Eddie Howe questioned - Supermac delivers verdict on Newcastle United manager's future
Eddie Howe faced increasing pressure on his Newcastle United future at the back end of last season.
Newcastle United legend Malcolm Macdonald is pleased that Eddie Howe will be given another crack in the dugout next season.
But in an honest reflection on the Toon boss, the 76-year-old bemoaned his perceived lack of a plan B. For the first time in almost five years since being appointed, Howe faced increasing pressure over his future.
Newcastle struggled to recover from a chaotic summer window to finish 12th, losing both Tyne-Wear derbies as Sunderland secured European football. A Champions League adventure provided a brief sabbatical from a testing top-flight campaign before Barcelona brutally ended the dream in March.
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Supermac on Eddie Howe
Speaking to The Gazette, former Newcastle goal machine Macdonald shared his honest thoughts on Howe staying in place for another season. He said: “All credit to Eddie Howe. I think he's done an absolutely brilliant job. I’m glad they’ve stuck by him.
“Just one thing, I wish he'd have a plan B, you know. There are times when plan A ain't working. Just slide into plan B, but they seem to lack that.”
Eddie Howe rejected ‘plan B’ talk
When grilled about not having a plan B, earlier this year, Howe snapped - insisting he will not stray from his principals. He told reporters: “Have you seen the stats? You must’ve been watching a different game. There was no onslaught... if you have too many plan Bs, it means your plan A is flawed."
Eddie Howe’s final message
As the season drew to a close with a dismal 2-0 defeat to Fulham, Howe vowed that he remains as committed as ever to the black-and-white cause. He said: "My commitment has never wavered from day one to today.
“Regardless of who it is, unity running through a football club is important from top to bottom. You need that togetherness and that plan. Whenever you have things to work on you have to absorb it.
“If you deflect and think it's nothing to do with us, then you will never grow or improve. Reflection, analysis and learning is all part of the growth at any football club and certainly there is a lot to take in and absorb from this season."
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