Newcastle United issue worrying statement on transfer deadline day

Newcastle United issue worrying statement on transfer deadline day
Lee Ryder
3 minutes

Eddie Howe has insisted he will not use Newcastle United’s lack of January signings as an excuse for the Magpies’ poor recent home form. Losing to AFC Bournemouth and Fulham has dented hopes of qualifying for the Champions League and the 2-1 loss to the Cottagers could be compounded on Monday night if Chelsea beat or draw against West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

That would see Newcastle slip to sixth place with their next top-flight fixture away to Manchester City later this month. Howe admitted before the window that failure to act in the transfer window in the last two winters could result in the Magpies going stale. But he was in no mood to make excuses after the narrow loss on Saturday, Howe said: “I don’t know if I can use that (staleness) as an excuse, to be honest.

“We just have to say that, individually, we weren’t anywhere near our best levels, and collectively the same. It’s a huge frustration for me because I saw today as a huge opportunity in lots of different ways to continue our good feeling and momentum.
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“It’s just the general level of performance, individually and collectively, that leaves me frustrated because there’s so much more in our tank and so much more we can deliver. It’s hugely frustrating we didn’t deliver that on a stage we know so well and an environment where we love playing.”

Eddie Howe makes no apologies for Newcastle’s no-nonsense approach to winning

Howe also reiterated on Saturday evening that the club can’t go out and buy a new player in the remainder of the window. It remains to be seen whether such a risky roll of the dice will still be allowed to be thrown today.

Howe said: “There’s nothing we can do. The window will be what it is and results won’t change that.”
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