The past 12 months may have brought about a monumental takeover and the subsequent removal of a tumultuous owner, marquee additions and stellar signings, and the type of performances that suddenly have the Magpies dubbed as 'contenders'. Yet, on the first anniversary of his St James' Park tenure, it is Eddie Howe managing Newcastle United that deserves to be celebrated above anything else.
For a man who has spent most his life at the other end of the country, Howe has taken to life on Tyneside in remarkably quick fashion. Ever since his first press conference at the club, there was a feeling the incoming manager understood exactly what he had signed up for in replacing Steve Bruce at Newcastle.
Alan Pardew tried hard to muster the same standing with the fanbase, while Rafa Benitez achieved it to an extent - but there is a feeling Howe just *gets* it. The former Bournemouth boss has made no secret of his desire to use the club's heroes of yesteryear as motivation for his current crop of stars.
