Eddie Howe has told his Newcastle United squad that they are playing for their future after the 4-1 loss away to Arsenal, describing it as a performance in which “every aspect of our game was off”.
Newcastle have now conceded 24 goals in their past ten league games and have dropped to tenth in the Premier League table, one place below Saturday’s opponents, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Howe admitted that he was concerned, frustrated and angry after his side let in four goals in a game for the fourth time this season. He also warned his players that they must not feel sorry for themselves, with a fifth-round FA Cup tie away to Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday now vital to this campaign.
“Yeah, probably all of those things [concern, frustration and anger] mixed into one,” the Newcastle head coach said. “I don’t tend to worry so much. I always need to find solutions to problems. So worry isn’t necessarily the emotion, but lots of other negative emotions that you feel because that wasn’t the best representation of us.
“The players are hurting but we need to improve. Yes, the team is different. We have to find solutions with the different players we have playing now to still be effective defensively and with the ball, and at the minute the balance isn’t right.
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“We are still in the throes of deciding where this season ends up. Nothing is decided for or against us. I definitely want to squash that feeling that we are feeling sorry for ourselves because that has negative connotations. We need the players excited and ambitious, thinking brightly about the future.”
Asked if he would remind his players that they were playing for their futures, Howe said: “I can’t disagree with that sentiment. Every aspect of our game was off at Arsenal. There have been performances where we’ve not been at our best and you can understand — we were disjointed, had players out of position, no substitutes, relying on 11 players continually. This game was different. We just did not perform and we have to take responsibility for that.
“I wouldn’t say they are fresh conclusions. My initial analysis is very similar to how I feel now. We need to do better in lots of different areas of the game. It was a difficult day for us. It stands alone that performance this season.”
Howe was asked if it troubled him that teams were finding it easier to play against his side.
“Yes, of course,” he replied. “We don’t want to be easy to play against. We want to be very difficult to play against. We didn’t execute what we wanted to do against Arsenal well enough. That’s clear from the performance and I take responsibility for that.”
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Newcastle will be backed by 7,200 fans at Ewood Park for their fifth-round tie against a Blackburn side who have yet to win in the four games since John Eustace officially took over as manager.
“It is huge game for us and we are absolutely committed to the FA Cup to do well,” Howe said. “This season can still be very special for us but we have to make it happen. I always have a positive outlook.
“I’ve been in football long enough that it changes very quickly both for and against. You have to commit to everything you do, be at the best you can every day and hopefully if you do, good things are around the corner.
“This season has been all of those things [frustrating and disappointing] up to this point. It has been very challenging. When you start the season it could be one thing but there have been so many scenarios that have happened that have led us to this point, but I think we will be better for it.”
