Anthony Gordon's arrival at Newcastle United is the latest cog in Eddie Howe's dark arts machine. The Everton playmaker will be the Magpies second most expensive signing in their history and is one that has already divided opinion.
The former Toffees midfielder incensed the Toon faithful at St. James' Park earlier this season as tempers flared in the Premier League clash. Gordon went down under the challenge of Dan Burn, which the Magpies defence didn't take kindly to.
The 21-year-old showed no sign of backing down, going head-to-head with Kieran Trippier and then Fabian Schar. But that incident alone makes him the perfect next piece in Newcastle's jigsaw.
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It's no secret that Howe spend time in Spain studying the methods of Diego Simeone - a widely renowned master of the dark arts in Europe. It's the Argentinian's resolute defence that has seen the Spanish side muscle in on the top two in recent years, winning the title in 2020-21, with Trippier a key component in that title winning campaign.
Of course, Howe has taken what he learnt from his time in Spain and put his own stamp on proceedings. The Toon can boast the best defence in the Premier League - a feat that's made them unpopular among the way.
'"We are not here to be popular and to get other teams to like us," Howe told reporters earlier this season. "We are here to compete and, to compete, we have to give everything to try and get a positive result.
"I've got no issue saying that. That is our job and that's what we're going to try and continue to do."
Newcastle have lacked a nasty streak in the past and have rolled over at the first sight of pressure. Not this team however.
Former Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl outlined the Toon's new approach in the transfer market and how they'd changed their style of play under Howe prior to the 4-1 win at St. Marys'. He said: "He's going for the players that give you this intense game, this high speed running against the ball and we know this can be a nasty way of putting your opponent under pressure.
"We also have been a team with this style and we know what hurts teams like this."
Hassenhuttl's verdict is almost a perfect description of Gordon - the type of player that can thrive under Howe and fulfil his potential to become one of the best in the league. You need just look at the drastic improvement in the players who were already at the club, prior to Howe's arrival.
Former Newcastle striker Duncan Ferguson has dispelled any concern over Gordon's attitude, stating how meticulous the playmaker is in preparation for games. A statement that Howe will love.
The 21-year-old will give the Magpies pace in the final third, but he'll also have to buy into the intense press Howe and his coaching staff has instilled at St. James' Park. Speaking about the drastic improvement in their defensive record earlier this season, Howe has already outlined what Gordon must do before getting a run in the side. He said: "It’s a strange one because defending and attacking go hand in hand.
"I had this reputation of not being a good defensive coach, and I didn’t particularly like that. But that’s not to say we’ve drastically changed our method and approach.
"When I had my break I went away and looked at everything I was delivering, and one of the things I thought was that our defensive record at Bournemouth wasn’t very good."
Gordon will no doubt be given time to bed in at St. James' Park and become accustomed to the new way of working. But it's comments like this from Trippier that will help the new arrival settle in and give an insight into what he'll have to do on the training ground.
When asked if he saw any similarities between Simeone and Howe, Trippier told NUFC TV: "I certainly do, I think it's the way we train as well. With Simeone, it was crazy in the way we trained, the way he was obsessed in keeping clean sheets and I think here it's a similar mindset in we need to stop goals going in.
"Even when I first arrived, we talked about that a lot and I think the way we work on the training field with the manager, the staff, how relentless we are and willing to learn to put that into games. I think this season we've shown how difficult we are to play against, not just the defenders but the whole team in general. Long may that continue."
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