Dan Burn is wrong - Eddie Howe’s problem at Newcastle United is clear and no ‘dark arts’ will solve it
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Newcastle United latest news: Eddie Howe’s side face Manchester City next weekend on the back of defeats to Brentford and West Ham in the Premier League.
Newcastle United entered the international break on the back of two defeats in a row and just two points above the relegation zone. Whilst their Champions League and Carabao Cup campaigns rumble on without a hitch, their Premier League form is a particular concern.
They haven’t won away from St James’ Park in the league since April - and even that victory came against a hapless Leicester City side who were relegated swiftly after. Defeats against West Ham and Brentford simply compounded their misery and means that Howe, his staff and players have to find a solution before they return to action and a busy festive fixture schedule.
Newcastle United’s ‘identity’ crisis - Mouth of the Tyne Podcast
But just what do Newcastle United need to do to get back to winning ways and, crucially, save their season? On the latest episode of the Mouth of the Tyne Podcast, brought to you by the Shields Gazette, Newcastle United writer Joe Buck gave his view on what must change, and why he believes Dan Burn’s solution may not be correct.
“I think the away form is a massive concern. Dan Burn spoke to us before the Athletic Club game in the Champions League and he said Newcastle need to get back to the dark arts side of the game that they did so well in their first Champions League qualifying campaign. “But I think Dan Burns is wrong in that. I think that that will help, of course, but the main thing they need to do is they need to get some sort of system and way of playing that's going to be able to break down tough defences.
“West Ham put 10 players behind the ball. Brentford were a little bit more attacking, but essentially limited what Newcastle could do in attack - and they didn't really have any answers, and they probably haven't had any answers for maybe two years now.
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“That's where they're going to have to improve on, I think, especially away from home, because, I mean, I said it at the weekend, Brentford have lost so many players in the summer. Their manager, club captain, you know, 20-odd Premier League goals from two players each in the Premier League.
“And they still had a defined style of play [v Newcastle United]. They knew what they were doing. They looked a threat.
“Newcastle, yes, lost Alexander Isak and a couple of others but I don't think they have a defined style of play right now. I couldn't be able to tell you what Newcastle United are. You probably couldn't.
“So I think that they need to work on the training pitch and just get an identity back. That's what they need.
“They're lacking an identity, and they need to rediscover that in the next couple of weeks, because the games are never easy in the Premier League and Champions League and it’s certainly not easy coming after the break with Man City and Everton in the league and Marseille in between them.
“They need an identity. And Eddie Howe has to fix that.”