Nobody can ever say that Eddie Howe isn’t focused, the Newcastle United manager always seems to have his game face on and last night he barely afforded himself the time to soak in the comprehensive victor he’d just overseen.
Quite often when a manager faces the media after a defeat they’ll churn out the old cliche “we dust ourselves off and go again” in an attempt to move on as quickly as possible.
Eddie Howe does this after a win too. Even a win as comfortable as Newcastle‘s 5-1 thrashing of Aston Villa last night.
Eddie Howe was straight back to business at full-time last night
Every player who stepped onto that pitch last night for Newcastle did exactly what was required of them in. There were a few stand-out performances from Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes and most notably Sandro Tonali who all contributed massively to the scoreline.
Newcastle fans went away from St James’ Park with beaming smiles as the Magpies spent the night atop the Premier League table, while Howe set his focus on the next week.
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Meanwhile inside St James’ Park, Game-face Eddie was speaking to the media and was asked whether this result will cause the fans to start dreaming. To which Howe replied (via The Chronicle): : “We want the supporters to dream. We have to focus on Manchester City away – it’s the hardest fixture in the Premier League so that is a sobering thought for us.
“We’re looking at can we win the game fully in the knowledge they are the best team, they have been the bench mark.”
Such a typical Eddie Howe response – yes the fans can dream, we want that, but we, the staff and the players must not as we have the hardest game of the season up next.
Newcastle fans can get carried away but Howe won’t let the players lose focus
Eddie, mate, take a minute to enjoy what’s just happened. Nobody will think less of you.
Actually, I genuinely love this from Howe. Without that constant determination, that insane work ethic, then Newcastle don’t come away with resounding victories on the opening day of the season.
As long as Eddie Howe knows the Newcastle fans will get carried away and there’s nothing he can do about it, then we’re all good.