Eddie Howe has warned Newcastle stars are playing for their futures at the ambitious Saudi Arabia funded club.
The United head coach admits holding a “frank and honest” inquest as players saw his angry side for the first time. Howe concedes Newcastle are still in relegation trouble after three defeats, ahead of Wolves ’ visit to St James' Park on Friday night.
The usually calm and calculating Toon chief says he is judging his stars every day on “attitude and character”. His verdict will determine whether they will stay a part of big spending Saudi plans to revamp the squad with another £100m-plus of recruitment this summer.
The Saudis didn’t buy Newcastle to see their team hit for five and humiliated by Spurs on Sunday, and Howe said “nobody connected with the club liked what they saw.” After six of their last seven league games were away from home, Newcastle are relieved to be back at St James’ Park and Howe said: "I think everyone's always playing for their future.
“Every day in training, I'm making assessments and judgements on character, on attitude, and that's where you really see what the players are like behind the scenes day to day. My expectations on the training ground are very high. I want everyone to give their best in every moment so some players can find that a challenge, but that's what you need for long-term success so every day I'm analysing and making decisions about people's futures based on what I see.
“You have to speak frankly and honestly at certain moments. I'm not one to talk for too long after a game because emotions are high and you can make mistakes. But certainly, this week, without going into too much detail, I have changed the way I've dealt with the players because I didn't like what I saw in the second half and nobody connected with the club liked what they saw. It’s very important that second half doesn’t linger. I think we had to put it to bed quite quickly and while acknowledging what we didn’t do right. You certainly can’t let it fester within the group.”
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Howe categorically denied that Allan Saint-Maximin, linked with a £40m transfer away in the summer, would be sold in the summer, saying he “absolutely yes,” has a long-term future on Tyneside. Bruno Guimaraes will get his first home start, with Joe Willock struggling with a knee injury.
Howe added: “Bruno, in his cameos, gave a glimpse of what he is capable of. He has done well in the short time he has had. He is a winner and has a great attitude. With his flamboyance comes a steeliness. "We are in a relegation battle until we get the points we need. We know how important momentum is and we need to wrestle it back and that is down to our attitude. We need the feeling that it is a massive game.”
It is six months today since the Newcastle takeover and there has been £94m spent on players, mixed progress on the pitch, a mini-revival, but no huge overhaul yet. Howe said: "There have been subtle changes, because we are in the middle of the season and we are so involved with the team and the players we have, the way we want to play, that has taken most of my energy. Building the club and improving the infrastructure that is going to come another day. There have been subtle changes rather than dramatic."
