Fans endured a frustrating transfer window, and some say their current Premier League form can be blamed on the summer's activity
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe(Image: 2025 MB Media)
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Newcastle United are in a rut in the Premier League, sitting two points off the relegation zone as the November international break begins - and some fans in the Chronicle Live comments section say that the trouble with the team can be traced back to four months ago, when the club endured a deeply frustrating transfer window.
A second consecutive 3-1 loss in the league, this time to Brentford in the league, has prompted discussions on how the squad can get back to their swashbuckling best - and fast. Eddie Howe's position is not under consideration by the board, having built up an enormous amount of good will over the past four years, winning the Carabao Cup and clocking up fine performances in domestic and European cup competitions again this season.
Preparations for the season were hindered by a difficult summer transfer window, starting with the club being slow off the mark to making offers for their priority targets, resulting in some missed opportunities, and culminating in the Alexander Isak sale.
Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw have turned in some fine performances, but Howe has yet to see the best of some of the newcomers, like Anthony Elanga - or see them at all in the case of the injured Yoane Wissa.
Some fans say that what happened four months ago is evident in the team today. Reader Malaga01 says: "I believe that Howe should stay, but there are some mistakes that I don't understand, but I hope everything will improve. The problems are as follows: The transfer strategy needs to be improved, the squad needs to be strengthened, but we definitely need quality players.
"Howe's team composition is often incomprehensible. There needs to be a rotation so that there is competition for places, but not 5-10 minutes. It was a mistake to put Gordon as a number 9 and Burn on the left wing.
"Young talented players need to be given a chance. Livramento, Hall, Miley, and they need to be kept. I was disappointed by some of the players, especially those who receive the highest salaries.
"Our opponents have become stronger, we also need to become stronger, especially in midfield because there are very difficult matches left. The loan of Cordero was also a mistake, he should have been tried out for us."
Commenter Paranoidandroid writes: "We are mainly lacking goals. Other areas seem okay, we just don't score enough to get through games... An extra loan striker needed in January, perhaps? Wissa is not going to be the goalscoring solution we hoped for, and Big Nick cannot do it all on his own."
Patj says: "Eddie Howe has been brilliant, but he seems to be having a meltdown this season. The transfer turmoil hasn’t helped with no real support from the hapless owners.
"Not having backup for the full backs and thinking it’s okay to loan out Targett. Giving away Longstaff. Vast amounts of money spent yet no real progress."
Petrus writes: "Our laid back approach to the summer transfer window and Isak departure has caught up. Not signing a few much needed players (as some people have said) in January could have us fighting to stay up."
Breeze333 adds: "We can’t change our way of attacking, as the real problem for Eddie started in the transfer window. 3 strikers were needed, 2 proven and a third with PL experience and legs instead of Wilson. We got Nick, who is doing great for a young lad, Wissa who wasn’t fit then compounds it getting injured. Then we've left it to Osula, who was already told he wasn’t wanted.
"Well we're paying for it now, they pull out extra at home, but away we are slow and predictable. It’s on the board, more than Eddie."
Have your say! What are the missing pieces that the club can address in the January transfer window? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.