Simon Jordan has once again questioned whether Eddie Howe will lead Newcastle United to Premier League glory.
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has doubled down on his belief that Eddie Howe will not win the Premier League at Newcastle United.
Previously a Howe sceptic, the 58-year-old now rates the Toon boss given his heroics on Tyneside. Newcastle have enjoyed a journey from relegation certainties to Champions League regulars under the former Bournemouth man’s stewardship.
Winning the club’s first domestic trophy for 70 years cemented Howe’s legacy as an all-time great at Newcastle. However, talkSPORT pundit Jordan remains unconvinced that he will be the one to lead them to Premier League glory.
Simon Jordan on Eddie Howe position
Speaking to the station, Jordan suggested PSR restrictions mean Howe’s hands are tied. He said: “As much as I like Eddie Howe now, and I’m a convert in that respect, he won’t lead them to the Holy Grail. That’s not because of Eddie’s inability. I don’t think he can.
“How can he? Who’s going to give him that opportunity? You’re not going to get another Leicester any time soon. So with due respect to the fact that Newcastle are not Leicester, they’re bigger, this league is not set up (to do that) anymore.”
Eddie Howe x Thomas Frank debate
TalkSPORT debated whether Howe has unfairly avoided criticism compared to Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank. Both clubs have the same Premier League points total after 14 games.
“He’s done more at Newcastle than has been done at Spurs in recent times,” Jordan added. “Newcastle came from a position where the fans were in deep gratitude for anyone who wasn’t Mike Ashley. Eddie took them away from what was considered to be a consignment of relegation in his first season then stuffed them into the Champions League the following season.
“(He) won a trophy. I don’t really think it’s about Eddie being English (why he gets an easier ride than Frank). I think it’s about the fact that Newcastle have been asleep for so long as a football club, went through a period of 14 years where they loathed the owner with Mike Ashley.
“They’ve got a new breed of optimism. Eddie has galvanised a forward-moving club with decent play, with decent aspiration and winning things.”
Eddie Howe on four-year anniversary
When asked about his four-year anniversary earlier this month, Howe said: “”From the minute we walked in, I probably wouldn’t have predicted that I’d still be sat in the seat four years later, as much as I would have hoped that I would be.
“With the volatility in the game, there’s no guarantee to anything, so I’m very, very proud to still be in this position and to be managing the team going forward. But there is a flip side to that. Obviously, we’ve got work to do in the Premier League and we’re well aware that we’ve got a big task ahead of us. “
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