by Is Howe’s high-intensity philosophy the problem?
Newcastle were superb for an hour against Milan on Wednesday but lost 2-1 and were dumped out of Europe at the end of a night when they looked to be in contention for the Champions League. The problem was that, not for the first time in recent weeks, there was a side lacking a starting XI of injured senior players who could not match Eddie Howe’s trademark high-pressure, high-speed, heavy-metal game. nurture Does the style need to be changed or tweaked? No one can often question the team’s commitment but no one, even Joelinton, can run through brick walls. It appears that an energy conservation Plan B is needed, possibly involving a cagier counter-attack plan. After all, all the best sides know how to slow down games and dominate midfield at the right moments. Otherwise burnout, mental as well as physical, surely beckons. It’s clear that bad luck, as well as the pressure of a European campaign in the Premier League, played a big part in Howe’s casualty list, but has the manager’s motto of “the intensity of our identity” been taken to extremes? Is it time for the sports medicine and science departments to review training methods and rehabilitation protocols?
Related: Newcastle left to rue a missed opportunity after an agonizing exit from Europe | Jonathan Wilson
Should Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at Chelsea remain the priority?
Repeated participation in the Champions League and a permanent place on the European map shows the main ambition of Newcastle’s majority in Saudi Arabia but they would also have preferred Howe to choreograph the club’s first crowd collection since the Fairs Cup in 1969. The Carabao Cup offers a possible route but the team’s league form has dipped and the focus has fallen, albeit temporarily, on Manchester United’s defeat in last season’s final. With crucial Premier League games at Liverpool and Aston Villa and at home to Manchester City dominating the fixture list in January as well as an FA Cup third round trip to Sunderland, would a two-legged semi-final next month in his field. too long for Howe’s players? His choice at Stamford Bridge will be interesting and Newcastle’s performance against Fulham on Tyneside on Saturday could guide him. After back-to-back wins – against Everton, Spurs and Milan – a fourth straight goal would not be welcome in Riyadh but, as Howe highlighted, confidence is still a “fragile” football commodity.
Where should January’s limited budget be invested?
Newcastle would earn a minimum of £10m and possibly £15m for participation in the last 16 of the Champions League. If they won the Europa League, £20m would have gone into the coffers of St James’ Park. The Saudis may be extremely wealthy but according to financial parity regulations they cannot splash as much money as they want on Howe’s squad next month. As Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, said recently: “There is a bit of flexibility in the budget for January but we will have to be quite creative. We don’t expect a large number of players to come in.” Much depends on whether influential left-sided centre-back Sven Botman needs knee surgery or whether he can make an early return to team action for the first time since September. With Nick Pope sidelined for at least four months and Howe’s No 2 goalkeeper Martin Dubravka having conceded nine goals in three games, leaving another keeper in place – Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris on loan, anybody? – it seems possible. In light of Sandro Tonali’s 10-month suspension for breaching betting rules, a loan move for Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City has been mooted but is increased central attacking competition and/or cover for Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak a bigger priority than midfield a strengthen now? Dilemmas, dilemmas.
Does Howe need to embrace his inner pragmatist?
The Newcastle manager says he refuses to apologize for the victory against Milan that promised to keep his side in the Champions League rather than trying to hang on for the draw that would have secured a place in the Europa League in the new year. Howe appeared to take great pride in “owning” an “all-or-nothing policy” in which one of his centre-backs, Fabian Schär, threw himself into attack after Milan drew level, but he also admitted that “the players are out on their feet”. Sometimes compromise and pragmatism are the wisest policy. As Milan’s talented Portuguese player Rafael Leão repeatedly dislodged Newcastle on the counter before Samuel Chukwueze’s late winner it was all too easy to remember when Howe walked into the San Siro for their Group F opener in September that he attends a live match in the Champions League. for the first time. His side earned a creditable point that afternoon in Milan and would go on to beat Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 at St James’ Park the following month but, in the end, a touch of managerial naivety explains why fans Newcastle packing their passes away. the rest of the season. During his time at St James’ Park, Sir Bobby Robson often talked about life, and football, in shades of grey. Perhaps the workaholic, ultra-tough Howe should be willing to settle for fun on the less traveled roads of the Europa League. Perhaps it is time for the Newcastle manager to take some time to smell the roses and relax a little more. He and his players don’t have to do everything at 100mph.
