Newcastle United

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

What is there to say about Newcastle United at the moment? Who is there to talk about? Everybody and nobody!

Wonderful Champions League performances coupled with woeful Premier League performances. An early Christmas gift from us to West Ham, who have not won at home in about a year. You are welcome!

Sometimes I write this column about a player, because they will stand out and be a pleasure to watch and I want to write poems and lyrics about them. Today the things I want to write about our players will not get published.

Let's talk about Eddie Howe. For all that Sunday's performance was dreadful (and it was, across the board), he did not shy away from making that clear in his post-match comments.

Managers frequently deflect, or say something a bit leftfield, to try to divert the attention from the fact that something is going wrong. For example, they might focus on the size and shape of the ball. It sounds bizarre, but it can happen.

Not Howe, not this weekend. He actively said that we performed poorly, possibly the worst we had played. I'm glad that we have a manager that can own up to poor performances.

I think what is most important too is that he mentioned it was psychological, not tactical. I also agree with this - not wholly, obviously - but I think psychological issues are a bigger beast to conquer than simply fatigue or injuries.

We have not won away from home in the Premier League this season. I think that in the same way momentum can drive good performances, bouncing into the next game, a psychological issue like this can hold us back.

Howe can own up to poor performances. He has fixed our issues before. Let's hope he can do it again.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Newcastle's recruitment department have mentioned Atalanta midfielder Ederson, 24, in recent meetings as a possible successor to fellow Brazilian Joelinton, 29. (The I), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

How much can be made of the start a team makes?

Is 10 games still too early to pass judgement or, with just over a quarter of the Premier League season gone, is the tone already set for the rest of the campaign?

Well, for fans of Newcastle and Tottenham it could be the former rather than the latter.

While 18 of the 20 teams in the top flight last season (90%) finished within five places of where they were after 10 games, and a quarter finished exactly where they were after those first 10, Newcastle and Spurs witnessed the biggest difference.

After a slower start left them in the bottom half of the table in 11th, the Magpies found their form and ultimately moved up six places in the table to finish fifth and secure a spot in the Champions League.

This term, Eddie Howe's side are 13th after 10 games but memories of last season should offer fans optimism their team knows how to overcome a slower start and will find their rhythm later down the line.

For Spurs however, last year paints a different picture.

After a fast start had them well-placed in seventh, their domestic season took a well-documented nose-dive to finish one place above the relegation zone in 17th - two points short of the historical 40-point marker often targeted by teams to stay up.

While factors including injuries and a focus on the Europa League played a part, their current position of fifth amid question marks around home form and how to juggle European football, fans could be concerned about a similar pattern emerging this season.

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between West Ham United and Newcastle United, which saw the home side claim all three points.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Adj: Wow! Where has that performance been hiding? Everyone was doing their part defending, putting pressure on and winning balls. In previous weeks, we would've stood off and waited for the opposition to pass past us. Hopefully this is a turning point in the season. European places are only 10 points away!

David: A very spirited performance and the fact that this was the performance after Nuno had his first extended period working with the team bodes well. Freddie Potts was excellent on his full debut - it's a shame his goal was chalked off for a toenail offside decision.

Julie: Best performance of the season so far and (obviously)! Potts has to start. It was great to see the ball going forward. Every player put in a great performance and we looked like a team at last!

Rob: It was like we had just bought 11 new players. Energy, effort and cohesion combining to produce our best performance for perhaps nine months. With luck, it could have been 5-1. In Potts, we have finally found our Rice alternative

Newcastle fans

Paul: One of the worst performances of the Eddie Howe era. No creativity, no drive and sloppy in possession. Aside from Jacob Murphy and perhaps Sandro Tonali, the whole team just looked completely disinterested. We got exactly what we deserved and West Ham should be pleased with their performance.

Dean: Goodness knows what anyone involved in this match was thinking. The players looked half asleep, the changes we made were downright bizarre and had little to no impact, and subsequently we gifted a struggling team three points. Our league form has to be a concern.

Andrew: West Ham were rattled by the penalty call against them and that proved fatal to Newcastle. We played like we would be the dominant team which, given West Ham's position, should've been the case. But West Ham played like a team in Europe and, just like a DJ with a cold, we couldn't turn up the tempo. Sometimes it takes a performance like this to get the players to address their performance level. Here's hoping!

Phil: Dreadful and embarrassing! Perhaps the worst performance under Howe. Playing Dan Burn at left-back completely unbalances the whole team and limits our ability to attack as a cohesive unit. It's blindingly obvious to everyone except Howe.

