When Eddie Howe arrived on Tyneside almost 12 months ago, there were a few nagging doubts in the heads of Newcastle United supporters. It was always going to be a tough ask to walk into the job after Lucien Favre, Paulo Fonseca, Roberto Martínez and Rafa Benítez had all been heavily been touted in the weeks leading up to his appointment.
But Howe 's defensive record at Bournemouth also rang alarm bells for a section of the fanbase. After all, the incoming Newcastle boss was inheriting a team with a minus 12 goal difference after only 11 games.
Howe enjoyed a long and successful stint at the Vitality Stadium, propelling the south coast side up the footballing pyramid before establishing them as a Premier League force. But the Cherries also leaked goals and after suffering relegation, the lack of defensive resilience in the side was a reputation that seemed to stick with Howe, much to his dismay.
