Eddie Howe did not shy away from the fact Newcastle United are in need of a January shake up when asked about transfers on Tuesday.
In my opinion, Howe’s frustration on transfers has been bubbling away for more than 12 months at Newcastle. With results not going his way, it is starting to come to the surface week by week.
In what felt like a thinly veiled plea to Newcastle chiefs, Howe warned that his current squad are in danger of going “stale” if the Magpies don’t freshen up in the next window or two. On the back of two uninspiring windows, Newcastle have been held back by Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Chronicle Live understands that Howe will be backed in the January window – one way or another. But what level that backing gets to remains to be seen and where United will be in the table is also uncertain with a tough December to come.
But Howe’s words today sparked concerns as he said: “A new dynamic and a new team always has to form every season. Sometimes, the same squad can produce a staleness and a negative product. So, I think we’re aware of that.
“But it’s about what we’re able to do rather than ‘I want.’ ‘I want’ is clear. It’s what we’re able to do that is the key thing.”
Yet Howe is also a realist and while Newcastle’s owners PIF are wealthy, the narrative for a tough window ahead was set as early as November 30 by the head coach. Only on Saturday, after the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace which involved injury issues for Alexander Isak followed by subsequent questions on a new centre-forward, Howe said: “It is a difficult one. Because fully fit Premier League strikers who can score goals cost an extortionate amount of money that we don’t have. No I don’t think so. We have to back the players that we do have.”
It opens the door to trading at St James’ Park but how much damage will be done by the time the window swings open on January 1? The season had started with the need to get back into the Champions League with CEO Darren Eales and sporting director Paul Mitchell openly discussing Europe’s premier competition.
As things stand, Newcastle are four points off the pace and that could worsen over this pre-festive slate of top-flight fixtures. It doesn’t get tougher than Liverpool to kick off December with the mood dampened in the space of 30 seconds at Selhurst Park.
With Newcastle battling their way to a slender win, a lapse in concentration in the 94th minutes snatched away their victory. It would have been the ideal way to go into Liverpool but instead questions are being asked of Howe, his tactics and the team’s confidence.
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