Howe’s Confident Response to Criticism as Liverpool Looms🗣️

👋 Liverpool is looming… with Newcastle's recent form raising a few questions, Eddie had some tough questions of his own to answer - here’s what he had to say at the press conference.

In this weeks NUFC Pitch Notes 👇

• 🗣️ Howe faces criticism with confidence as Newcastle enters busy Christmas schedule.

• ⚽ Looking forward to a double match week as we face Liverpool (H) & Brentford (A).

• 💪 Isak shares some positive updates about his recovery and outlook.

🗓️ ON THIS DAY

On this day in 1993, Newcastle United beat Tottenham 2-1 at White Hart Lane under the management of Kevin Keegan, thanks to a brace from Peter Beardsley.

A second half brace from Peter Beardsley secured a crucial win in a season where we went on to finish 3rd in our first ever FA Premier League season.

📣 THE MAIN STORY

Howe’s Response to Criticism Ahead of Liverpool 🗣️

Recent criticism hasn't gone unnoticed, particularly regarding our goal-scoring struggles - but Howe's keeping his chin up promises to stay true to his attacking philosophy.

On Recent Results and Attacking Issues 📉

After a series of wins against Arsenal, Forest & Chelsea, we’ve faced a bit of dip.

Let's be honest - that Crystal Palace game was a bit of a nightmare, with just one shot and none on target.

But it’s clear Howe’s not one to shy away from criticism on the subject, admitting - “We're not going to deny that (lack of attacking output) and we're certainly looking at a few things."

Despite recent struggles, Howe believes the team’s attacking ability is still intact, even if results haven’t reflected that.

He also noted, “We just have to give the players confidence”, highlighting the need to unlock the team’s offensive potential.

The Philosophy of Attacking Football ⚔️

Howe's philosophy doesn’t seem to have wavered - attacking football is non-negotiable.

He stressed that his players must remain purposeful in their approach, something he believes is essential for both the team and the supporters.

“I would rather not be in a job than not fulfil that promise to the supporters”, Howe said, showing his commitment to entertaining the fans with the style of football we love.

Squad Freshness and January Plans 🔄

With the hectic festive period just around the corner, Howe's keeping a close eye on his squad's energy levels.

While he's not planning any major overhauls, he's open to making some smart tweaks to keep things fresh.

Howe suggested that "the same squad can produce a staleness" - a bit of squad rotation might be just what we need to find a more consistent form throughout the second half of the season.

Of course, the goal is not just to improve for the immediate future, but to build a stronger, more consistent squad in the long run.

A Crucial December for Newcastle 🎄

This December will be pivotal for both Howe and Newcastle United, with a busy fixture list that could define our season.

Howe’s approach to the challenges ahead is clear: stay true to attacking football, give players the confidence to express themselves, and make necessary adjustments.

As Howe put it, “We want to play attacking football… we just have to become better than that.”

🤔 WHO AM I?

⏩ THE WEEK AHEAD

Upcoming Fixtures: Liverpool (H) & Brentford (A) 🏟️

Newcastle will look to bounce back from recent inconsistent performances as they host Liverpool at St James' Park.

We've struggled to find our rhythm in attack, but a another solid defensive performance could make it more difficult than Liverpool have been used to.

However, Eddie Howe's side has not defeated Liverpool in the league since 2015, and the Reds are in formidable form, sitting at the top of the Premier League.

With Alexander Isak and Dan Burn still in doubt, Howe's tactics & team selection will be crucial to challenging Liverpool's dominance.

On Saturday, we head to Brentford for a fixture that we've won 7 times out of our last 9 meetings, though we'll be facing a side currently on a 4-game home winning streak.

Women's FA Cup Preview 🏆

The Lasses are back in action this Sunday at 13:00 as they look to progress the 4th round of the Women's FA Cup against local rivals, Middlesborough.

The match will be played at Kingston Park after a crucial two-week recovery and reflection period following their brutal 6-1 defeat against Liverpool in the Championship.

📊 THE STAT SHEET

Key Stats for This Weeks Fixtures 📊

• 📈 Only 4 points currently separates us from the Premier League top 4.

• 📉 Newcastle have lost their last 6 Premier League games against Liverpool.

• 🏆 10 places & 15 points separate us & Liverpool at the top of the Table.

• 💪 Newcastle have won 7 of their last 9 against Brentford - with 1 draw & 1 loss.

• 🔥 Brentford haven't won any of their last 5 against Newcastle.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

• 🎙️ Isak's Interview Updates: In an interview with beIN Sports, Isak shared that his injury is improving and he's hopeful for full fitness ahead of the Liverpool match. He also expressed confidence in Newcastle's ability to challenge top teams, stating they feel motivated to get back to winning ways.

• 🏗️ Training Ground Upgrade: The squad are set to receive a significant boost as the club's owners have decided to upgrade Newcastle's training ground. This investment will bring the facilities up to elite Premier League standards, aligning them with clubs like Manchester City.

• ⚽ Lewis Miley Featured for U21s: After impressing with Newcastle's Under-21s, Lewis Miley is expected to miss the senior squad for the Liverpool match. Howe is focusing on giving Miley minutes in the youth side after his recovery from injury.

👋 Thanks for reading, thats all for this week - you can catch up on anything you might have missed over on our website. 

P.S. The answer to “who am I” is the local target man, Andy Carroll.