The return of Premier League football this weekend gives Newcastle United the chance to improve their Premier League record before the upcoming international break. For Eddie Howe, it also presents a reunion with Bournemouth for the first time since leaving the Cherries in 2020.
Before it all went downhill with Bournemouth losing their top flight status, Howe guided the south coast outfit to three promotions in six seasons. The club enjoyed five successive years of Premier League football under his stewardship, subsequently earning him legendary status among supporters.
Much was made of Bournemouth's style of play under Howe, with entertaining, attacking football the key for the now- Newcastle manager. The mindset during games at the Vitality Stadium was very much that Bournemouth would concede but also often outscore their opponents anyway.
Howe discussed this mantra on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football before taking the Newcastle job, explaining his reasoning behind championing entertaining football during his time down south.
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"Our biggest strength coming into the Premier League was our attacking play. We always conceded goals but that was on the back of being a very front foot, attack-orientated team that wanted to entertain and that didn't' want to lose that identity at all costs," Howe told presenter David Jones and pundit Jamie Carragher.
"We were really proud of that and wanted to continue to do that. It got harder as you went through the seasons having lost more games than you've won and that's a battle you're constantly fighting as the league is so tough.
Carragher jumped in to ask Howe about his style of play, quizzing the out of work manager on whether he would change his approach when he eventually returned to club management. Howe's response was emphatic, with the young coach insisting his driving factor is simply winning games.
The Newcastle boss has time and time again insisted of a similar dressing room feeling on Tyneside, with the Magpies heading into every game confident they can come away with all three points - no matter the opponent.
Newcastle are admittedly keeping more clean sheets than Bournemouth managed under Howe, with investment being made to shore up the defence in recent windows. However, at the other end of the pitch there is still an attacking feel to this United side, with Howe keen to get fans off their seats at St James' Park and away from home.
"We always decided to go on the braver side, on the attacking side because we know when we pictured Bournemouth at our best it was free-flowing attacking football. It wasn't sitting back and soaking up pressure and defending," Howe continued.
"We prided ourselves on that. We worked on that continually to be better at our attacking play. We almost looked at that as our best form of defence was to attack and as I said to entertain.
"My mindset is to try and win the game first, not to try not to lose it. When I go into a game, even if people think 'oh you set up quite different today, you were quite deep and passive' - it was to win the game, always. I try to instil that into my players every game.
"I don't think I could ever lose that. I could never go into a game with a different mindset. I think that is what got us success and what got Bournemouth into the Premier League."
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