ewis Hall of Newcastle United and Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, look on following the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Newcastle United FC. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)ewis Hall of Newcastle United and Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, look on following the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Newcastle United FC. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
ewis Hall of Newcastle United and Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, look on following the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Newcastle United FC. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Eddie Howe admits Newcastle United’s inconsistent form has left him wondering what version of his team will turn up.
The Magpies were defeated 4-2 at Brentford on Saturday afternoon, just three days after playing out a 3-3 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool at St James’ Park. And that sums up United’s patchy form this campaign.
ewis Hall of Newcastle United and Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, look on following the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Newcastle United FC. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)ewis Hall of Newcastle United and Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, look on following the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Newcastle United FC. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
ewis Hall of Newcastle United and Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, look on following the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Newcastle United FC. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When it was suggested Howe doesn’t know what team is going to turn up, Howe replied: “That’s a very fair assessment, I cannot disagree with you in any way shape or form - I felt the same feeling that in the previous two seasons, by and large, I’ve gone into the games knowing what we’re going to deliver and there is a feeling of excitement before the game.
“I think we’re in a period now where that certainty isn’t quite there, there is a vulnerability about us at the moment that we need to fix.
“I’ve said many times it is certainly not ability, the ability is there in the squad so then there are question marks as to what is that we’re experiencing and that’s what I’ve got to try and figure out.”
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The question came after Howe questioned his side’s willingness to win against Brentford. The game was level 2-2 at half-time but the Bees took control of the second-half.
“The attitude from the players was that there was a willingness to win and a willingness to fight but I don't think it was strong enough,” said Howe. “I’ve got to be careful because goals always change emotions for people on the outside but also for the players who are playing.
“If you’re making those individual mistakes, you could go through each goal and look at a catalogue of errors really. That erodes confidence, it erodes the feeling but the fightback was really good to get it to 2-2 but we were never able to get our noses in front and the third goal we didn’t respond well to the third goal.”
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