Eddie Howe and Newcastle United forced change of emphasis – Only temporary measure | OneFootball

Eddie Howe and Newcastle United head into the international break now, the second of three in a row.

Today marks three years since the Newcastle United takeover and in a month and a day, it will see the NUFC Head Coach’s own three year anniversary at St James’ Park.

Since 8 November 2021, we have all learned a lot about Eddie Howe, or at least you all should have done.

What he has proved is that he has all kinds of different ways of using the available resources to him.

His first three seasons all very different.

The survival fight of 2021/22.

Top four and Champions League qualification in 2022/23.

Dealing with the worst ever season in Newcastle United’s history in terms of injuries, yet still only finishing eight points off top four in 2023/24.

So what have we learnt in 2024/25 so far?

I think it is worth comparing and contrasting these first seven Premier League matches of the current season, with the final seven of 2023/24.

Final seven Premier League matches of 2023/24

Newcastle 4 Tottenham 0

Palace 2 Newcastle 0

Newcastle 5 Sheff Utd 1

Burnley 1 Newcastle 4

Newcastle 1 Brighton 1

Man U 3 Newcastle 2

Brentford 2 Newcastle 4

Played 7 Won 4 Drawn 1 Lost 2 Goals Scored 20 Goals Conceded 10 Points 13

Final seven Premier League matches of 2024/25

Newcastle 1 Southampton 0

Bournemouth 1 Newcastle 1

Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1

Wolves 1 Newcastle 2

Fulham 3 Newcastle 1

Newcastle 1 Man City 1

Everton 0 Newcastle 0

Played 7 Won 3 Drawn 3 Lost 1 Goals Scored 8 Goals Conceded 7 Points 12

Only one point the difference from these two sets of seven fixtures BUT very different the way they have come about.

The most striking is the number of goals, 20 scored and 10 conceded in those final seven of last season, then this time 8 scored and 7 conceded in the opening seven PL matches. Indeed, if you take out the Fulham match and then include the cup matches this season, you then get in eight games 9 scored and 5 conceded, yet Newcastle still winning five of those matches and drawing the other three.

For Eddie Howe and Newcastle United it has been a forced change of emphasis.

However, only temporary measure.

Eddie Howe has had to use very limited resources wisely in these opening couple of months of the 2024/25 season.

Dealing with injuries for Botman, Lascelles, Wilson, Lewis Miley, Targett, Dubravka, Isak, whilst Willock still taking time to get back to full fitness and sharpness.

Both Schar and Tonali suspended for a number of matches, whilst Gordon, Trippier and Bruno all having minimal pre-seasons and having had a very busy full year of football, the trio all taking time to get back to their full potential.

Eddie Howe has had to be pragmatic and use the strengths that he has had available. For example, Nick Pope back in goal and Joelinton available again to help protect that defence.

Much has been made of the number of shots that Nick Pope and Newcastle United have faced this season. However, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of them have been from distance and not hitting the target.

For Eddie Howe it has had to be largely safety/defence first.

Last season’s NUFC Premier League era record of 85 goals in 2023/24, was probably realistically never going to be matched this season, though not quite envisioning as low as only 8 goals from 7 Premier League matches so far. However, no way either that Eddie Howe was going to be wanting to see a repeat of the 62 goals that were conceded last season, 46 of those 62 PL goals conceded in the 22 matches Nick Pope didn’t start.

You have to play to your strengths and minimise your weaknesses and for Eddie Howe this season, that has meant concentrating on the strengths of Pope, Burn, Joelinton, Schar (when available) and others, keeping a great disciplined shape and looking to not concede.

Eddie Howe recognising that in these early stages of the season, he just didn’t have the firepower to really go all out at the opposition. Isak not getting great service as a result and then picking up that broken toe injury, Wilson missing all of the opening couple of months, whilst as I say, the likes of Gordon and Bruno, both so crucial to Newcastle when at their attacking best, the pair taking time to get close to their best.

However, I can see the clouds clearing and every chance of blue sky ahead, in terms of Newcastle United getting back on the front foot.

I think for some time it has been a case of Eddie Howe targeting after this October international break, as the moment when he can start to get back to his preferred approach. Bruno and Gordon have looked more like themselves in recent matches, especially the Man City game, whilst both Isak and Wilson are scheduled to be back for the Brighton match, with Eddie Howe having looked after their longer-term interests, as well as Newcastle’s. A bit of pain now in terms of having to do without them both BUT that allowing hopefully both of them to get themselves right and be able to attack the rest of the season. Lewis Miley also set to be available later this month, whilst both Botman and Lascelles getting close to then having a clear path back to playing again, now the bulk of their rehab is behind them.

I think we saw some really good signs of that midfield trio of Tonali and our Brazilians starting to click at times at Goodison Park. Get Isak back in the team and Gordon on the wing, Barnes in the mix and the likes of Wilson also available, then I reckon we can see a very different Newcastle United in terms of threat and playing focus, compared to what has largely been the case so far.

I am not getting carried away with the idea just yet but worth noting that in the fourth place season of 2022/23, Newcastle United scored a very decent 68 goals but only Man U in the top six didn’t score more than NUFC, however, at the other end nobody conceded less than Newcastle’s 33 goals, only champions Man City matching that.

If Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United players can repeat something like those kind of goals stats this season, I think every chance we can be up there.