On Thursday, Aston Villa appointed Steven Gerrard as their new manager, just days after Eddie Howe arrived at Newcastle.
The managerial merry-go-round is in full swing, with Premier League clubs making big changes as they look to avoid the financial trauma of dropping into the Championship.
And according to the Daily Mail’s Martin Samuel, Newcastle will be ‘kicking themselves’ at the fact they didn’t appoint Gerrard instead of Howe.
The former Liverpool captain was linked with a move to St James’ Park. However, Newcastle’s manager search ended with two candidates – Howe and Unai Emery.
A move for the latter ended in embarrassment, so the new Toon owners quickly turned to the former. Howe has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Magpies, and is already proving to be a hit with fans.
However, that’s not the case in the eyes of Martin Samuel…
Eddie Howe isn’t underwhelming for Newcastle fans
“Yet reports from St James’ Park of Eddie Howe’s grand unveiling on Wednesday were decidedly underwhelming. The new owners took over the club amid scenes not unlike The Beatles at Shea Stadium, but an eyewitness put the numbers welcoming Howe at no more than 20,” he writes.
What’s that got to do with anything? Samuel suggests scenes would have been different if Gerrard was appointed, but that hardly seems likely.
Howe is far from underwhelming for Toon fans. You can tell from the reaction on social media how chuffed we are to have him. The bloke turned up at 6.45am and we were celebrating as if we’d won the cup.
Samuel constantly talks about the pull of Gerrard being able to attract players. That’s a fair point, but it’s not the be all and end all. If that’s the case, you might as well just hire Ant and Dec to welcome the players.
Pulling power isn’t everything. It means nothing if the team isn’t performing.
Gerrard has done well at Rangers. I’d have liked him at Newcastle. But to put him streets ahead of Howe just because he was great for Liverpool is terrible logic.
And if Howe pales in comparison, why were Rangers’ biggest rivals Celtic scrambling to appoint him over the summer?
Gerrard could have changed the takeover perception? What?!
“And while Howe has great quality, Gerrard is the marquee name; one that might have changed overnight how the Newcastle takeover was perceived.”
Not sure about that, Martin… Fairly certain a lot of the original problems would remain even if Gerrard was appointed.
People aren’t going to suddenly turn a blind eye to human rights just because the ex-England captain has arrived. Angry Premier League clubs aren’t going to suddenly be welcoming the Saudis because Stevie G is now calling the shots.
The attitude from the British media towards great ex-England players is strange. They’re backed to extreme lengths despite limited experience on the touchline. In contrast, the attitude towards foreign coaches borders on complete ignorance. Imagine the disappointment if we’d appointed Paulo Fonseca or Lucien Favre!
Newcastle weren’t in a position to go all in for Steven Gerrard
Newcastle could have been bold and gone straight in for Gerrard like Aston Villa. But that would have been foolish.
The new owners have to take their time. They aren’t surrounded by football minds just yet, meaning each decision needs be thoroughly thought through.
That’s not to say Villa rushed things. Rather they have a system and process in place behind the scenes already that allows them to make more streamlined decisions like this.
Gerrard could be a hit at Villa. That doesn’t mean Newcastle have made a mistake. Howe could be just as much of a hit.
And the truth of the matter is, you just know there would be criticism of Gerrard’s ‘lack of experience’ if he had arrived at St James’ Park.
Sometimes you just can’t win, which hopefully isn’t how things turn out for Eddie Howe at Newcastle.
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