Pundits Michael Carrick and Rob Green join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham 3-1 Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe speaking to Match of the Day: "It wasn't a great day for us. The away form is something that will be talked about and discussed and is of course something that concerns us. That was us far from our normal selves and that is the first time we have not performed away from home.

"The schedule is the schedule and it is demanding but it is where we want to be. It is a period of reflection for me.

"West Ham had a week to line us up and we had a very quick turnaround but no excuse. We had to come here to try and find a way to win."

Speaking to Sky Sports following the defeat at London Stadium, Howe said: "I can't really defend the performance, it was really disappointing after the start we had. I thought we could control the game, but we didn't. We let West Ham in with some uncharacteristic errors.

"Collectively we were off it and you could see that. We gave ourselves problems. We are hugely disappointed and frustrated with ourselves because we have missed a huge opportunity for back-to-back wins.

"The feel of the team was wrong, we were lacking in physicality. I have to go away and reflect on it. This falls into the category that we didn't perform. This was a poor performance, but they happen. It leaves us with a gap to bridge and we can only do that with consistency and we haven't found that yet this season."

Newcastle United forward Jacob Murphy also spoke to Sky Sports about the performance: "That was a bad day at the office. We started off pretty well and we got in front. We had a lot more in us but they were playing quite well in the first half. When it went to 2-1 that gave them something to hold on to.

"Collectively we know we weren't good enough. We were coming into this on the back of some really good form, but we do have the Champions League in midweek to put things right.

"We will just go home and reflect. I think this is a moment where we have to stay calm and not be reactive. We know we have to put things right and we have some good games to do that."

Did you know?

• Newcastle United have gone without a win in eight consecutive Premier League away games (D4 L4) for the first time since a nine-game run at the start of the 2021-22 season, with Eddie Howe only overseeing the final three matches of that streak.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The London Stadium was deathly quiet.

Jacob Murphy had just ruthlessly put Newcastle in front but, crucially, Eddie Howe's side did not build on it. The leggy visitors instead allowed West Ham United back into the game.

A heavyweight midfield, who have earned so many plaudits, failed to take control of the contest. Plus countless players repeatedly made sloppy mistakes and gave the ball away.

Howe tellingly hauled off Emil Krafth, Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade at half-time, in a bid to shock his side into life, but Newcastle never truly looked like equalising in the second half, which is all the more damning given how leaky West Ham have been.

No wonder a number of Newcastle fans made a swift exit after Tomas Soucek made it 3-1 to the home side.

As strong as Newcastle have been at home in recent weeks, Howe's side have not gone this long without a win on the road in the top flight since 2021.

This game, in particular, felt like a real missed opportunity.

On an afternoon when Newcastle could have moved within three points of champions Liverpool in the table, they instead stay in 13th place.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on West Ham's performance

What did you make of Newcastle's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Callum Wilson lines up against his former side as struggling West Ham United make three changes for the visit of Newcastle United to the London Stadium.

Nuno Espirito Santo has recalled Wilson, Mateus Fernandes and Freddie Potts in place of Tomas Soucek, Andy Irving and the injured Ollie Scarles.

It looks like the manager may have switched to a back four.

West Ham XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Diouf, Potts, Fernandes, Paqueta, Bowen, Wilson, Summerville

Substitutes: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Igor, Mayers, Rodriguez, Magassa, Irving, Luis Guilherme, Soucek

Newcastle United make six changes to their side who defeated Tottenham in the Carabao Cup midweek.

Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon all come into the side.

Defender Kieran Tripper misses out through illness.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Krafth, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon

Substitutes: Ramsdale, Hall, Schar, Barnes, Osula, Elanga, Ramsey, Miley

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• West Ham v Newcastle (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Bournemouth (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times GMT

Follow West Ham v Newcastle here

And go here for Man City v Bournemouth

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Newcastle" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Bournemouth".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Newcastle marched on in the Carabao Cup in midweek and, after winning it last season and ending their long wait for silverware, I'm starting to think about whether Eddie Howe can get his hands on another trophy.

In contrast, West Ham are in deep trouble. Nuno Espirito Santo had a free week to work on things on the training ground, but whoever he picks it doesn't seem to make much difference.

The Hammers concede a lot of goals from set-plays and I feel like Newcastle are just going to be too strong for them in every area.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

Beleaguered West Ham, who sit in the bottom three after seven defeats in their opening nine league games, face a Newcastle side who are coming into form after a slow start to the season. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes ahead of Sunday's clash at the London Stadium.

