A look at your Newcastle United evening headlines on Tuesday, March 1.
Steve Bruce labelled 'outdated' and Newcastle fans proven right after horror West Brom start
Former Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce's approach to management is being exposed as 'outdated' following his poor start at West Brom. That is the view of former Magpies midfielder Darren Ambrose, who believes Eddie Howe's revival at St James' Park has proven supporters right with their criticisms of the 61-year-old.
Bruce endured a tumultuous two-year spell on Tyneside, guiding the club to 13th and 12th-placed finishes before departing by mutual consent in October last year following the takeover. The former head coach left days after his 1,000th match in charge ended in a home defeat to Tottenham, with the Magpies winless after picking up only three points from their opening eight matches.
Bruce later stated the Newcastle job could be his final managerial role in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, claiming 'people wanted me to fail' as he detailed the level of abuse and criticism he received. However, the former Manchester United defender returned to the dugout four months later as Valerien Ismael's successor at the Hawthorns.
Allan Saint-Maximin announces he's 'back' and the truth about why Newcastle star was in Monaco
Allan Saint-Maximin has confirmed that he is 'back' after the Newcastle United star received treatment in Monaco for a calf injury.
The Frenchman picked up the injury in the win against Aston Villa last month and ultimately missed the games at West Ham and Brentford as a result. The club gave Saint-Maximin permission to travel to the Principality for intensive treatment because the forward already has an outstanding relationship with physio Alexandre Baccili.
Newcastle have been keen to give players the opportunity to go abroad to receive specialised treatment - Callum Wilson and Isaac Hayden have also done so of late - that just would not be possible at the club so that they can get back playing as soon as possible. Saint-Maximin has certainly benefited and Howe revealed his talisman was in a 'very good place mentally' and 'very eager to return' last week.
Saint-Maximin has since taken to Instagram to confirm 'I'm back' ahead of another huge game for Newcastle against Brighton on Saturday. However, it remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will be fit enough to start.
“We hoped Allan would make it, but he was some way short in the end," Howe told reporters after the 2-0 win against Brentford last week. "We’re now keeping our fingers crossed and hoping we can get him ready for next week. I think he’ll be a lot closer for that game.
Eddie Howe makes Newcastle training ground changes as owners look at sites for a new facility
Ryan Fraser has revealed that Eddie Howe has changed 'everything' at Newcastle United - right down to using visual aids to inspire his players at the training ground.
Howe has been attempting to build an environment at the club's Benton base where the players feel motivated to work ever since he took charge last November. As well as upping the intensity of training, Howe has made some visible tweaks at a time when the club's owners are looking at new sites to build a state of the art facility in the coming years.
As simple as it sounds, when Newcastle players walk into the training ground, the first thing they see on the television screens is what they are going to be doing that day to immediately focus minds so no session is wasted. In an effort to keep those sessions competitive, Howe awards points for exercises; the victorious team in a small-sided game claim bragging rights by getting their photograph taken; and there is even a trainer of the month award. These results are then beamed onto the screens at the training base.
To bring the group closer together, on a Friday, an individual player speaks about his journey to this point to give those around him a greater insight into their personal circumstances. These are details his team-mates may not have previously known.
Howe is also constantly looking to get an extra percentage from his players through the use of inspirational quotes and images. During Howe's time at Bournemouth, for example, words from Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Eric Cantona and Vince Lombardi were plastered on the walls of the training ground while life-size photographs of the players were even blown up on the walls of the tunnel at the Vitality Stadium.
Eddie Howe's 'not happy' comment Newcastle fans will love and he's asked big Brown Ale question
Eddie Howe has stressed he's not yet 'happy' because the Newcastle United head coach wants to get even more out of a 'very talented' group of players.
There is a lot of work to do yet, of course, but Howe has guided Newcastle to 14th place after previously taking charge of a side who were without a win back in November. To put that recent turnaround into perspective. Newcastle have gone seven games unbeaten in the top-flight for the first time since 2011.
While Newcastle spent more than £90m on new signings last month, perhaps, what has been most striking about recent results is how so many players who were already at the club have improved under Howe. Joelinton, Fabian Schar, Ryan Fraser, Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock are just some of the survivors from the Ashley era who have looked different players in recent weeks - much to Howe's delight.
"To have a successful team and to pick up the points we need to stay away from relegation, I do think it will always be a slight mix of lots of different things," Howe told talkSPORT. "I don't think there's ever one reason for success or failure. There's always a combination of lots of different points.
"The new players have made a difference - there's no denying that. They've all played their part in different ways. I've been really pleased with them."
