Eddie Howe confronted at Newcastle United after some players disagree with new idea

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Eddie Howe is a master tactician, but not every decision he makes is loved by his Newcastle United players.

That has already been the case this season, as Eddie Howe attempts to build on the Magpies’ best campaign ever.

Having won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League, the bar is extremely high. However, the Newcastle United manager will have confidence that his team can grow and improve even further, as the PIF project continues.

As a tactician, there are not many better than Howe. Newcastle are lucky to have him, as he always looks for new ways to give his team an advantage.

He is already doing that this season, even if it is to the displeasure of some members of the Newcastle United squad.

Some Newcastle United players dislike Eddie Howe’s new kick-off routine

Newcastle have been deploying a new kick-off routine for the 2024/25 campaign. In three of their four matches so far, Sandro Tonali has taken kick-off and launched the ball out for a throw-in deep in the opponents’ half.

Ben Foster praised Newcastle’s new tactic, but it is not universally loved within the Toon dressing room.

That is according to the Athletic, who report that some Newcastle United players are not in favour of effectively giving up possession immediately.

The only game that Newcastle have not used this tactic was against Liverpool, with the Athletic stating that the players told Howe at half-time that they wanted to try keep the ball instead.

Ironically, the Magpies conceded within the first minute of the second half on that night.

Why Eddie Howe is in favour of Newcastle United’s new kick-off routine

While the belief has been that Howe was copying PSG, it is actually Atletico Madrid.

The Athletic state that Howe was taken aback when Atletico Madrid used the kick-off ploy against them in pre-season, which has ultimately led to him implementing it himself.

While it perhaps does not promote the beautiful game and has upset some Newcastle players who want to get the ball down and pass it, there is method to Howe’s madness.

The Athletic report that the Toon boss thinks the tactic gives his side a great chance to get high up the pitch and potentially win possession back in a dangerous area.

It certainly is not for the purists, but Howe’s plan makes sense. Given the Magpies’ intensity, they always have a chance of winning the ball back. If they can do it in the final third then there’s a chance they could score.

With that in mind, Newcastle fans should expect to continue seeing it regularly this season and maybe beyond.