Classy Pep Guardiola & St James' Park praise: What Premier League bosses have said about Newcastle United this season
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United have earned praise from several Premier League managers this season.
The Magpies are seven games into the new campaign and currently sit 7th in the table having collected 12 points from a possible 21. That includes wins against Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, draws with AFC Bournemouth, Manchester City and Everton, while their single loss came at Fulham.
Here’s a summary of what every top-flight boss they’ve faced has said about them in the opening months:
Russell Martin - Southampton
“Aggressive,” Martin said when asked what qualities Newcastle have. “They run so hard out of position and they had huge numbers physically last season - they were in the top two or three in the league. for sprint distance and high intensity runs.
“They have physical stature and prowess, and they have some really outstanding players. They have a clear way of doing things. They have a lot of tools in their armoury - I think every team will have in the Premier League. It’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to.
“Also, one of their biggest strengths is the crowd, the atmosphere, the ground - they all really buy into it. Football makes that city. Even when you step into the city centre where the stadium is, it’s imposing so you have to deal with all of that.”
Andoni Iraola - AFC Bournemouth
“We have to prepare very well because the demands of playing against Newcastle United will be very high,” said Iraola ahead of the game. “They have won (against Southampton) playing with 10 players. They are a team that defends very well, attacks very fast and has individual players who can make a difference.
“We will have to be at our very best if we want to have some success against them. We will try to do it because, if we are at our level, I don’t think we are an easy team for them as well.”
Ange Postecoglu - Tottenham Hotspur
Speaking after Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at St James’ Park, Postecoglu said: “Very similar I guess to our first away game when we controlled it for the most part, nullified most of the threats that Newcastle have.
“It's obviously a difficult opponent here at home. The crowd create a pretty strong atmosphere for the home side, little things go their way but I thought for the most part we handled that really well.”
Gary O’Neil - Wolverhampton Wanderers
“They have plenty of quality attacking players, midfielders, even defenders,” O’Neil said before the game. “I know they’ve had a couple of injury issues, but signing Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer is a really good move. I thought he was excellent at Bournemouth. They’re going to be a big test.
“Isak is one of the best number nines in the league for me. They are a team that will test us, definitely. We played them twice last season and did well in both fixtures.”
After watching Wolves surrender a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1, O’Neil said: “We've gone up against a side who have spent an awful lot of money and were in the Champions League last season, and we didn't look like a lesser side.
“That takes a lot of doing against Newcastle, because there's not many teams that go out against them and just go toe-to-toe and have a real good game.”
Marco Silva - Fulham
“Very good side, strong side,” Silva said ahead of the game. “From a technical, physical, collective point of view, they are a really good side.
“They are solid, they are physical, they feel comfortable defending their box. You can feel that they have some leaders there in that back four, and they are a solid side.
“They are strong in both ends, and we have to take our chances. When you have the chances, you have to take them and you have to be ruthless. They know that it is going to be tough as well for them. Our recent record against them wasn't the best in terms of results.”
Pep Guardiola - Manchester City
“They press high and they are a team that is so direct. They have a lot of legs with Murphy - Isak usually - Gordon, Barnes.
“We controlled them very well in most parts of the game, especially when we played so high. Bruno, Joelinton- their physicality, and Tonali, and the central defenders are so high - it is such a difficult team.
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“Last season Newcastle struggled for just one reason… a lot of injuries otherwise the team competed really well.
“It’s always difficult to play here because of their physicality. Newcastle are impossible to contain over a whole 90 minutes. At 1-0 we made some bad decisions and did not make it 2-0. We would like to have won but we take the point.”
Sean Dyche - Everton
"They are a good outfit. We know that. They have invested well and are well coached by Eddie. He is doing a good job there and is someone I definitely respect in the game.
“They have good individuals. We know they can operate in different ways. They play, but can also get the ball forward quickly with pace and on the counter. Our record was good against them last season, there is no reason we can't replicate that but we have to play well from start to finish.”