Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has named his Premier League manager of the year, and its not Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola or league leaders Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard duo have had brilliant seasons so far with their respective clubs, who occupy first and the second position in the Premier League standings. However, that has not been convinced Carragher much, who has hailed a new hero on the rise.
The former Reds’ captain has claimed Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe has been the best of the lot this year, after steering a stunning turnaround at the St. James’ Park. Howe took over a Newcastle in crisis back in November last year, when the club was fighting relegation. And such was the former Bournemouth manager’s impact that the Magpies not only avoided the drop, but finished as high as eleventh in the league last season.
Carragher hails Howe as the Premier League manager of the year
Eddie Howe has literally achieved the unthinkable in very less time at the St. James’ Park. From a club struggling to avoid relegation, to serious contenders of top-four this season as they sit third in the table behind City and Arsenal. Moreover, the 45-year-old’s only statement signing at the club, despite the massive spending has been Bruno Guimaraes, with Alexander Isak out on sidelines due to a long term injury and yet to live up to his hype.
In his just over 12 months’ time with the Magpies, Howe has transformed the team to mentality monsters who have picked wins over Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and drew against the two Manchester clubs. Only Liverpool are the ones who have denied Eddie Howe and his team a point against them amongst the top-six. More than enough reasons for Carragher to name the Newcastle manager his pick for the best of the year. Writing in his column for the Telegraph, the former Liverpool defender explained his choice:
“I don’t believe any other manager could have bettered Howe’s work at St James’ Park over the past 12 months. Had the club’s Saudi Arabia owners’ somehow lured Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp to the north east upon completing their takeover, the team would not be in a stronger position.
“He has led a team that was second from bottom to third in the Premier League through a combination of astute purchases and by vastly improving the performances of those players he inherited. Financial backing has been part of it, but secondary to Howe changing Newcastle’s style. They have gone from a defensively minded team trying to grind out results to entertainers playing on the front-foot.
“Yes, the new ownership has shifted the landscape in the short-term and long-term for Newcastle. Howe was backed in the transfer window upon his appointment and no club spent more in the calendar year. It is the players already at St James’ Park – those who were part of successive bids to avoid relegation – who have demonstrated the excellence of Howe’s work.
“Howe has started like a coach in it for the long haul, determined to be the one to deliver the success rather than laying the foundations for a successor. He is so far ahead of schedule that members of the traditional ‘big six’ are worried. At the start of each season, two clubs out of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal know they will miss out on the Champions League.
“Because of Newcastle, that will soon turn to three of them having to adjust to the Europa League. Given their resources, Newcastle are primed to get to the next level. What was less clear was how soon. It is the quality of their coach – not the size of the bank balance – that is leading them there quicker than expected.”
As evident, Carragher is in the awe of the Magpies manager who has worked wonders at the club. Although they are far from labelled as title challengers despite sitting third in the Premier League, Howe’s team has a realistic chance at Champions League qualification with a top-four finish, and even end the club’s 68-year trophy drought by swooping in either of the domestic cups.