a game, even if people will think we have set up differently, we are deep-lying, we are passive, it’s always to win the game. Always.”
Crucially, he has worked with much of Newcastle’s side before in Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie and star striker Callum Wilson.
And this familiarity could pay dividends in the relegation battle.
The Magpies’ upcoming fixtures are crucial, with Brighton, Brentford, Norwich and Burnley in their next five.
Three of these could be considered relegation six-pointers and if the Toon don’t take anything from those games their Premier League status could well slip away from them.
However, with Amersham-born Howe having experienced relegation battles aplenty before, he knows what it takes to climb out of the drop zone.
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