Eddie Howe facing fall-out of fluffed-up expectations and transfer window shambles, though he will…
An underwhelming summer transfer window has left Eddie howe without the new star quality a club needs to challenge and refresh, and left the club vulnerable to losing him to England
The collective delirium and happy clapping has slowly given way to harsh reality. But you can’t blame Newcastle fans for thinking they were on a fast-track to the Premier League title. They were told so by their owners.
Then co-owner Amanda Staveley said last year: “We will win the Carabao Cup, we will win the FA Cup, we will win the Champions League, we will win the Premier League.” Saudi investment chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan said: “We want to be No1.”
In other news, the club have bought Eddie Howe only one player who is a guaranteed starter in the last THREE transfer windows.
They didn’t have the cash to buy Marc Guehi for £75million. Veteran reserve keeper John Ruddy, and goalless Sheffield United striker William Osula have arrived.
I’ve always been suspicious of owners fluffing up expectations, riding a wave of popularity, and folk unquestioningly following the PR.
Words don’t win titles. Cold hard cash, from top-notch sponsorship deals and clever player sales, paves the way to winning, and Newcastle are still miles behind the elite.
They can’t hide behind PSR rules, and potential points deductions. It’s three years since the Saudi PIF took over. If they were serious about Newcastle being champions, surely they’d find a way for their other billion dollar companies to sponsor Newcastle?
Is the Toon now just a parked asset of a nation state, gathering value? Is it still a vehicle for national pride to be driven to the top of football?
Unless they prove otherwise soon, I’d suggest that LIV Golf, the Saudi Pro League and hosting the World Cup are now their prime Saudi sporting missions. Not their North-East of England outpost.
Eddie Howe says it could take a decade to build the Toon into top challengers. By then, perhaps even sooner, the underwhelming events of this summer may have pushed him towards being England manager or elsewhere. Hopefully Howe, who has earned better backing, can conjure another miracle with his coaching, against the odds.
The way Sandro Tonali has been supported through his 10-month ban by Newcastle and their fans has been remarkable. They cheer his name and back him despite the gambling addiction secret he kept while signing a £5m-a-year contract. Football fandom has become a more understanding place, recognizing heroes can have flaws too. Long may that continue.
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