Eddie Howe has suggested that he wants Newcastle United’s trophy drought to be a “driver” for his players instead of it being a “burden”.
The last time the Magpies won a major trophy was in 1969 when they lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. They last tasted domestic success in 1955 when they won the FA Cup.
Newcastle face Crystal Palace in the third-round of the Carabao Cup in midweek. Howe is keen for his players to put right the club’s past failings in cup competitions.
Asked if Newcastle’s cup record was a burden, he replied: “I don’t know if burden is the right word. I try to look at it the other way, as it’s not been done for a long time and a chance to create, maybe, some of our own history here and leave a legacy of hopefully winning something.
“That should be a driver, not a pressure that’s a negative on us. I try to look at it the other way.”
Howe has made no secret of his desire to end the club’s wait for silverware since he arrived in Tyneside, and that is in stark contrast to the attitude adopted at one point under previous owner Mike Ashley when the board effectively told a fans’ forum that Premier League survival was the only goal
Howe said: “Wherever you go, you want to leave your mark in a positive way, hopefully, for the club and for the future because Newcastle will live on for many, many years.
“You want to be remembered as someone who cared about the club and hopefully left the club in a better place than when you entered.”
Howe celebrated a year in charge at St James’ Park with the club riding high in third place in the Premier League after a run of six wins in seven games.
However, he knows things are likely to become more testing as they attempt to take their next steps.
Asked what year two of this tenure might hold, he said: “That’s a difficult one to answer. Hopefully more of the same in terms of what we’ve delivered this season, really.
“Changes will happen in terms of the external forces that will work, maybe, against us in terms of expectation and other things that can come into play.
“I think we’ve just got to try to stay under that and away from that and just concentrate on what we’re delivering as best we can, so really just focus on the football and the principles behind our game, and who knows?
“You can’t predict football and that’s why everyone loves the game so much, because you can never tell what’s going to happen.
“The only thing we can control is our effort levels and our commitment to what we do.”
READ MORE: What’s the point of Spurs drifting with Conte? And Newcastle didn’t need the Saudi billions…
Leave a Reply