Brutal honesty from Eddie Howe – Just the way that I like it

1 month ago 16

ARTICLE AD

This is just one of the many reasons why I love Eddie Howe.

No matter what the result, this is what you get from the Newcastle United boss.

Brutal honesty.

Win, lose, or draw, Eddie Howe tells it like it is.

The Newcastle United boss reflecting on what happened on Saturday at Craven Cottage.

Eddie Howe:

“A slow start and the first goal was a killer blow for us.

“I thought that in the first half we were too reactive.

“We conceded that really poor first goal.

“Whenever you go away from home and you then give the opposition help and a stimulus, the crowd then gets in the game and the first half was really hard for us.

“This was the worst we have played this season.

“Especially in the first half.

“The other games have not been perfect… but we have been really solid and resilient.

“I anticipated a strong performance today… but it was not there.

“In the second-half we chased the game effectively until the end.

“But we need to reflect on it and analyse it.

“Games swing on big moments.

“The character and attitude was better in the second period but we have to learn our lessons from that first half.

“Every game is different.

“We are trying to pick the team that we feel gives us the best chance to win each game.

“Harvey Barnes definitely deserves to start and I was happy with the team [that I selected].

“The players that started the game were part of our comeback against Wolves and I was anticipating a really good performance, but it wasn’t there, really disappointing.

“Joe Willock did so well against Wolves and I felt it was right to reward him with a start, but then you see the game and I question whether that was the right decision from myself, so I will take responsibility for that.

“Joe is just back from injury and has done very well to come back.

“He is such a big player for us and I was keen to see him play but it was a tough one for him and the team.

“I thought that we were better in the second-half, so there is a degree that the substitutions helped us at that stage, maybe not the latter ones where I thought our performance tailed off later in the second period.

“I thought that Lewis Hall did really well and Jacob Murphy of course set up the goal.

“There was a much better feel about the group in the second half.

“Fabian Schar’s chance is probably a key moment in the match.

“We won the ball back high, Fabian had the chance to score and unfortunately he didn’t take it.

“We have to start the game better and be more front-footed, more dominant in our performance.”

Fulham 3 Newcastle 1 – Saturday 21 September 3pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Barnes 46

Fulham:

Jimenez 5, Smith-Rowe 22, Nelson 90+2