Time to Go. or the Dark before the Dawn

Hope you all had a good Christmas and enjoyed the time whatever it was you were doing on the day. Only one Premier League fixture was played on Boxing Day and if you look at all the other fixtures for that “Game week” Manchester United Vs Newcastle United was always going to be the choice.

We all know what the result was so me talking about the game would be a stale and there are enough opinions across the world about the game itself. Go check out all of Lee’s videos who was at the game or other Newcastle fan channels because our fanbase are a passionate one that I am proud to be a part of. Only thing I will say is that Lewis Hall had a good game and I hope he is offered a new deal soon and that we recruit some back up because for a young player he has had a lot of injuries and his importance is obvious but it's also clear he cannot be expected to play every minute of every game without risking his development even further.

The first thing to say is a know I am a bit of an armchair fan when it comes to the men’s team (Not for the want of trying) Yes I am a fan of over 33 years but, I haven’t been able to see the first team in a competitive game since a league cup game with Palace in 2022. So as much as I live and breathe this club, I’m not travelling across England watching Premier League games and going across Europe for the Champions League. My thoughts and opinions are very much from a distance.

I love Eddie Howe; he is a legend in my eyes. He delivered our first trophy in my lifetime and for me by some distance is our best manager since Sir Bobby Robson. I’m very much still supportive of Eddie Howe for what he has done for us over the last four years and where I believe he still has the potential to take us over the next few years.

But as fans we must acknowledge that things have not been good enough this season especially away from home. The performance against Sunderland was embarrassing, we have a habit of showing up for one half per game and the tactics we deploy are becoming stale and even during matches the changes that are made are like for like so teams are finding it very easy to play against us.

If we drop points at Burnley the odds would be slashed on Eddie being sacked and there would be more fans to be calling for it. Then the eyes would be on the board because how ruthless would they be or how pro active would they be in their own in season management. They have had 1 instance of managerial change since the takeover and that was sacking Steve Bruce, and let’s face it every fan and their dog agreed with that one and even if Eddie wasn’t a fan’s first choice getting rid of Steve Bruce for anyone was going to be supported.

In January we play NINE Games that is an incredible number of games and then as you deep dive into that run, 6 of the games are at home, Liverpool and PSG away are the 2 last games of the month and our other away game is Wolves.

This is why I am putting so much importance on the Burnley game because if we beat Burnley, we can go into January with something more to build on, and our home form can only enhance what could be a successful month. The transfer window is coming up, and I would expect a couple of in and outs to bolster the squad regardless of who is the manager so January will be a directional month as far as the season goes.

Managers are always the easier ones to remove but the players must take some responsibility as well. Our wingers have been indifferent all season, Woltemade has been quality for us but struggles to complete a full game and Wissa’s return will be timely. Tonali and Joelinton have struggled for form and Elanga and Jacob Ramsey look like an extremely poor 95 million currently. The tactics can be called into question, but we know the players have another couple of levels that have been missing through vast periods of this season.

Back to Eddie Howe, in my opinion if he were to be removed as manager it would need to be in January following dropped points at Burnley or at the end of the season, I fear that any other time would be counterproductive. If the Eddie Howe era is coming to an end, I feel it should be at the end of the season but if it happens before then I would want a new manager to be given the transfer window and a strong chance for momentum.

The very loose comparison I’m going to make is with the late Arsene Wenger days at Arsenal. I know that our situation is vastly different from that, but it sprung to mind as I read the comments and reaction to not only the Manchester United game but also the horror show of December 14^th it brought me back to conversations with my Arsenal supporting brother and one of my best friends that time.

Arsene Wenger was an outstanding manager, he came in and revolutionised Arsenal achieved a massive amount of unprecedented success over a sustained period and that success increased expectations and brought in a new generation of fans. The move to a new stadium created difficulties financially for them and the rise of the Chelsea and Manchester City forced them into player sales they might not have had to which in turn left them behind in the challenge for major honours. This frustrated the fanbase, people were inpatient and the revolutionary style of early Arsene Wenger tactics had become slightly stale and overtaken by new and innovative managers coming to the premier league and a new generation of owners who were developing and progressing off the pitch as well with very little financial constraints.

Eventually it became clear that the time had come for Arsene to move on make way for the next generation of manager who could take Arsenal into the next level not only on the pitch but off it as well.

.

I may be looking at this completely incorrectly, but these are the similarities with the Arsene Wenger situation.

· New Stadium Financial constraints - PSR Financial Constraints

· Success from the Invincibles, New Stadium new fans expecting success - Takeover, Trophy win, bringing in new fans.

· Having to sell players and having to improve players or develop young players and compete with what they had - The Eddie Howe effect on players. Either improving what we already had or improving the players we could afford to buy while we navigate PSR.

· Arsene Wenger consistently getting top 4 regardless of how far Arsenal were behind their rivals, the drop in player quality and the other difficulties - Howe, Relegation saviour, 2 Finals including 1 win, 2 Champions League campaigns in 3 seasons.

.

Yes, I am frustrated and disappointed with the season, but I am not in the Eddie out camp. I believe he can turn it around for us and has earnt the right to get to the end of the season but as I said above the board could be facing their biggest test yet if we drop points away at Burnley because that could be the opportunity if they are ruthless enough.

Regardless of who is in charge we support the badge we support the team, through the good times and the bad and as many of us remember it could be a lot worse.

If this is what bad times feel like as a Newcastle United supporter, then I would love to jump in a time machine and tell younger me sat in the Gallowgate celebrating the Matt Ritchie winner over Burton Albion. yeah your going to be expecting a win against Man Utd at Old Trafford, in a cup semi Final for a 3rd time in 4 seasons, 10 points in the Champions League and not even got to even contemplate the thought of relegation.

Howay The Lads

(PS if you haven’t seen my Where things stand article it is tagged below. The Premier League part is slightly out of date but everything else is still accurate on there.)