Eddie Howe: Newcastle midfielders didn’t ‘function well’ in Brighton loss | OneFootball

Newcastle United succumbed to a 2-1 defeat yesterday, leaving the Magpies with only two wins after eight Premier League games this season.

The Geordies were hoping to build on their League Cup win last term, but the Toons are paying the price for a dysfunctional transfer window.

Newcastle were overrun by a rampant Brighton & Hove Albion side that wanted it more, with the Magpies losing out in key duels and second balls.

Eddie Howe’s side was especially second best in the engine room, and the English manager made changes even though it could not rescue a result for the club.

Speaking of his midfield, Howe said (via the BBC), “They are brilliant players, but they didn’t function well today, but I don’t think the team did.

“When we conceded the second goal, we were the dominant team. We responded really well in the second half.

“They (Brighton) didn’t have many attacks in that spell, but they did go and score.”

Magpies legend and record Premier League goalscorer Alan Shearer also echoed the same sentiment.

Shearer said on BBC TV’s Match Of The Day (via the Argus), “Newcastle, I thought, were too easy to play through at times.

“Newcastle covered six kilometres less ground than Brighton out of possession.

“It was unusual for Newcastle, the first goals they have conceded away from home.”

The Magpies have an enviable midfield (Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes) but need quality on the bench.

While much of the summer transfer window focused on how the club missed out on attacking signings, they needed reinforcement in the engine room and didn’t get it.

The decision to let go of Elliot Anderson still stings, and the addition of Jacob Ramsey does not move the needle.

New sporting director Ross Wilson needs to help identify and recruit at least two quality midfielders to bolster Howe’s roster.

The Geordies could use a natural holding midfielder and ball-winner, a profile they currently lack in the squad.

A more expansive playmaker for the final third will also go a long way. They need a bit of X-factor, but whoever comes in has to fit Howe’s gritty midfield set-up.