The Magpies switched managers soon after the 2021 takeover, as Amanda Staveley and her team decided to dismiss Steve Bruce.
This led to a search for a new manager for Newcastle United, culminating in Eddie Howe being appointed—after Unai Emery declined the position!
Although Howe was the Magpies’ second choice, he has proven to be an excellent appointment over the past three years. The club has advanced significantly under his direction, and there is still much more for him to accomplish at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe Revitalized Struggling Newcastle United Players
One of Howe’s most notable success stories in Tyneside is the transformation of Joelinton.
Howe has transformed a struggling forward into a dominant midfielder. Joelinton is now a crucial player for Newcastle United, a remarkable change considering his rocky start after joining for £40 million.
However, Joelinton’s position change was not planned. It occurred during a match against Norwich shortly after Howe took over. An early red card for Ciaran Clark required Newcastle to adjust their formation, resulting in Joelinton moving deeper into the midfield.
Howe Reflects on Beginning to Work with Joelinton
While appearing on the Adopted Geordies podcast, Howe was questioned about Joelinton’s shift to a midfield role.
The Toon boss described how impressive Joelinton was in his initial training session but acknowledged that the position change was not intended.
“It’s interesting with Joe because we never saw the first part,” he said.
“When you get to work with a new squad and new individuals, you’re sort of aware of their situation, how their career has gone up to that point. But we very much try and take an open mind and asses what we see and not take history into account.
“From day one in the first training session, Joe was excellent. Wow, he’s a very good player. Instantly impressed by his character and his attitude. Then it was a case of, I really believe in this player; he’s showing us in training that he’s very technically gifted and really strong. Then, we stumbled across a positional change that elevated his confidence levels.
“[Against Norwich] Ciaran ended up getting sent off. We went to a 4-3-2. Through needs, he played in midfield in this game and he was everything that he is now. He was everywhere, covered every blade of grass, he was outstanding.
“[Against Norwich] Ciaran ended up getting sent off. We went to a 4-3-2. Through needs, he played in midfield in this game and he was everything that he is now. He was everywhere, covered every blade of grass, he was outstanding.
Eddie Howe Appreciates Joelinton’s Adaptability and Dependability
As Howe notes, Joelinton is highly dependable and adaptable. He can perform in multiple roles and consistently gives his best effort.
Jamie Carragher recently commended Joelinton for his hybrid role against Manchester City, where the 28-year-old played as a box-to-box midfielder, covered at left-back, and even dropped back to centre-back. This incredibly intricate role highlights Joelinton’s tactical prowess.
“We have also seen him play on the left wing, a position Howe will likely depend on increasingly as the season progresses.” During the 2022/23 campaign, when Newcastle qualified for the Champions League, Joelinton and Joe Willock combined effectively down the left side. Now that both players have overcome their injury issues, Howe will be eager to implement this tactic once more.
This season, Joelinton has also played as a number six and on the right side of the central midfield trio, with Howe aware that he can ask the Brazilian powerhouse to perform in nearly any position—except as a forward!
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