Eddie Howe is set to be given more power at Newcastle United given Paul Mitchell’s exit.
Troy Deeney believes Eddie Howe has earned the right to be given total backing at Newcastle United.
It is never a dull moment on Tyneside and, just 48 hours after the Premier League season, sporting director Paul Mitchell announced his departure. The Toon chief only arrived last summer following Dan Ashworth’s lengthy battle to leave St James’ Park.
An explosive press briefing where Mitchell slammed Newcastle’s recruitment setup caused tension early into his reign. Howe publicly downplayed a rift between the pair but it remains telling that the 43-year-old is already on his bike despite not being able to make a first-team signing.
Troy Deeney highlights difference in transfer strategy
Former Premier League striker Deeney noted Mitchell’s comments about needing to pursue a data-driven route to transfer targets. Howe, on the other hand, while valuing statistics, is one for the old-fashioned “eye test” with personality also a driving factor.
“Fundamentally, when you read between the lines, you hear what he's saying,” Deeney told talkSPORT. “He would like to go down a data-driven route, which is, obviously, you're going to have all the scouts, more Brighton and Brentford to the people that don't understand what's going on.
“Obviously, Eddie's more, not old school, but he likes to look, watch players (and do a) background check. What are they like? How do they fit into the room? Which is what football is all about. You can have all these talented players with all these metrics but, if they're a pain in the backside, that's the nicest way I can say it, and you stick them into a room and it doesn't work, then that messes up the whole room.
“It doesn't matter how good your metrics are if you don't get on with them. You have to know what a player's like, what's his personality, what's his trait, has he ever lived away from home, where's his family, what's his family like, there's all these things.”
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Newcastle United must back Eddie Howe
Deeney has urged Toon chiefs to give Howe the keys this summer after earning his stripes over three-and-a-half seasons. He added: “Are you worrying about two years from now or are you worrying about keeping momentum from now? If you look at what the Saudi guys are about, they've got to look and go ‘Right, we're on a wave here. We've got some good players.
“We've got a manager who's flying. Let's just give him that’. And I think he's brilliant because he's earned it.
“It doesn't matter anyway because you can get a different manager, let's say they went completely opposite and got Carlo Ancelotti, and he would rip it all up and do it his own way anyway. So it doesn't matter if you have all these wonderful infrastructures because he's got to do it his way.
“For the here and now, just back the manager, let him do what he does. And finally, he can have say over that club. Everything he's done so far has turned to gold.”
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