EDDIE HOWE WANTS CONSISTENCY FROM NEWCASTLE AFTER BIG MAN CITY PERFORMANCE
Eddie Howe warns Newcastle their Man City win "means nothing" if they fail against Marseille & Everton. Harvey Barnes' brace sealed a vital victory ahead of a crucial Champions League trip.
Newcastle's manager, Eddie Howe, cautioned his team that their uplifting victory against Manchester City will not mean much if they do not follow it up with good results against Marseille and Everton.
Howe's team broke a streak of two Premier League losses with a 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola's team at St. James' Park on Saturday night, in what was possibly their best showing of the season so far.
However, with a tough schedule that includes a Champions League game in the south of France on Tuesday night before Saturday's league game on Merseyside, head coach Howe understands that this is just the beginning.
"The real test is Marseille and Everton," he stated. "We now have to play a very tough opponent away in the Champions League, and we need to perform well.
"We will have very little rest, and that's the biggest challenge for us. Our schedule between now and the end of January is packed, so now the players have to take care of themselves; we need to regroup and continue."
Newcastle will travel with confidence after a performance that showed both their clear talent and the determination that has marked their return to prominence under Howe when they needed it most.
Harvey Barnes had already missed two great chances, and Nick Woltemade had been stopped twice by Gianluigi Donnarumma, before the former Leicester player exchanged passes with Bruno Guimarães twice before finally scoring against the Italy international after 63 minutes.
Rúben Dias scored the equaliser within five minutes as City responded, but Barnes scored the winning goal with 20 minutes left after Guimaraes was just barely played onside by Dias.
However, it was the character that Howe's team showed in defending their narrow lead until the final whistle—a period that included eight minutes of added time—that was perhaps most pleasing for the Newcastle supporters.
When asked if his team had rediscovered its edge, Howe stated, "Yes, possibly. You need that. For me, that means doing everything you can to win, so yes, I think you need a bit of fire in your game, but within the rules, of course.
"You don't want to see red cards, but you want to see us being really tough but fair in trying to do everything we can to win."
Full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento both played well on their returns to the starting line-up after injury before the former went off with cramp, but Anthony Gordon, who has been dealing with a hip problem, and fellow England international Kieran Trippier, who hurt his hamstring in training on Friday, were not in the starting eleven.
Howe stated, "Anthony is very close; he just wasn't quite ready for today. But he's working hard, and I think he'll be ready in the next few days. I'm not sure about Kieran. I'm waiting for feedback from the medical team."
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
