It's not often you hear a football manager say he isn't getting it right, but that day came for Eddie Howe on Saturday after a loss at home to Brentford. Howe, looking weary, attended the post-match news conference after a longer period in the dressing room than normal.
It's not often you hear a football manager say he isn't getting it right, but that day came for Eddie Howe on Saturday after a loss at home to Brentford. Howe, looking weary, attended the post-match news conference after a longer period in the dressing room than normal.
I think fans are becoming weary, too. It's tiring and frustrating seeing our players try (sometimes) and fail to get anything. It's weird we keep losing momentum when we're ahead. Even Howe said he doesn't understand why that happens.
The players, for their part, have also come out and said that it's currently not good enough. I suppose the bar really has to be on the floor for me to be grateful that they're not just lying to us and saying it's all rosy, but I am.
The question now is: where do we go from here? Is it time to accept a mediocre season, regroup in the summer, change some of the squad players and hope for the best?
The trouble is, so many of the players we have or want are going to be in North America at the World Cup. Once again, it'll be a stop-start pre-season.
Questions are once again being asked of Howe. This season feels like Groundhog Day in that respect.
For what it's worth, I have an enormous amount of goodwill towards Howe, but it doesn't outweigh the ambition I have for my club.
If this is the best we can do now, it's not good enough. Something might have to change. If it's not, then let's turn it around. There are 13 games left in the Premier League. We have an opportunity to make something happen.
Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast
Category: General Sports
