Why won’t anyone believe Eddie Howe? There are some who do, like me, because we know Eddie Howe is telling the truth. I’m not surprised when outsiders like journalists and pundits doubt him. However, I’m disappointed by some Newcastle United fans who can’t see what’s in front of them. After the wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, Eddie Howe said, “You have to have a really strong mentality and know results will turn, if you continue to do the right things.” That’s the truth.
Newcastle played well in the matches against Chelsea and Arsenal. They were doing the same things in the previous weeks, against teams like Man City, Everton, Brighton, and Chelsea. But the results didn’t go their way at first. They didn’t take their chances, and small mistakes cost them. Eddie Howe and his players kept doing the right things and were finally rewarded with wins against Arsenal and Chelsea in the cup.
In the game against Arsenal, Newcastle had 36% possession, while Arsenal had 64%. Newcastle had 9 shots, 4 of which were on target. Arsenal had 10 shots, with just 1 on target. Newcastle had 4 corners, while Arsenal had 6. In terms of touches in the box, Newcastle had 17, while Arsenal had 32. Compared to the match against Chelsea, Newcastle had 34% possession and 8 shots. Chelsea had 66% possession and 17 shots. Newcastle only had 2 shots on target, while Chelsea had 4. In terms of corners, Newcastle had 1 and Chelsea had 9. Newcastle had 18 touches in the box, while Chelsea had 30.
These stats show that Newcastle were unlucky in previous matches, especially in their games against Brighton and Everton. In those games, Newcastle dominated possession, shots, and touches in the box, but lost due to a few key moments. Against Chelsea and Brighton, Newcastle had some bad luck and couldn’t take their chances. Against Brighton, Newcastle played well for most of the game but missed big opportunities. Isak missed a one-on-one chance, and Gordon missed a header from close range. Brighton scored with their first real attack.
The match against Chelsea in the cup was another example. Newcastle had fewer stats than they did in the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, yet they won 2-0 at home. In the Premier League, Newcastle played better than Chelsea but lost 2-1. Chelsea punished Newcastle’s mistakes in the Premier League, but in the cup, Newcastle got the luck they needed, with an own goal from Chelsea.
Against Everton, Newcastle were the better team. They dominated the match but didn’t score. Gordon missed a penalty, missed another one-on-one chance, and Bruno had a shot cleared off the line by a defender. These things happen in football. Newcastle played well but couldn’t finish their chances.
Earlier in the season, Newcastle’s performances weren’t convincing. They showed some good moments, but couldn’t sustain them. Since the Manchester City match, however, they’ve been playing better overall. Apart from the loss to AFC Wimbledon, Newcastle have been playing well. If they can keep up these performances, there’s no reason they can’t have a very good season, with a little bit of luck on their side.
In the end, the fine margins and luck finally went Newcastle’s way against Chelsea and Arsenal. If they keep playing at this level, there’s hope for a successful season. But the key is to continue doing the right things and believe in the process, as Eddie Howe has said all along.
