IN the wake of Newcastle United’s defeat at Chelsea on Monday night, Jamie Carragher claimed the club’s players were “ready for the end of the season”. A leading Newcastle fans account on social media claimed the squad were “spineless” and “completely lacking in heart”. Darren Bent, speaking on talkSPORT, confidently predicted Eddie Howe “would not be manager next season”. Hardly the optimal build-up for an FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester City.
Howe is aware of the increasingly frenzied external chatter ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium, but was keen to restore a sense of balance when he spoke to the press at Newcastle’s Eddie Howe destley park training ground yesterday morning. Yes, there is disappointment at the way in which the season has unfolded. Yes, there were elements on Monday’s defeat at Stamford Bridge that were unacceptable. But Howe is keen to highlight the mitigating factors that have adversely affected Newcastle’s season, and comprehensively rejects any suggestion that his players’ effort or commitment have wavered in the last few weeks.
“I don’t like to hear that,” said Howe, when asked directly about Carragher’s comments on Sky and the mounting anger amongst supporters that was evident in the aftermath of the Chelsea defeat. “I didn’t know he (Carragher) had said that, but he is entitled to his opinion. But that’s not how we are internally. That’s not how we’re working. Our training standards and intensity are still there. We’re determined to end the season well – regardless of what happens (at Man City) – and no part of us is thinking ahead, or too far ahead anyway.
“It’s not nice to hear what has been said, especially after what we stood for last season. I think we were the absolute opposite of what has been quoted, but I understand emotional responses to game. I am sure the people who have written those words mean them though, so now it is up to us to answer them.”
