“Eddie Howe Is a Blend of Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson” — Warren Barton on Newcastle’s Present and Future

Warren Barton is a well-known former British defender who played for several important and historic clubs in England. 

One of the most significant periods of his career came at Newcastle United, where he spent seven years. Barton played alongside legends such as Alan Shearer, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand, and others. 

He also had the opportunity to work under four renowned managers: Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, and Sir Bobby Robson.

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, the former defender shared his thoughts on the club’s present, Eddie Howe’s impact, and many other important topics.

Eddie Howe and legendary coaches of the past 

Having played under a string of legendary managers including Keegan, Dalglish, Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson, Barton drew on those experiences as he offered a telling comparison between his former coaches and the qualities he now sees in Howe.

“Yes, I do. I see a blend of Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson in Eddie Howe. He might not have Kevin’s charisma or emotional edge, but he’s very articulate, thoughtful, and measured, which reminds me a lot of Bobby,” Warren told SportsBoom.com. 

“Eddie understands what it means to manage Newcastle United. He appreciates the club, the city, and the fans, and he never takes that responsibility lightly. Over the last 18 months in particular, I’ve seen him grow into the role, especially when dealing with pressure and media attention. Eddie has had to adapt, and I think he’s done that well,” he added.

The possibilities of UEFA Champions League Qualification

Newcastle this season has had some difficulties, but they are fighting for important objectives again. Their objective is to qualify for the Champions League.

“Yes, they can, but there are clear areas they need to improve. Away form is crucial, you have to win games on the road if you want to compete for the top four. Defensively, they’ve become harder to beat, which is encouraging. Losing Isak was a big blow. It wasn’t just about losing goals, but also losing movement, structure, and the way the team plays. Eddie had to adjust his system and bring in new players, and that naturally comes with growing pains,” Warren analysed.

“Now the responsibility falls on the strikers to start delivering consistently. Scoring goals is the hardest thing in football, but it’s essential at this level. The opportunity is still there, but Newcastle need to take it sooner rather than later." 

Eddie Howe's future discussion

Eddie Howe, with his results and performances, has attracted interest from different important teams. There are a lot of rumours about his future if he will continue his journey with Newcastle.

“From my point of view, Eddie has earned time. He’s already delivered a trophy after a 70-year wait, and that should never be overlooked, even if it was the Carabao Cup,” Barton added.

“He’s done a phenomenal job, but the modern game moves quickly. If results don’t go well next season, pressure will increase, that’s just football. Still, I have a lot of faith in Eddie. He’s a fantastic person, a strong leader, and a very good coach. I’d like to see him stay for another two or three years and continue building. Stability is important, and the club now needs to support him properly, both financially and structurally, so he can focus on football." 

The performances of Malick Thiaw

As a great defender that he was, Barton analyses the impact and performance of the new defender Malick Thiaw that came last summer from Milan.

“Yeah, he’s been phenomenal. You can clearly see that German influence in his defending, very disciplined, very structured, but also that Italian edge from working in Serie A, where defending is still treated as an art form. There’s a real no-nonsense quality to his game, which is a classic Italian trait, but combined with the physicality and organisation you often associate with German defenders,” Warren stated.

“What I’ve liked most is how he’s grown into his role. Not just defensively, but also with his personality on the ball. He’s becoming more confident in possession, more comfortable stepping out and contributing to build-up play. With Botman coming back, that partnership has looked very strong. Overall, I think Thiaw has been excellent and a big reason why Newcastle have looked more solid at the back when fit." 

midfield duo Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali

Newcastle has different well-known players nowadays who play an important role inside the team with their performances in order to secure good results. Two of those important players are Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali, who are vital inside the game plan of Howe.

“They’re absolutely vital, and I’d also include Joelinton in that conversation. Miley, the young Academy product, has done really well recently, but that core trio is the heartbeat of the team,” Warren said.

“Eddie tweaked the system to allow Tonali to play as the number six and free Bruno to get forward, which suits both players. Tonali has also had a lot going on personally, having a baby is a huge moment for any athlete. Injuries and form have played a part too." 

“They haven’t quite hit the same heights as last season, partly because they’ve lacked a striker making runs in behind, which creates space for midfielders. But they’re still three outstanding players who complement each other perfectly."

defensive performances this season

Newcastle this season has had different problems on the defensive side. They had defenders injured and this has affected the possible choices of the coach.

“Overall, I think they’ve been solid, but not as consistent as last season, and injuries are the main reason. Kieran Trippier has been injured, Livramento and Hall have missed time, Botman was out, Dan Burn was injured, and now Fabian Schär is injured. That kind of disruption makes consistency almost impossible. I don’t think they’ve had four or five games in a row together. On top of that, Nick Pope was injured. Ramsdale came in and did an excellent job, but again, it’s another change." 

“If you look at successful teams, Manchester City, Liverpool at their peak, they all had consistency at the back. Newcastle has quality defenders, five or six very good options, but injuries have prevented rhythm. I’m not concerned about the players or the level, just the lack of continuity,” he concluded.