Howe: Magpies Need to Find Top Gear
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has urged his team to find their top gear after a frustrating draw against Bournemouth.
The Magpies were held to a 1-1 draw at St. James' Park, with Callum Wilson's penalty cancelling out Philip Billing's opener. The result leaves Newcastle in 4th place in the Premier League, but Howe was far from satisfied with the performance.
"We didn't play well enough," Howe admitted after the match. "We didn't have enough quality in our final third, and we weren't sharp enough defensively. Bournemouth deserved a point, and I think they are a good side."
Despite the disappointing result, Howe is confident that Newcastle can still achieve their goals this season. But he knows that the team needs to improve significantly if they want to compete with the best.
"We need to find our top gear," Howe said. "We need to be more consistent, and we need to be more clinical in the final third. We have the potential to be a very good team, but we need to start showing that on a more regular basis."
Howe also acknowledged that Newcastle's lack of attacking threat is a growing concern.
"We need to create more chances," he said. "We need to be more direct, and we need to be more imaginative. We need to find a way to break down teams who are sitting back and defending deep."
The Magpies will have to address their shortcomings quickly as they face a busy run of fixtures in the coming weeks. Their next game is a crucial clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
The game against Bournemouth highlighted several areas where Newcastle needs to improve.
Here are some key areas where the Magpies need to find their top gear:
- Final Third Quality: Newcastle struggled to create clear-cut chances against Bournemouth. They need to find a way to get more players in the box and be more decisive in their passing.
- Clinical Finishing: The Magpies missed a number of good opportunities against Bournemouth. They need to be more clinical in front of goal if they want to win games.
- Defensive Solidity: While the backline has been solid for the most part, there were moments against Bournemouth where Newcastle looked vulnerable. They need to be more organized and aware defensively.
- Midfield Control: Newcastle need to establish better control in midfield. They need to be more aggressive in winning the ball back and more efficient in passing.
The draw against Bournemouth was a wake-up call for Newcastle. Howe will be hoping that his team can use the setback as motivation to find their top gear and challenge for a place in the Champions League.