Struggling West Ham desperate for improvement

Crisis club West Ham have already made their joint worst start after nine fixtures of a league campaign. If they lose to Newcastle on Sunday they will have registered eight league defeats from their opening 10 games for the first time in their history.

And the bad statistics do not stop there. This is the earliest into a league campaign that the Hammers have conceded 20 goals since 1967-68. They have also faced the second most shots (133) and have the second worst expected goals against total (15.2) in the top flight.

The nine goals they have let in from corners is triple the amount of any other side and the most in history after nine matches of a Premier League season.

At the other end of the pitch, only Nottingham Forest have scored fewer goals than their seven.

Facing Newcastle has historically provided little solace. West Ham have won just two of their last 12 top-flight games against the Geordies, both of which came away, and Eddie Howe's side are unbeaten in their last six visits to the London Stadium.

Howe has only won more Premier League matches against Aston Villa (eight) than the seven he has against West Ham (D6, L4). He is also on a three-match winning streak against Nuno Espirito Santo.

Speaking of Nuno, the new manager bounce has certainly not materialised at West Ham for the Portuguese, and if anything performances have arguably got worse.

He has never previously lost four Premier League matches in a row, a record he will be desperate to protect as he plots to stop the Hammers' slide.

Newcastle on the rise after indifferent start

Three wins in a row in all competitions for Newcastle, including Wednesday's Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham, has helped inject some much-needed momentum into their season after a stuttering start.

Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes was the hero last Saturday as his last-minute header against Fulham gave the Magpies only their third league win of the season. The Brazilian has responded to calls from Newcastle's coaches to increase his goal output, understandable given that the Geordies have been on the winning side in 19 of the 21 matches in which he has scored.

Jacob Murphy opened his account for the season in the win last Saturday, but he is one of only four players to score a league goal this season and they have mustered only nine goals in nine games. Howe has been vocal in his desire for more players to chip in and take the burden off Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade.

All three of those wins over the last 10 days came at home. Now the challenge is to start picking up victories away from St James' Park, given they are winless in their last seven in the league, and have failed to score in four of those.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Callum Wilson certainly won't need reminding.

The former England international spent nine-and-a-half memorable years under Eddie Howe at both Newcastle United and Bournemouth.

But there will be no time for sentiment at the London Stadium on Sunday as the West Ham striker comes up against his former club.

"It will be great to see Callum but, most importantly, we have a job to do," Howe said.

Newcastle have not won an away game in the Premier League since April and the visitors will be desperate to end that run at the home of a struggling West Ham side.

Though record signing Nick Woltemade is expected to line up from the off once again, this game has come too early for fellow forward Yoane Wissa.

It was always going to take Wissa time to get up to speed following a disrupted summer, but he went on to suffer a knee injury while playing for DR Congo last month.

Howe was the first to admit on Friday that he does not know when the £55m signing will make his debut for the club.

Wissa is not close to training with the group at the moment so there is a distinct possibility that the 29-year-old won't return to action until after the international break.

Newcastle, clearly, do not want to take any chances as they build Wissa's "robustness" and ensure he gets the "fitness work in that he needs".

However, like Wilson previously, Wissa's presence is still being felt behind the scenes.

"He has a very strong character and that comes across," Howe said. "He's good with the players, he's very positive. He's a leader. You can see that already."

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against West Ham at the London Stadium (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe says there are no new injury concerns ahead of this weekend's match.

• Lewis Hall is "very close" to returning to action, and Howe hopes he will have his first full training session back today (Friday).

• He says Yoane Wissa is working hard on the grass to re-gain match fitness, but is not close to returning to full training as of yet. He added that he still doesn't know when he will be back in action, but admitted he has been an important figure around the dressing room already.

• Howe said he is happy to have been drawn at home in the next round of the EFL Cup, adding that it will be a "tough match" against Fulham having recently played them in the Premier League.

• On Sunday's opponents: "Looking at the squad they've got, it is a group of very good players especially in the attacking areas. We are going to have our work cut out keeping a good defensive structure."

• He says that this is the most difficult time he has had to pick a team in his managerial time in his entire managerial career because of the squad depth at his disposal. He added that when everyone is fit, he has two viable options in every position on the pitch.

• When asked if he considers Sandro Tonali to be a "world class" player, Howe said: "I think we have a few that I'd put in that bracket. I keep them to myself because giving you [the media] a huge headline would not help Sandro or the squad. I love my players and that is the key thing."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Hear more from Howe speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is still early days but Malick Thiaw has been embraced by Newcastle fans, who have serenaded him to the tune of 'Ciao Bella' following his recent performances.

Since he made his full debut, coming into a tight defensive unit, Newcastle have conceded only six goals in nine games in all competitions.

