'He's just got to survive': Alan Pardew's verdict on Eddie Howe after Crystal Palace defeat
Eddie Howe will be feeling the pressure once again as the Newcastle United boss presided over another Premier League defeat on Sunday.
It's not just the fact that Newcastle were beaten that's the problem; however, it's the manner in which it happened.
Too many times this season, Newcastle have got themselves into a lead and then allowed it to slip away in the closing stages of a game. It's become somewhat of an unwanted trademark of our season, and the statistic that the Magpies have dropped 25 points from winning positions this season shows just how bad it is.
In simplistic terms, if Newcastle had hung on to all of those points, they'd be second in the table right now. That's damning.
Fans were hoping to see a dramatic improvement on the pitch on Sunday down at Selhurst Park. The lads had three weeks away from club football, plenty of time to relax and reset and on top of that, Eddie Howe was able to get his players together on the training pitch for the first time this season. There couldn't be any excuses anymore.
Many people remarked on just how low effort the game was on Sunday, from both sides in fairness, but it was Palace who stayed awake the longest, scoring in the 80th minute and then earning and scoring a penalty in stoppage time.
Alan Pardew tells Eddie Howe to keep his head down
It's a tough spell now for Eddie Howe as he has spoken of the need to win every remaining game this season. That's now even more imperative after falling at the first hurdle, and former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has had some words for Eddie Howe on talkSPORT this morning. Pardew has offered Howe his backing, but expects it's going to be a rough ride for the Toon boss, and his advice was to keep his head down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPxGrTICwHU
“Newcastle took the lead and lost. One of the things about being manager in Newcastle is that the result - and that fact that they've turned over a lead again - will be absolutely scrutinised for the finest detail. The local radio, the local press up there and (there will be) nowhere for Eddie to go. He's got six games left. He’s just got to survive them this year because it's been a really tough campaign.“Europe has knocked them for six, they're right down the bottom of the league where they shouldn't be, so he's going to be under some severe pressure up there. If I were him, and I know Eddie well, just keep your head down, work hard and try and try and get as many wins as I can in those last six games because you do know that your door might get rattled.”
“Eddie Howe has been a great manager. I think there are some real problems at Newcastle. They've got themselves in a tornado of problems and it's all spiralling downwards. From the sale of Isak and the cloud that hung over him, the big fella from Germany, Woltemade, he hasn't really produced, the European campaign with injuries etc... it's just been a really difficult season.
“A lot of Newcastle fans will be saying they'll be looking for change and it's very difficult to pin that on Eddie. But ultimately, you're the manager, you have to take it.”
Bournemouth next for Eddie Howe
