3 Years of Eddie Howe: The Stats Behind the Story 📈

PLUS: Sandro Tonali speaks out on the fans' reaction to his gambling ban 🗣️

November 13, 2024

👋 It's been three years already! From relegation battles to Champions League football, the transformation under Howe is nothing short of remarkable - here’s a quick look back on the journey so far.

In today’s NUFC Pitch Notes 👇

  • 📈 The key stats that tell the story of Eddie Howe’s black and white army.

  • 📝 Two young Magpies receive their first England call-ups this week.

  • 🗣️ Sandro Tonali speaks out on the fans' reaction to his gambling ban.

🗓️ ON THIS DAY

On this day in 2002, Sir Bobby Robson’s Newcastle United achieved a dramatic 3-2 victory over Feyenoord in a UEFA Cup group stage match at St. James’ Park under the .

The match seemed to be slipping away, but in the dying moments of the game, Craig Bellamy scored his second of the night in the 90th minute, securing a last-minute win for the Magpies.

📋 THE MATCH REPORT

3 Years of Eddie Howe: The Stats Behind Newcastle’s Transformation Story 📈

Last Friday marked a significant milestone for Eddie Howe as he celebrated 3 years as Newcastle United’s head coach.

Since starting his role on November 8, 2021, Howe has turned Newcastle from a team in turmoil, teetering on the brink of relegation, into a serious top 4 contender.

In this time, we not only secured Champions League football for the first time in 20 years, but also reached a cup final for the first time in 24.

According to data from One Football, Newcastle's Premier League points tally since Howe’s arrival places them ahead of teams like Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United.

In fact, if you measure from mid-December 2021, Newcastle ranks as the fourth-best team in the league over the past 35 months, with only Man City, Arsenal, and Liverpool ahead.

"We're happy with the progress but you always want more. You're not entirely satisfied because we haven't got the one thing we wanted when we came in which was a trophy. That’s still the dream and it's still driving us.”

Eddie Howe

Howe’s high-pressing, possession-based approach has revolutionized Newcastle’s style, moving away from the defensive, counter-attacking setup of the past.

He’s revitalized players like Joelinton, converting him from a struggling striker to a midfield machine and sent Almiron on a goal rush Grealish could only dream of.

While the club’s ownership brought new financial power, Howe has been smart about signings, keeping within Financial Fair Play regulations while still strategically improving the squad.

He’s brought world class quality to the squad from the seasoned talent of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, to young stars like Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.

In just three years, Howe has overhauled our playing style and reshaped the club's culture and ambition.

Changes that have led to dramatic improvements in on-field performance and rekindled hope for a bigger and better future among all of us fans.

🤔 WHO AM I?

“I was appointed as manager of Newcastle United in 1992, taking over a team that had just been relegated to the Second Division. My “Entertainers” squad played exhilarating football, but we fell just short of winning the league, finishing 2nd behind Manchester United.”

Read to the end to find the answer.

📊 THE STAT SHEET

  • 📈 Overall Record: Since Howe's arrival, Newcastle has played 139 matches and won 70 - achieving a solid 50% win rate and a big improvement on the 30% win rate of his predecessor.

  • 🚀 Premier League Transformation: His first season ended with us climbing to 11th from relegation territory - but the real magic happened in 2022/23, where a top-4 finish earned us a return to the Champions League for the first time in two decades.

  • 🏆 Cup Final Comeback: The very same season, Howe took us to the 2023 EFL Cup final, marking our first major cup final appearance in over 23 years.

  • 🌟 Big Moments in Europe: We've already tasted the thrill of Champions League nights at St. James', with that unforgettable 4-1 victory over PSG - a statement to Europe that Newcastle is here to compete.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

  • 📝 Hall & Miley England Call-Ups: Lewis Hall has been selected for England's senior squad for the upcoming Nations League matches, for the first time, while Lewis Miley will make his first appearance for the England U21s.

  • 🏃‍♂️ Open Training in Saudi: The club is currently in Riyadh for warm weather training, with an open training session and fan event scheduled for this Saturday; tickets are free but limited and must be booked in advance through the box office.

  • 👏 Tonali Praises Toon Fans: Sandro Tonali has expressed his gratitude and surprise at the supportive reaction of Newcastle fans during his 10-month gambling ban, praising their lack of judgment and continued warmth towards him even as he attended matches as a spectator.

👋 Thats all for this week but if you want to catch up on anything you might have missed, you can read more over on our website. 

P.S. The answer to “who am I” is the living legend, Kevin Keegan.