Back in 2022, Newcastle's defensive rearguard were captured on camera celebrating a shut out against Everton - now Eddie Howe wants that spirit back
Eddie Howe has called for Newcastle United to get back to being the 'band of brothers' that shocked the Premier League and charged into the Champions League three seasons ago.
Back then Howe transformed the Magpies from a team living in fear of relegation to one challenging at the business end of the table. As his side go in against struggling Burnley, and on the back of an injury-time mistake in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in which a mistake allowed Cristan Romero to shin home a late strike, Howe wants the defensive doggedness to return.
The Toon boss pointed back to a photograph, which is still displayed at the training ground, of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Fabian Schar all celebrating a clean sheet. The image was also used as a banner at the Gallowgate End by fans.
Howe told Chronicle Live said: "The defensive mentality has to be there. Not just for the back four and the keeper, but the whole team have to enjoy defending collectively.
"Which I think that year in particular, I think we did have a brilliant attitude to our defending as a whole. The change this year is the amount of games we have in our current schedule.
"The team will be chopping and changing, it has to. I think then you lose the consistency of selection. That year I think you could name the back four and the goalkeeper and build that consistency and performance through that, there were minimal changes. They built a formidable reputation as a back four or five.
"It is a different season now. But whoever plays we want them to adopt the mindset that nobody passes."
Newcastle stars looked down in the dumps after conceding a late equaliser to Spurs and they still sit slumped in the bottom half of the table. But Howe said the days of players heading to the pub for a festive knees up and to get away from the rigours of pressure are over.
Nevertheless, he wants his squad to enjoy their work too and ahead of a crunch period, that includes a clash with Sunderland in the can't lose Wear-Tyne derby, Howe said: "It is a tough one. You want the players to get on off the pitch of course.
"You want them to have great relationships. Off the field you don't want to look at yourself as just team-mates, you have to be closer than that.
"You are sharing experiences with players, and it is so unique. Not many people get to experience such a magical thing. If you are going to have that special time together, it will make it more enjoyable.
"But I think the days of that type of socialising are in the past because we are playing every three days, if we mix that in (socialising) I don't think you'd see the type of performances we want. Let's keep it being brothers rather than drinking partners."
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