11 August 2023 , 10:32
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Eddie Howe says being snubbed by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher in their predictions for the Premier League top six will “fuel” Newcastle.
While Howe says his emotions are never swayed by pundits writing the Geordies off - or dishing out praise - Toon fans and players could react to being “written off.”
Sky pundit Neville has gone for Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa as his top six. Liverpool legend Carragher has gone for the same clubs in the top five but reckons Spurs will finish sixth instead of Villa.
Newcastle finished fourth last season and qualified for the Champions League and have since strengthened by spending around £120m on Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento. A net of £100m after the sale of Allan Saint Maximin.
Howe wants another player in and says it is “not viable” for the club to sell anyone. Asked about Neville and Carragher’s verdict on their chances, Howe said: “People will always write us off. I urge us all to come together and fight tooth and nail to prove people wrong.
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“Me personally, not really, but if it fuels my players and supporters, I am for that. It is an emotion you can use. If I got motivated by those comments I would be swayed by positives from the same people. That is not right for me to be swayed by those people, unless they are my coaching staff.
“My ultimate is the fear of failure. Some people think that is negative but it has motivated me all my career. If we are overlooked that is fine, we can change people’s opinions.”
Newcastle landed a top four spot last term (Domenic Aquilina/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)Howe is hoping a row with Toon players over bonuses will be sorted and not damage morale. The club inherited a generous structure for league success from the Mike Ashley era when finishing top four was unthinkable, and want to make cuts.
He said: “That is nothing unusual, it is commonplace, there have been discussions between players and club. I have seen no issues with the players.”
The United coach says he has “five or six decisions to make that are not clear. We have player fighting for the shirt.”