It is ridiculous that Eddie Howe is even having to deal with this | OneFootball

I find it embarrassing as a Newcastle United fan that Eddie Howe is even having to address this.

On Friday morning during his pre-Arsenal match press conference, the NUFC Head Coach asked about the Lewis Miley situation.

Eddie Howe having to deal with the fact that the United teenager has been subjected to over the top criticism and even abuse, from people who are supposedly Newcastle United fans.

It is a sad fact that many of those commenting on social media and running YouTube accounts, are so desperate for attention that they are willing to say anything to get noticed, with them knowing the more extreme they go then the better chance they have of getting that attention. Plus in certain cases, also generating money for themselves by doing so.

All comments on any player, positive and negative, are fair enough, up to a point.

However, when these supposed Newcastle United fans are doing this kind of over the top criticism and indeed abuse in many cases, direct at a player on social media, then they should really have a look at themselves.

The thing is as well, Lewis Miley has done incredibly well at Newcastle United, far more than any of had any right to expect.

As a 17 year old he was thrown in the deep end when the worst injury crisis in the club’s history came along, Lewis Miley in autumn 2023 finding himself part of a pretty much never changing eleven that played game after game, every midweek and weekend. The teenager holding his own in midfield as Newcastle faced a tough set of fixtures in the Premier League and Champions League.

A combination of injuries to other players clearing up, injury issues of his own, Sandro Tonali seeing his suspension end, plus of course Eddie Howe wanting to give this young talent time to develop without too much pressure, have meant that Lewis Miley has never had a proper run of starts since that run of games as a 17 year old.

The lifelong Newcastle United fan only turned 19 in May and has still only started 16 Premier League matches, so for anybody to be giving Lewis Miley over the top criticism, never mind those giving him abuse, is beyond belief, simply embarrassing.

Eddie Howe says Newcastle United will do all they can to “protect” Lewis Miley after the teenager received “totally unjustified” criticism on social media.

Miley chose to limit replies to a post he made on X to mark his 50th first-team game for Newcastle against Bournemouth on Sunday. It is understood this was a precaution as he is still young.

The 19-year-old came under fire from a minority of social media users, who questioned the midfielder’s first-team credentials during the goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium, and Howe said it was “totally unjustified”.

Howe knows such comments can affect players if they “absorb it”, but the Newcastle head coach stressed Miley was “strong mentally”.

“Lewie is an outstanding player and a player we need to support and protect,” he said. “Sometimes, when you look at him, you forget how young he is because of his stature and maturity both on and off the pitch.

“All players need support, help and guidance. Anything other, I’d encourage the players to switch off from and just try to listen to the people that really matter in their lives like their family, friends and, of course, us. We will do everything we can to support him and treat him as the talent that we know he is.”

Miley, who made his first Premier League start since February, praised Newcastle’s “amazing” travelling support in his post on Sunday and wrote that he was “very proud” to have hit the milestone for his boyhood club.

The teenager has since received hundreds of messages of support from fans while captain Bruno Guimaraes wrote that his team-mate was a “top player and guy”.

Though Joelinton said it was difficult to see fellow midfielder Miley “get stick”, the Brazilian stressed genuine supporters were behind a “really good young player”.

Howe recalled he was briefly on social media years ago, but the Newcastle head coach said he “cut it off because he didn’t like what he read – even though they were probably right”.

However, Howe suggested his players were unlikely to follow suit if he advised them to do so.

“I don’t think I have the right to do that,” he said. “I would advise them, probably. If it helps you, do whatever you need to do but if it doesn’t, come away from it. It’s all about how you absorb the things you are reading.

“It’s about having a support network of family, friends, agents – a really close circle you trust. Together with the coaching staff, they are the big pillars of support you need as a player to produce your best football. Any other opinions really can be negative for you.”