- Murphy questions Howe
- Newcastle failure to have a recognised striker
- Magpies must learn their lessons ahead of the window
Newcastle United have failed to improve following an incredible campaign last year. They went on to qualify for the Champions League once again under Eddie Howe and won their first domestic trophy since the 1950s.
They have been below par this season, and they currently find themselves outside the Premier League top 10. On talkSPORT, Former Premier League footballer, Danny Murphy, believes Howe is to blame for the Tyneside outfit’s problems this season.
Murphy said:
“They’ve spent over £100m on strikers.. it’s [Howe’s] job to get those playing better… They’re not adaptable! I don’t see often enough Newcastle be pragmatic!”
A major crisis at the club has been their strikers and a lack of confidence between new summer signings Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. Murphy suggested “it’s (Howe’s) job to get those playing better”.
Failure of a season
Coming into the campaign, Howe had plenty of plaudits for his success during his time on Tyneside from Newcastle supporters and fellow Premier League fans.
Howe had overseen qualification for Europe’s elite competition once again, and the exciting football dazzled under the lights at St James’ Park.
This season has been the opposite, and a disappointing display against arch-rivals Sunderland has led to some sections within the fanbase calling for a change.
One of the side’s biggest complaints has been their options at No 9. Wissa has struggled to live up to his form at Brentford, while Woltemade has been selected as a midfielder in recent months.
“They’ve spent over £100 million on strikers, and as of right now, they’ve chosen the wrong ones. It’s the manager’s job to get those strikers playing better.”
Recently, Howe has decided to play Anthony Gordon as the centre forward, and while he scored in the Tyne-Wear derby, it doesn’t seem to be a long-term solution.
Another criticism the English boss has faced is his approach to games in later stages. This applies to games against the Black Cats and their second leg against Barcelona.
Murphy believes the Geordie outfit’s displays in the second halves have completely ruined their season.
“Their second-half performances and results, in a league table, would have them 16th, and that’s because they are not adaptable.”
Howe’s aggressive tactics have been a case of this, where it sees the Magpies run out of energy towards the latter stages of matches, being a major problem, and Murphy agrees.
“You need a supreme squad of athletes to play that way.”
Newcastle taught a valuable lesson
It was reported last week that the 48-year-old would keep his job at St James’ Park until the summer at the very least.
Some supporters have had enough of his tactical approaches to games and believe the only way the club will advance is with a new figurehead.
Others believe the lack of strategy and planning in the 2025 summer window has set Howe up for failure, and due to his success at the club, he deserves a second chance.
Whatever decision is made, the Tyneside outfit must remember last season’s lessons.
Alexander Isak’s departure was the first major sale under the new ownership, and it doesn’t seem to be the last.
Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento have been linked away significantly in the past few weeks, but the Magpies may be best off letting them go.
Keeping the Swedish striker until deadline day left a toxic atmosphere at the club, which didn’t allow the club to introduce new signings at the correct time, or Howe to embed them into the squad.
The consequences of last summer’s actions are for everyone to see this campaign, so Newcastle must make the hard decisions fast so they can begin to put the club back on the right track.
Murphy feels that the manager should be doing a better job, but acknowledging he was dealt a bad hand is also something to consider.
