Pundits Rio Ferdinand and Shay Given have given their verdicts on Newcastle United under Eddie Howe and their chances of success this season after their start to the Premier League season.
The Magpies have won six points from their opening five matches of the 2022/23 campaign, although lost for the first time at Liverpool after a last-gasp winner for Jurgen Klopp's side.. But prior to the match, former Newcastle goalkeeper Given and Manchester United defender Ferdinand discussed the Tyneside outfit on BT Sport.
"He [Howe] has to be sensible and we know that about Eddie," Ferdinand said. "He has to be meticulous but when he joined they were 17th, he’s made some alterations in terms of personnel and tactically. But they get a lot of bodies forward now, they’ve got bodies up and around the pitch when they’re attacking but also when they retrieve the ball and press.
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"It’s difficult when you’re fighting and not one of the dominant teams, at St James’ Park he wants it to become a fortress and to do that you’ve got to put pressure on teams."
Given also sang Newcastle and Howe's praises, adding: "New ownership came in, Eddie Howe came in as well, I think there’s a real identity. He’s give the whole city a lift, you can feel it at St James’ Park, there’s a carnival atmosphere before games. They’re all pulling together and I think Eddie’s spoke so well, kept a lid on things, he’s not got carried away obviously we know the owner’s have a lot of money behind them, he’s building gradually which is not easy to do at Newcastle.
"He seems calm, he may be boiling on the inside, but he’s calm and I like that he says the right things and the form, fifth this calendar year, he’s done an unbelievable job and long may it continue."
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