Thank you for all the well wishes over the past few weeks - It means a lot!
The prognosis is better than first feared… and most importantly, the surgery went well in London today!
I’ll be supporting the boys from the stands in the meantime and can’t wait to get back out there 🖤🤍
Such an incredible episode about #NewcastleUnited, football, business and life with Amanda Stavely.
Every fan should want their owners to talk about their club like this.
Here are some clips. Full interview everywhere for free from Monday…and it’s gets VERY emotional ❤️❤️
Mixed feelings. We will never give up under any circumstances. We deserved more, but many times football is not fair. We stick together. There is still a lot ahead, and your support will always be fundamental. Howay the lads.3️⃣9️⃣🖤🤍
Mixed feelings. I think we deserved more and I’m happy with the way we started. It’s never easy to debut away from home against a well-coached team. We stick together. Can’t wait for next Monday at St James’ Park. Howay the lads🖤🤍3️⃣9️⃣
However the Alexander Isak saga eventually concludes, let’s hope that at some point the player has the good grace to acknowledge the debt he owes Eddie Howe for helping his development into one of the best players in the world and also apologises for causing such chaos.
It’s one thing a player wanting to leave – ambition, short career, levels, finance whatever – but it’s the aggressive way that Isak tries to force his way out - midway through a six-year contract - that also causes such anger on Tyneside. In the middle of this maelstrom, Howe shows commendable calm and patience.
Newcastle’s head coach is being strong, demanding standards of behaviour, yet diplomatically leaving the dressing-room door open in case Liverpool don’t make an acceptable offer (£130m+) and Isak does stay.
Howe deserves huge respect for the dignified, intelligent way he’s handling a damaging distraction. He's trying to prepare his team for what should be an exciting season not knowing who will form his attack, and currently fielding a wide player in Anthony Gordon centrally. He’s dealing with a troublesome transfer window without a sporting director or chief executive.
He’s going into press conferences knowing they will be dominated by questions about a striking striker. In the modern media, and social media, age, Howe has to choose every word carefully, knowing they will be scrutinised forensically and emotionally. He has to pick the right words to send the right message to Isak, to the other players, to potential signings, and to the Newcastle faithful outraged by Isak’s behaviour. Newcastle’s board are fortunate they have such an impressive figure fronting up for them and the club.
Howe also deserves more respect and gratitude from Isak. Since joining in 2022, Isak’s improvement from a very good £63m 22-year-old into an elite performer worth £130m+ is obviously largely down to his own ability and inner drive but Howe deserves huge credit. He makes good players even better.
His coaching, man-management and building a system to bring the best out of Isak helped turn the Swede into a player coveted by Liverpool. Let’s hope Isak respects that one day. #NUFC
Eddie Howe on early season expectations:
"Progression, improvement, more control in our performances, more dominant displays. We want to score goals and to attack. The league is so hard, the challenges are difficult. I feel we will be stronger when we have our full compliment of players. We need to find ways to win games when we are not playing our best."
5 days of training and still a lot to improve as a team for a great season! Happy to be back. Very motivated to have the best season possible 🙏🏽🖤🤍3️⃣9️⃣