Eddie Howe's brilliant response when asked if Newcastle's season is a 'write-off'

Every time Eddie Howe speaks, he impresses me, and this was true once again during yesterday's pre-match press conference ahead of tonight's FA Cup clash with Fulham.

After taking inevitable questions about potential outgoings, incomings and injuries, he was asked about suggestions our season is a 'write-off' now we've exited Europe, crashed out of the Carabao Cup and fallen 14 points behind the top four places in the Premier League.

Howe was having none of it and rightly so. He insists the gap between ourselves (in 10th) and those above us in European positions is small - we're three points behind Brighton in 7th and six off West Ham in 6th - and revealed our determination to attack the FA Cup and the second half of the 2023/24 season.

The boss accepts this is another "big moment" in our campaign, but with signs of our best form returning in our opening two games of 2024, some winnable league games to come and players returning from injury - Barnes, Wilson and Willock are all "showing good signs" - he has every right to remain positive. Here's what he had to say in response to those 'write-off' claims:

“There are different ways of looking at things. That’s one way and it’s a very negative view.”

“We’ve had some unbelievable experiences this year which we will benefit from in the future. We’re 10th in the league but there is very little gap between us and the teams above us.

“We’re determined to go well in the FA Cup so we have to be very positive about the situation. The players are very keen to do well in the second half of the season, and hopefully that will show.”

“It’s a big moment in our season, as the Sunderland game was, and the lads really responded to that challenge. This is an important competition for us, it takes on a new dynamic because of what’s gone before.”

!We are desperate to get our best form back and progress. I think there were signs of that against Sunderland and Manchester City. We take this game very seriously.”

“I hope, from what I’ve seen in training, that you will see a very energetic performance, and a very technical one because we have put a lot of work into that. We are determined to do well. I believe in this team.”