Former Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has heaped praise on Eddie Howe while questioning a decision that saw him snubbed from a job.
Howe’s name had been bandied about for years over a ‘bigger’ job after establishing Bournemouth as a Premier League, several years after taking over the Cherries while they were in the relegation zone of League Two.
The Carabao Cup winning manager rejected an offer to become the manager of Celtic in May 2021 before he joined us, but its another role entirely Pardew can’t believe that Howe wasn’t approached for.
Howe confirmed reports from over the summer that the FA made no approach to hire the 47-year-old as England national team manager.
Speaking on talkSPORT this week, Pardew slated the FA for not even “having a conversation” with Howe before appointing Thomas Tuchel.
“It’s shocking (not interviewing Howe) in my opinion. I can’t say anything different. It’s gone. But now at least they can’t up to Eddie that he hasn’t won anything – because now he has.
“The criteria of a good football manager is improving the individuals he has. That is the telltale sign of a good manager. I’ve said it many times, it is scandalous how he wasn’t in the conversation.
“Even being in the conversation, and the press knowing you’re in the frame, sends out a good signal. To get the gunslinger, Thomas Tuchel, because he’s a Champions League winner… we’ll see about that.”
Not to say Howe would have accepted had he been approached, but we can be so grateful that England stayed away and didn’t even give the gaffer a decision to make.
The mastermind victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, in which Fabian Schar removed Declan Rice from the game and allowed Newcastle to counter sharply, in particular stands out as a masterstroke, as did his calm approach to the cup final almost two weeks ago.
It’s hard to find any criticism really; the main one lobbied around being his over loyalty to certain players, but the side he has inherited and developed to become the team we are today is a full credit to the man.
A gloomy day on Tyneside it will be when Howe’s tenure draws to a close, but had he left for England before this season began it wouldn’t have been with the memory of ending our 70-year domestic trophy drought. Very much England’s loss, Newcastle’s gain!