Newcastle United's possession stats peaked at an incredible 72% for a while in the first half against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as Eddie Howe's Magpies well and truly took the game to their hosts.
In less than 12 months, Howe has finally got Newcastle to snap out of the defensive mentality that saw them through the early years back in the top-flight after promotion in 2017. Much is made about Rafa Benitez statement about the "short blanket" with Howe asked about it only on Friday at his press conference.
Benitez described his task at Newcastle as trying to stay warm with a short blanket and said: "If you cover your head, you have your feet cold, but if you cover your feet, you have your head cold." In fairness to Benitez towards the end of the 2018/19 - with safety secured for a second season running - he was starting to build a more attacking team having signed Miguel Almiron from Atlanta.