That is not to say Newcastle have been watertight - letting in damaging late goals against Arsenal and Brighton in that time - but Eddie Howe's side would be a lot lower than 12th in the Premier League had they not defended resolutely for the most part.

Only Arsenal have kept more clean sheets than Newcastle (five) in the top flight this season, while the league leaders are the only team to boast a lower xG against figure than Howe's side (7.33).

Thiaw has played his part after forming a strong partnership with Sven Botman in the heart of defence.

"He's just been himself," Howe said.

It is a small sample size but of those Premier League defenders who have played a minimum of 400 minutes in the competition, according to Opta, Thiaw ranks fourth for interceptions (1.79) per 90 minutes and sixth for aerial duels won (4.17) per 90 minutes. He is also sixth for duel success (71%).

On the ball at Newcastle, only midfielder Jacob Ramsey has a better pass completion rate than Thiaw (87%).

This is a defender who "tries to find solutions rather than simply kicking the ball long", as former Schalke team-mate Can Bozdogan said.

"He is a central defender with a really good technique. He can build up but, on the other hand, he is also really athletic. He is fast, strong and can read the game. Newcastle will have a lot of fun with him."

In the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United and England captain answers a selection of questions sent into the podcast.

Newcastle and Manchester United were both keen to sign Rooney from Everton after the then-teenager had starred for England at Euro 2004. He eventually moved to Old Trafford.

Asked whether there was any chance he could have joined the Magpies, Rooney said: "Yes, I would have certainly went [to Newcastle].

"Manchester United wanted to wait a season and then sign me the year after they did sign me. Newcastle put a bid in and if Manchester United hadn't come in, I would have gone to Newcastle.

"Those two were bidding against each other. My agent's best mate was chairman at Newcastle at the time! So I'm sure he was getting nudged to try to get me as well.

"I wanted to go to Manchester United, but I spoke with [then Newcastle manager] Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer.

"In true Bobby Robson style, on the phone he called me 'Mark'. I thought he had either forgotten my name or he was a genius - because that's my middle name!"

Image source, Getty Images

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

This - it seems - is the season of the set piece.

The Premier League debates are more about dead balls than ever before, with some sides enjoying immense success from corner kicks, throw ins or well-worked free-kicks.

What fine timing then for BBC Sport to launch a column with former manager Tony Pulis, a man who seemed to finely extract the fine margins from the game.

You can take in Tony's column on set pieces here

Image source, Getty Images

Winning knockout matches against big sides will help Newcastle as they try to become a team that challenges for Premier League and Champions League titles, says former Magpies midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

Eddie Howe's side progressed to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Tottenham on Wednesday, in a competition in which they are defending champions after ending their long wait for silverware last season.

"They found a lot of pleasure in winning the League Cup last season against Liverpool and they will want that feeling again," Hamann told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"I know Wednesday was just a last-16 match but when you do win big games it improves teams and improves individual players.

"If you want to be in the Champions League on a consistent basis and challenging for the title, these games do help because they are knockout games that you have to find a way through.

"They did find a way through and I really like Newcastle.

"They have had some really tough games so far this season and some unfortunate defeats in the Premier League, but I really like what is happening and what Eddie Howe is developing."

Listen to the full discussion from 08:24 GMT on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Carabao Cup game between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Steve: The first time I can remember, we actually had a squad to rotate, everyone played well, and that is still with three players missing.

Paul: Excellent performance from Tonali, ran the show, but a big thumbs up to Ramsdale - great saves, great on the floor with the ball and spread confidence through the back four.

Katie: A very professional performance, good pressing and energetic style. Slight worry that we didn't put our foot on the neck in terms of closing the game out by half-time. Need to be more clinical!

George: We were in control for most of the game. While Tottenham had a few chances, Ramsdale made a few good saves and had good distribution. Tonali covered every blade of grass on that pitch. He is my man of the match without a doubt.

Tottenham fans

Laurence: The front line looks very light again, no control, just trading attacks with the opponents and hoping to do more damage than them.

Simon: Richarlison is just awful, Xavi Simons is awful. Tel is awful, we desperately need a striker who'll get in there putting their body in and not bottling it at the last minute like Richarlison does, could've played all night and we'd never score.

Stephen: The result was coming for Spurs. No depth in midfield or up front, so it was only a matter of time before the defence gave way. No Van de Ven, no result.

Andy: The game against Newcastle highlighted how poor we are going forward. Every attack we had ended with a player making a bad decision on the ball. Spurs were of no threat. We can't carry on hoping for goals from set-pieces.