Eddie Howe wants his Newcastle players to become legends on Tyneside

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Eddie Howe wants his Newcastle players to become legends on Tyneside, but he knows they will need to compete with Man City and Liverpool for trophies soon

  • Some Newcastle players faced criticism after last weekend’s defeat to Man City
  • Bruno Guimaraes suggested some fans had ‘short, stupid memories’ on Twitter
  • Newcastle host Liverpool on Sunday at St.James’ Park in the Premier League

A one-goal loss away from home to the best club side in the world would not usually lead to fan inspection and star players clashing with supporters online – but Newcastle United exist in a new world now.

One where the axis is spinning faster than ever before, and expectation has been sent skyward. A 1-0 defeat at Manchester City is no longer met with sombre acceptance. This, of course, is where the club wants to be.

But for manager Eddie Howe, the biggest threat to his own existence is himself. He is the overriding reason Newcastle’s journey has been accelerated to a land where his team are expected to compete with City.

In truth, the club are trying to keep pace with Howe, not vice-versa. In attempting to satisfy the head coach, the hierarchy have pushed back the guardrails of Financial Fair Play to the extreme of their perimeter this summer, investing £120million (£95m net) in four new players – Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall. That would appear modest to many given the riches of the Saudi owners, but the reality of their spending power is very different. In stretching their budget to the maximum, they have achieved the minimum required in deepening a squad about to be plunged into the Champions League.

This is why Howe will be mindful of the fallout that followed last weekend’s game at the Etihad, when one popular fan account invited feedback on Newcastle’s players by asking: ‘Is it too early in the season to start focusing blame on individual players? Was there an overreaction to the loss to Man City?’

Eddie Howe and his players faced criticism from some supporters following last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City

Newcastle have spent heavily in the transfer window on the likes of Sandro Tonali after qualifying for the Champions League

One of those pictured was Bruno Guimaraes, who responded by accusing the fans involved of having ‘short, stupid memories’. His tweet was later deleted and Howe said on Friday that the Brazilian had learnt a lesson.

The episode sparked debate – about the debate – among supporters. The majority sided with Guimaraes, but many said he should be open to criticism after a below-par performance. The subject then dominated what some fans felt was an unhealthy proportion of Howe’s pre-match press briefing ahead of today’s visit of Liverpool.

But this is their new world. Within it, they are now expected to beat Liverpool, a feat last achieved eight years and 14 matches ago. The Reds, it should be noted, are the only team to beat Howe’s Newcastle four times since his arrival.

There will be disappointment if today’s game ends in a fifth loss, and another week of scrutiny would be sure to follow. Is that right? It doesn’t matter, it’s the reality.

Newcastle have not beaten Sunday’s opponents Liverpool in the last 14 attempts

Bruno Guimaraes was unhappy with the reaction of some supporters to the defeat at City

That is not to say it is a negative, either. It is a sign of the progress made under Howe that there is an anticipation of them disposing of Jurgen Klopp’s side, just like there was a belief that they could – and should – take points from City.

The bar was raised still further following the 5-1 demolition of Aston Villa on the opening weekend, in which £52m midfielder Tonali scored and starred. It led to comparison with Kevin Keegan’s great ‘Entertainers’ of the mid-Nineties.

‘I want my players to be remembered forever, to become legends of the football club. That is something I want for them,’ said Howe. ‘For me, my own personal position, I do not look at it like that. I look at it very short term, trying to win football matches and then whenever the end comes, you look back and say, “You did your best”.’

In Newcastle’s new world, his best must mean trophies. And to do that they have to start by beating the likes of City and Liverpool.

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