Journalist Keith Downie has heaped praise on Eddie Howe as he has turned Newcastle’s form around since his appointment at St James’ Park.
Howe was appointed as the Newcastle manager on 8th November, and since then, he has turned them from a side that was losing regularly to a side that has lost just two out of their last 11 Premier League games. Newcastle now sit firmly outside the relegation zone, nine points above the bottom three on 31 points.
Although it can be different each year, 29 points would have been enough to ensure Premier League safety last season, and in the 2019/20 campaign, 35 points would have been enough to remain in the league, so Newcastle are seemingly in a comfortable position with nine games to go.
With the drastic turnaround recently at Newcastle on and off the pitch, Downie spoke to GiveMeSport and highlighted how much the manager is rated around the club.
“I have to say, he’s impressed a lot of people within the club and observers as well. I was not expecting things to turn around as quickly as what they have. And I’ve not heard one negative comment at all,” Downie said.
TIF Thoughts on Newcastle United…
It did look gloom and doom at Newcastle before Christmas, as they failed to register a win in their first 14 games of the season, with the majority of these games coming under former boss Steve Bruce.
With their newfound funds, the Magpies invested well and recruited Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Chris Wood.
Burn, Targett and Trippier have all been especially instrumental in the change at Newcastle. Burn has had an average player rating of 7.16 over his last five Premier League games, Targett has only lost twice in a Newcastle shirt out of the seven games he’s played, and Trippier scored two free-kicks which ensure back-to-back wins for his side.
Without the new financial backing, these transfers wouldn’t have been possible, but it is Howe who has recruited these players and got the deals over the line.