EDDIE HOWE REJECTS ENGLAND LINKS AND PLEDGES LOYALTY TO NEWCASTLE UNITED
Eddie Howe has rejected rumours linking him to the England job, insisting he is devoted to Newcastle’s long-term Premier League goals.
Eddie Howe isn’t backing down from the Newcastle United job, despite all the noise about his future. He’s heard the talk—some fans online think he’s hit the ceiling with this team, and the media keeps pushing the idea that he’s a favourite for the England job if Thomas Tuchel steps aside after the World Cup. But Howe’s staying focused on the job at hand.
CEO David Hopkinson has his back, too. Hopkinson shot down the England rumours and called Howe “devoted” to Newcastle. He’s even set his sights high, saying the club wants to win the Premier League by 2030. When someone brought that up, Howe didn’t bite. “Timelines and estimations are really hard for me as a manager,” he told Chronicle Live. “Honestly, I don’t know what next week brings, never mind four years from now. I just try to make the players better every day. Each transfer window, you hope to strengthen the squad, but beyond that, you see where it takes you. Setting deadlines doesn’t feel right to me.”
Asked about where he sees himself and the club after five years in charge and two years left on his contract, Howe just shrugged. “Who knows? I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I focus on giving my best every day until someone tells me otherwise.”
When reporters pushed him about the England job and whether he’s thinking of stepping down, Howe just shook his head. “That’s news to me. Every day, I give everything for this club, the players, and the staff. I want to inspire the team, help us win, and move the club forward. That’s all that matters—my own future isn’t really the point.”
Howe’s also aware of the fans who aren’t happy with him right now, even if he avoids social media. “Honestly, I’m glad I’m not online if it’s heated. But I think you can see we’re fighting out there. The players give me everything, game after game. Wednesday was tough—we wanted to make the final, and everyone was fired up for it. But conceding early made it hard. Still, credit to the lads for pushing in the second half and trying to get back in it.”
He didn’t sugarcoat the challenge ahead. “Now we go again, no rest. I can promise you, the players are maxed out—physically, mentally. We see how hard they work, and it’s the same for the staff. We all want success. The path isn’t straight; there are bumps, and this season’s been tough in lots of ways. But we’re giving everything we have to get the results we all want.”
WHY ANTHONY GORDON CLAIMS SUNDERLAND ARE "NOT A VERY GOOD TEAM"
Anthony Gordon calls Sunderland a "poor team" after Newcastle surrenders an early lead to lose 2-1 at St. James’ Park.
Anthony Gordon didn’t hold back after Sunderland’s 2-1 win over Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby, describing his team as “not a very good team” compared to their rivals. This defeat came just days after Newcastle suffered a crushing 7-2 loss in the Champions League against Barcelona.
Gordon opened the scoring by taking advantage of a Sunderland error from a goal-kick, giving Newcastle the early lead. But after halftime, Chemsdine Talbi equalised, and Brian Brobbey scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, sealing a derby double for Sunderland. This marked Newcastle’s second loss to Sunderland this season, following a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light back in December.
Reflecting on the match, Gordon admitted that Newcastle struggled after the break. He told the club’s media outlet, “We were alright for the first 45 minutes, but that’s been a recurring issue this season. We knew we had to address it going into the game. We just didn’t start the second half well, and Sunderland were better after that.”
When asked about losing at home, Gordon was clear: “It probably hurts more because the other game was away. Both losses sting, but losing at home with that first-half performance is tough to swallow. We did well early on, and I thought Sunderland looked poor, but then we let them back in and handed them the win.”
What frustrated him most was his belief that Sunderland isn’t as good as Newcastle. “In my view, they’re not a very strong team compared to us, so we shouldn’t be losing to them. Playing away is always harder because of their fans and the atmosphere, but at home, especially after how we started, we should have held on. Starting the second half poorly has been a problem for us repeatedly.”
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer also weighed in, calling the loss “worrying” for Eddie Howe’s side. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Shearer highlighted the stark contrast between the two halves and criticised the manager’s inability to motivate the team after halftime.
“Sunderland clearly wanted it more in the second half, which is damning considering Newcastle’s earlier strong performance at the Stadium of Light,” Shearer said. “Eddie got the tactics wrong, and that’s concerning and disappointing.”
He also acknowledged Sunderland’s performance, saying, “They were the better team and deserved the win, even if it’s painful to admit.”
Looking ahead, Shearer predicted a difficult period for Newcastle during the upcoming international break, with fans and media likely to be critical of the team and staff. “It’s going to be a tough couple of weeks. People will be frustrated and angry. Eddie and the club leadership will have to deal with the backlash and find a way to manage it.”
ALAN SHEARER SLAMS NEWCASTLE’S "LIMP" PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING 2-1 SUNDERLAND DEFEAT
Alan Shearer labels Newcastle "pathetic" as Brian Brobbey’s 90th-minute goal secures a 2-1 derby win for Sunderland.
Alan Shearer didn’t hold back when assessing Newcastle’s second-half performance against Sunderland, calling it “pathetic” and "weak". Newcastle went into the break leading 1-0 thanks to Anthony Gordon's goal in the 10th minute, and they looked the better side early on, with Sunderland offering little going forward.
But after the break, Sunderland came out like a different team, immediately taking control and pinning Newcastle back in their half. They earned a deserved equaliser in the 57th minute when Chemsdine Talbi converted from close range after Brian Brobbey’s initial shot was blocked. Sunderland kept the pressure up, and though Newcastle thought they’d taken the lead again when Malick Thiaw headed the ball past goalkeeper Melker Ellborg, the goal was ruled out by referee Anthony Taylor due to an offside by Jacob Murphy that interfered with the keeper.
In the end, Sunderland sealed a 2-1 win thanks to Brobbey’s goal in the 90th minute. His second shot after an initial save found the net, delivering the decisive blow.
Statistically, Sunderland’s win made sense; they racked up 2.45 expected goals (xG), compared to Newcastle’s 1.45, and had more shots, shots on target, and clear chances throughout the match.
From Newcastle’s perspective, the contrast between their first and second halves was glaring, and Shearer expressed his frustration plainly on social media. He described their second-half effort as lazy and limp, leaving little room for debate.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher highlighted Sunderland’s resilience after the break, reminding viewers that the last time Sunderland played at St James’ Park in the Premier League was a decade ago, and Newcastle has struggled against them. Carragher saw this as a huge moment for Sunderland’s young fans, especially considering their recent playoff rise and now their ability to claim a double victory over a major rival.
This win lifts Sunderland above Newcastle in the league table, moving them up to 11th and bringing them within three points of seventh-place Brentford, who hold a spot that could lead to European competition.
Looking ahead, Sunderland will face Tottenham on April 12, while Newcastle travels to Crystal Palace on the same day. Both teams have plenty to play for as the season progresses.
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