Newcastle's injury situation is significantly worse than other teams who're also playing in Europe, so why is this? Eddie Howe has no experience operating at this level and the question surely has to be asked ! is his style of play unsuited for a side playing in so many competitions? I personally believe it is too much to ask the players to keep up the intense workrate every few days, so he'll need to tweak things moving forward. Your thoughts please.
I think his style of play got us where we are. If we can upgrade the squad / bring more out of the young players we've got then cover is in place. Changing the style of play mid season leads to an inevitable fall off in performances while the new system is implemented. We've also brought people in specifically for our style of play, they may not be suited to something calmer
Forget that it's me asking the question and surely it's something to ponder. There is no evidence that Howes style is suitable. I'm not saying it hasn't done the job, but moving forward it will need changing imo.
Think a jurno said the other day this is the worst injury crisis in over a decade at the club so it seems a bit of plain bad luck as well. Krafth and Manquillo are longstanding, Willock is a reuccurence from end of last season, Wilson's hamstrings are infamous, then you have players like Murphy, Burn and Longstaff are just freak tweaks and knocks in game, Barnes toe and Anderson stress fractures are other weird ones, Targett's hamstring won't be to do with the training/playing style, he's barely played. Botman possibly but one the whole it just feels like bad luck to me. A few could be to do with the style of play and maybe not enough rotation early on in the season but for any draw backs we may be having - we are in the QF of LC, in with a shot in the CL and European places in the league so for me it's getting results even with the squad stretched to the limit currently. We will know more later in the year (maybe even as soon as December - 8 games in 24 days...) but even with only 13 fit senior pros currently we are still preforming well and getting results with a great style of play that's enjoyable to watch so I have no complaints.
Also looking at others injury lists: https://premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php NUFC - 11 Spurs - 11 Brighton - 9 Chelsea - 9 Man U - 8 We aren't the only ones struggling at present but we are top of the list...
I've been thinking about this and also looked at other teams around us; Spurs, for example, have a lengthy list of first teamers out, Man U have lost quite a few since start of season, and so on. We're not alone. But we're still shopping in Lidl rather than Waitrose so that means a tactic not based around possession. So I don't think there's an easy answer. Would we be happy seeing more Rafa-ball, like the second half vs PSG? Doubt it. Some of it clearl'y isn't his fault - Botman, Tonali, Longstaff just aren't injury prone. Burn isn't either; though we do need a first choice left back still. Clearly there's something to be said for the price of footballers and their resilience. Man City are paying £50m+ (or snapping up deals for clearly better players) regularly. The injury records of the likes of their big buys - Grealish, Gvardiol, Dias, Rodri, Haaland - speaks for itself, they're bionic footballers. Additionally, because they're all just 'better' - like other bigger clubs (L'pool, Arsenal, etc.) - they get to play possession football so have no need to run themselves into the ground. Liverpool and Arsenal are very similar, just better players from years of FFP being on their side. Same with all the bigger teams - better players, possession style, plus resilience. We cannot expect that of Longstaff, Anderson, Almiron, Barnes, Willock, Lascelles, Krafth, etc. Their passing and ability to control a game isn't there. So Howe has to work to other strengths, dynamism, athleticism, attack at pace, press at pace, which them comes at a cost. I've blamed Howe in the past for the injuries - but that's the price you pay for better football, more goals, and progress. Eventually we'll have Tonali in who can play like that 60 games a year. Gordon already can. Joelinton can, Bruno more or less can, Trippier can/could. I expect Livramento actually can as well. Then we'll add in 5 or 6 in the New Year of a level befitting Championship challengers and CL regulars. That Howe is getting 4-1 vs Chelsea, 1-1 vs PSG with what he has is ****ing remarkable.
Ah right, gotcha. OK, well I think 'someone' has a voodoo doll and is knackering our players just for 'fun'.
The style of play is what it is, it should be embraced from first team to under 5’s. I like it, I understand it, I want to see more of it. This is our style. It’s now the Newcastle way. Half the injuries aren’t anything to do with style of play. And another quarter are because the players in question have leg muscles made of play dough
Because Pep has spent billions already and so doesn't have to use tactics that incorporate your mates Lascelles, Longstaff, Murphy, Burn and Ritchie in his match day squad. We can try to play keep ball with them, if you think it will work.
So you think it's suitable well the future will tell us but the latest evidence suggests a different style of play is the way the best clubs go about it. Unless howe goes on to eclipse the best style of play there is of course.
This, all day, every day and thrice on a Sunday. The man is a god amongst mortals, look at what he is doing, with the squad he's got. Honestly think for someone like Miley's development there couldn't be a better manager at present - as a prime example - but Tino, Gordon, Hall and Anderson equally when you look at what he's done with the more senior pros like Lacselles, Almiron, Joelinton, Longstaff etc! Best bet is to sit back and enjoy the ride because he won't be here forever and he is not a manager we want to lose, the man could leave a lasting dynasty at the club that is the most successful in our history and nearly untouchable - thinking along the lines of Fergie and Wenger at Man U and Arsenal in the 90's-10's. I'd be truly gutted for him if he's here another 2/3 years and hasn't got a trophy to his name (because there will be an expectation in the next few years to be winning them) as that could see him out the door but if he get's that first one I honestly think he could open the floodgates with the way the club want to progress a bit like Klopp at Liverpool - nothing for years but then they were the best alongside City for 5 years or so.
I'll leave that to those in charge. If the style helps to bring success, then fine. If it doesn't work with a stronger squad (say, after another 4+ transfer windows), then maybe it will need looking at. So far, we are miles ahead of what Eddie took on.
I agree and at no point have I indicated otherwise. I'm merely questioning whether he will have to change the style in the coming years. I believe he will.
