"The task is huge": 10 take aways from Eddie Howe’s first press conference

Is this the real beginning of Newcastle's new era?

Eddie Howe made his first public appearance as the club's manager when he spoke with the press on 10 November.

Here's what we learnt from that first meeting with the media:

  • Eddie Howe's first press conference highlights

1. He's all about the short term (for now)

Since the takeover was finalised, fans have cautiously dreamt of their first trophy win.

In the conference though, Howe made it very clear that right now he is "all about the short term". His goal is to save Newcastle - a team that has not won a Premier League match this season - from relegation.

He says he has not "really delved into" future prospects with the new owners yet.

2. He has confidence in his players

Not only does Howe want to stay in the Premier League, but he believes the club is capable of doing so with the squad as it stands - but he is not making any promises.

3. The year away from the game

Howe has not worked in management since his time at Bournemouth ended in August 2020. In May, he was approached by Celtic but rejected the offer.

He is never made a public announcement about it, but Howe says he decided to take a year "away from the game" to "reset, recharge and re-educate, commit to my family for a period of time and then commit to coming back better."

Though he didn't go into specific details in the conference, Howe dabbled in punditry with an appearance on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports and reportedly travelled to Spain to study the managerial methods of Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola and Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone.

Who is Eddie Howe?

4. He's fallen in love with Newcastle already

Newcastle is a football-mad city, and Howe is a football-crazy man mad on the Toon. He says he's already planned to move his family to the region.

Howe tells the press he considers his first visit to St James' Park as Newcastle manager a career-high.

5. He is not on social media

You will not find an online presence for the head coach and Howe says because of this he has not "fully sampled" everything fans have been saying online since his appointment - but it has not stopped him feeling the buzz from the fanbase and the city.

6. He is bringing his coaching staff with him

After much speculation, Howe confirmed that he is bringing his Bournemouth AFC coaching staff with him.

Jason Tindall, Stephen Purches, Simon Weatherstone and Dan Hodges will all follow Howe up to Newcastle.

Graeme Jones, caretaker manager after Steve Bruce's exit, will also join the new team.

7. His focus is football, despite being questioned on human rights

Saudi Arabia's human rights record has been a central part of the Newcastle takeover conversation. However, Eddie Howe says he will not be drawn into the debate.

He declined to comment on questions surrounding human rights three times during the press conference.

8. He's losing his voice already

If you think he sounded a little hoarse, Howe says that's down to all the shouting he's been doing on the training ground.

Read into that what you will, but "work" was possibly the most repeated word of the press conference.

"The task is huge," he told ITV Tyne Tees' Simon O'Rourke.

9. Could this be the return of attacking football to St James' Park?

Eddie Howe is an attacking, front-footed manager: it got Bournemouth promoted, and it kept them up for five years. Critics though say it ultimately got them relegated.

Howe says he is aware he can't get this team playing all guns blazing right away but does want to oversee a return of "exciting" football to Newcastle United.

10. In it for the long haul?

Whether he is the man to steer Newcastle towards trophies is yet to be seen, but his record of lifting club's through the ranks is not to be sniffed at.In the conference, Howe said despite his short term goals in the present, "there's a long term view" in how he is working to benefit the club.