Eddie Howe has been left out to dry as Newcastle United lineup announced vs Qarabag
Eddie Howe cannot be fully blamed as pressure continues to build on the shoulders of the Newcastle United manager.
The Magpies will be hoping to build on back-to-back wins against Tottenham and Aston Villa, facing Qarabag in the Champions League round of 32 on Wednesday, 18 February.
Despite their success in Europe, Newcastle have fallen to 10th in the Premier League standings, throwing doubt over Howe‘s ability to take the club any further than he has already done so.
Nick Woltemade has not made the expected impression, nor have Anthony Elanga or Yoane Wissa, but not everything going wrong can be placed at his feet this season.
The hierarchy at St James’ Park have significantly let him down, and that has been quickly proven by the Magpies’ squad to face Qarabag.
Newcastle United desperate for more incomings at St James’ Park
Supporters have criticised the manager for his spending, splashing the money raised by Alexander Isak’s sale on forwards who have failed to deliver during their first seasons at St James’ Park.
Woltemade, especially, has not filled Isak’s boots, and while Howe must take responsibility for some of the dealings, more funds could have been made available, or a sporting director could have been hired.
With Ross Wilson not arriving until October, Newcastle were forced to go into the summer transfer window with very limited ideas, and no incomings were announced during the winter either.
Howe’s bench sums up just how pathetic the recruitment has been for the Magpies in recent windows.
Eddie Howe brings four goalkeepers to face Qarabag
In addition to youngsters Alex Murphy, Leo Shahar and Sean Neave all travelling with the squad, four goalkeepers have also been included in the matchday squad. Yes, that’s right. Four.
Nick Pope starts, with Aaron Ramsdale, Aidan Harris and John Ruddy all warming the bench.
Of course, injuries have played a huge role in this, with Bruno Guimaraes the latest to end up on the treatment table, but all of this was so avoidable from the hierarchy.
Had the club been more prepared, Howe might have had more options to choose from. Instead, he has been deliberating on how many goalkeepers to bring with him to face Qarabag.
By no means is Howe completely out of the woods. He deserves criticism for Newcastle’s topsy-turvy form this season, but in no way at all have his bosses helped steer the ship in the right direction.