Eddie Howe delivers harsh transfer window reality check following Wolves goalless draw

Eddie Howe watched on as his Newcastle United team dominated the match at Molineux but failed to score.

Indeed, it took until the 85th minute for the visitors to have their first of two efforts on target.

Wolves had an ultra defensive set-up, camped in and around their penalty area and attack against defence for most of the match.

It was very similar to when United went to Old Trafford, Eddie Howe’s team dominating but unable to score, especially in the second half when Man U rarely managed to leave their own half.

Eddie Howe has already previously this month admitted that it may come to the point where they need to add another defender, especially if the defensive injury list gets even worse.

When talking to the media following the lack of goal threat against the low block ultra negative Wolves set-up, Eddie Howe asked if there could be one or more new signings to help create and score more goals, with added quality going forward.

Eddie Howe delivering a harsh January transfer window reality check: “I don’t think we have the financial ability to do that.”

The Newcastle United Head Coach admitting though about the Wolves match: “I don’t think our attacking output was good enough and there have been similar away games, so if people want to accuse us of that (not enough attacking threat away from home)… then that is totally fair, but we have to find a way to score more goals on the road. I was happy with the attitude, endeavour and the effort but the overall quality was missing. In games like that you are looking for an individual moment of brilliance.”

In 33 matches this season, Newcastle United have scored 56 goals in total in all competitions.

Whilst their 32 goals in 22 Premier League games is only one less than Villa and Liverpool have scored, the teams in third and fourth. The struggle to score many goals has often happened against very negative opposition sides, unable to find a way to score despite dominating territory and possession.

Eddie Howe also making the point that the season has been very up and down when it comes to goal threat, even from one game to the next.

The NUFC boss: “Football is such a strange game, you go back a couple of weeks and we score four against Leeds and looked free scoring, could create in any moment, but today was a very different game. It wasn’t for the want of trying. There were some good moments. Some big moments we didn’t take.”

Bringing on Wissa, Miley and Elanga did little to improve the attacking threat, the inspiration and cutting edge needed.

Eddie Howe asked after the game whether he had too many “like for like” players in his squad, when it comes to play in the attacking half: “We replaced a winger with a winger but they have different qualities, all of them (wingers). Whether it is Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon, or Jacob Murphy when he is fit, they all have different attributes.”

The Head Coach then adding to that: “So yes, they may all be referred to as a wide player, but you saw Anthony Elanga come on today and I thought he did really well, I was really happy with him. He gives us a totally different threat to somebody else who plays in that position.”

Eddie Howe on his two main strikers: “I think you can also say that for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. They are two totally different strikers but they will both be labelled a striker. So this is the squad that we have got and I am really proud to manage this group of players.”

The schedule of matches continues to be relentless and the manager asked whether this is catching up with Newcastle United?

Eddie Howe though replying: “I think that this is an easy thing to say and I understand why you would ask that, but generally I don’t think so, there was a bit of fatigue in the Manchester City performance in my opinion after Bournemouth. Today, I thought we physically looked OK, but I think it was more to the fact they defended very low and minimised space. So the expectation was on us to create against a low block of 10 players and we need to do it better. It is tough to do at times but I thought we put some really good balls in the box, too many though going across the front of their goal with not enough Newcastle shirts in the box, so that is a disappointment for us.”

Newcastle United missing real moments of quality against negative opposition.

Eddie Howe summing the game up overall: “I was generally happy with the attitude, the endeavour, the effort from the players, but the quality was missing. In games like this you are looking for one moment, an individual moment of brilliance that wins you the game or a set-piece. All the way through I thought it would come, even through to the last kick, but it wasn’t to be…”