It seems a long time ago since we saw Eddie Howe sitting in the stands on the 6th November 2021, as he watched a winless Newcastle United side pick up a hard-earned point against Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Since then he and his coaching staff haven't looked back, as in the last seven Premier League games Newcastle have picked up six wins emphasizing how far we've come under the young coach. Eddie's first game in charge Newcastle were sitting bottom of the Premier League table and only on six points four months into the season. Newcastle are now on thirty one points and sit 14th in the standings, only four points off the top half of the table.
Despite Newcastle spending in the region of £80 Million in the January Transfer window, Eddie has had to quickly utilize these players in the way he sets the team out and apply them correctly. Kieran Trippier, Matt Targett and Dan Burn have been instrumental in picking up these most recent results as they have added consistency and ability to that back line. With Newcastle having one of the worst defensive records in top leagues prior to Eddie arriving, it was imperative that he immediately got the best out of the new acquisitions. In those seven fixtures Newcastle have conceded four goals and kept three clean sheets. It's important to note that four of those games were away from home also.
Eddie's current reign hasn't come without obstacles and challenges. Newcastle's top goalscorer Callum Wilson picked up a serious injury in December, causing him to miss these last three months of football, with no imminent time frame of his return. Kieran Trippier, who arguably has been our best player since January picked up a foot injury against Aston Villa in February leading him to missing the last four league games. Newcastle's star man Allan Saint-Maximin has also been injured this last fortnight, meaning Eddie has had to put faith in those who were not experiencing first team football, and look to get the best out of them. What's been most impressive about Eddie's coaching stance is the way he's improved individuals, such as Ryan Fraser, Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey, Fabian Schar and others who at the start of the season you could see were low in confidence. Joelinton and Fraser have been the stand out players, with a lot of questions raised whether or not Fraser would be able to work with Eddie again and if Joelinton could live up the price tag which has casted a shadow ever since his arrival. Fraser is looking fitter than ever and has put in solid performances, and Joelinton has gone from a front man unable to score and provide, to a box-to-box midfielder breaking up play and showing real ability on the ball. The players of course have to take credit, but there's no question Eddie's impact has given them the platform to push on and show the faithful their own standards.
A lot of people within the media have said Eddie must be in the frame to receive the Premier League Manager of the Season Award, however historically the majority of the winners have been the title winning managers. It maybe Eddie adds his name to that list alongside George Burley, Harry Redknapp, Alan Pardew and Tony Pullis, who like Eddie achieved incredible results with limited expectation.
2 1 or 1 0 to newcastle Bruno or Wood to score at anytime in the match