Former Newcastle United ‘keeper Shaka Hislop thinks Eddie Howe should be in with a shout of Manager of the Year at the end of the season if Newcastle secure third place in the league and one other thing happens.
Newcastle have ‘overperformed’ this season as many a pundit, and let’s be honest, even a lot of fans have said, so then it makes sense that Eddie Howe should be in contention for the Manager of the Year. If a team has performed above its perceived quality then somebody is doing something right.
I imagine that’s Shaka Hislop’s thinking behind his comments on ESPN when he backed Eddie Howe for the award behind Mikel Arteta.
Dan Thomas read out a question from a viewer asking if Unai Emery should be considered for Manager of the Year and Shaka replied: “They [Aston Villa] are good, I will keep saying that. I can’t sing their praises highly enough.
“As far as [Premier League] manager of the year goes. You think it is going to go to Arteta if they [Arsenal] win the league, or…Eddie Howe.
“I think Eddie Howe is in with a shout.”
There was disbelief in the studio with Dan Thomas asking Shaka to explain by saying “I don’t think so, is he?” But Shaka had the answers: “They [Newcastle United] will finish third.
“If they finish third and Arsenal don’t win the league, I’m voting for Eddie Howe. I don’t get a vote but…”
I’m inclined to agree with Shaka here, if Arteta does guide Arsenal to the title then he absolutely deserves the accolade, but if not then Eddie Howe has to be next in line, very closely followed by Unai Emery. What he’s done at Aston Villa has shades of Eddie Howe’s achievements last season about it, albeit Villa weren’t in as dire a position when he took over.
I’ve said it before but if someone had told you in August that Howe’s squad would finish third this season you’d have laughed your back off. We expected the team to do well, a respectable top-half finish, maybe squeezing into the Europa Conference League, but not third. Even the more die-hard Newcastle fan didn’t see this coming.
To be honest, even if we finish fourth and Arsenal don’t win the league then Eddie has to be in with a shout still. The job Howe has done, for me, is worth much more than the £60k-a-week he’s being paid currently. The meanest defence in the league, only four defeats all season (as of now). That’s not to be sniffed at. Even Kieron Dyer has praised Howe calling him ‘amazing‘ and saying he’s been blown away by the job he’s done.
As I’m writing this I’m starting to think Howe should get it even if Arteta’s Arsenal win the league. Okay, maybe not, but he’s got to be up there.
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