Howe still looking for Newcastle after Everton draw as he bids farewell to Goodison Park

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Howe still looking for Newcastle after Everton draw as he bids farewell to Goodison Park  05/10/2024  Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK

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00:00I think the big positive probably is that that's certainly more solid you've looked I think away from home all season.

00:07Is the slight disappointment that maybe when you had opportunities that the final ball just wasn't there or you gave it away quite a lot?

00:14Yeah, I think I'd agree with probably 90% of that.

00:2090% of it. I think we did look more solid today, that is our best defensive performance of the season.

00:25Especially when you consider the opponent, because Everton are very difficult to play against, a lot of direct play.

00:31One mistake can be fatal against them, whether that's not dealing aerially with the threat or the second ball.

00:38Set plays again, defended really well, so I was really pleased with that aspect of our play.

00:43I thought we were much better with the ball today. It was a big step forward, it's the best we've been in the first two thirds of the pitch.

00:50Controlled the game, created the moments, just the final ball was off, the final action was off.

00:57The individual actions were off in that attacking area, so that's the frustration.

01:01When we had the defensive part there, we didn't have the attacking part.

01:05How is Anthony? Obviously, he's going to be desperate for a score and he missed a penalty, but how has he been coming off everything?

01:17I think naturally he'll be disappointed, but I think much better performance from him here today than there was last year.

01:24I think he dealt with the occasion really well. Tactically he gave them a problem, he played deep, technically very good.

01:31He didn't play really well, he did have his moments, he had his chance towards the end of the game as well.

01:36I thought his overall performance was very good. As you say, anyone can miss a penalty.

01:40We absolutely support him, he's been incredible for us, but I thought today was a positive day for him.

01:46That said, presumably it will be a real boost for you to have Alexander and or Karol Black after the international break?

01:55I didn't get to see you last week, you've done well in a lot of aspects, but that's all you've got really, isn't it?

02:03Yes, you're always going to miss your strikers if they're not fit.

02:07Any team you take, any focal point number nine out of a team, you're going to miss them.

02:12I think the two that we've been missing are our top players.

02:17They're both different, of course, but I think you can see those elements of our game just slightly missing,

02:22that spark was missing, and I think in part that's down to them.

02:25Anthony's done incredibly well, the group's done incredibly well to plough on without them,

02:30but we'll be delighted to get them back if we can, and there's no guarantee with that.

02:33We hope the next two weeks we can see both of them in training and hopefully they'll be fit for Brighton.

02:40Jordan and then Craig?

02:46Yes, I think he is, he brings that stand-out quality, the ball-winning aspect, the covering of ground,

02:53I thought he did all of those things today.

02:56But it wasn't just him, I think there was a really good feeling about our back four today,

03:00I thought they looked strong, solid air, I thought we did really well.

03:05Of course your midfield play a huge part in protecting your back four,

03:09I think we minimised them to very few chances in the game,

03:12I think we have to take a lot of confidence from that.

03:15And we protected Nick, he had one big save to make.

03:18You mentioned the midfield, is that the best balance you've probably seen this season from a three-man midfield?

03:26Yes, I think it's fair to say that, I think it's the best balance we've seen from the team,

03:30as well as the midfield, everyone contributed, I thought it was a mature performance,

03:36solid performance away from home, I think the only thing missing if we win that game 2-0,

03:39I don't think anyone would begrudge us doing so.

03:42What was the goal?

03:45Craig?

03:46And it's a variation of the theme, but would you have won that game today with one-off Calum Olex in the team?

03:52Very difficult for me to give absolute certainty and clarity to that.

03:56My belief, we'd have a much better chance with them available.

04:00Just on Kieran Triggie, was there a hamstring injury there?

04:03Yes, I don't know, he said he felt something, you're going on gestures and actions,

04:07then he went down and said he felt his hamstring, I haven't spoken to him about it afterwards.

04:12How close is Slendbottom? I know he's pushed a couple of encouraging images the last couple of days,

04:17is he a lot closer than we first thought?

04:20No, I don't think so, I think he's progressing as we expect,

04:24I don't think you can see him, we expect to see him any time this month.

04:28It will be small steps, but positive steps, he's in a good place,

04:32hopefully we'll see him towards the end of the year.

04:35Can you give a further quarter-term report, an assessment of what you've seen?

04:43I think so far we've seen the groups together, the groups motivated to do well,

04:48we know we can play better, we know we can do more,

04:51and that's the challenge, I'm going to set the players.

04:55Just on Anthony, we've seen players disappear after the missed penalty,

05:01he did the exact opposite and probably that's helpful.

05:05Yeah, I thought he handled that disappointment really well,

05:08because I know from personal experience, not in terms of missing penalties,

05:11but making a mistake or a moment goes against you and it can play on your mind,

05:16because you know you're not going to be able to replay it,

05:19so it can affect you negatively, I don't think it did today,

05:22but we really learnt from last season's game here.

05:24And of course his international experience,

05:26and lots of other things he's adding to his game to be able to deal with these situations.

05:30There was a lot of pressure on him in that moment,

05:33he's been an outstanding penalty taker, I see him work on it every day in training,

05:36so I've got no issues with him taking it or taking another one in the future.

05:40We really do back him and I think he did really well today.

05:44Not just that, but the team responded well from that moment,

05:48you'd been celebrating it like a goal, wasn't it?

05:51Again, you could have disappeared again.

05:54Yeah, absolutely, because I think it was almost like a goal for them.

05:58The crowd were into the game in that moment,

06:01it felt like it was an unjust decision, I don't think it was,

06:04but the crowd felt that way and then of course the game can turn on those moments.

06:07I thought we did well to control our emotions,

06:10and even second half towards the end of the game

06:12I thought we were pretty much in control all the way through.

06:16This is probably the last time Newcastle play here,

06:19you've been a football man,

06:22appreciate the traditions, will you miss this place?

06:27Probably not.

06:28Not from our games against them here,

06:31it's a difficult ground to come to.

06:33We've won here, we've lost here,

06:35what I will say, the Everton supporters create a great atmosphere for their team,

06:40so it is a difficult place to play.

06:42But looking forward to, if I'm still Newcastle manager, going next season.

06:50You've barely stole my thunder a bit there,

06:52you were saying your focus was on Newcastle winning today,

06:55but you've had highs and lows at Goodison Park,

06:58as a boy you never told me yourself,

07:00what are your reflections on the venue,

07:02because it probably won't be the last time?

07:05Yeah, I think it's an iconic venue,

07:07I think it's one of these stadiums

07:09that if you haven't been to any football stadiums in England,

07:12you've got to come to.

07:13This is a traditional, older-style stadium

07:16that has certainly over the years had magic moments for Everton

07:20that have contributed to their history.

07:22So certainly not, from my side, disrespecting that.

07:27I think it's an iconic ground,

07:29it will be missed in English football,

07:33just from my own personal experiences here.

07:35I haven't been, overall I'd say, positive as a manager,

07:38and I always reflect back on the losses,

07:40so some painful memories.

07:45A couple of penalty shouts today,

07:47you obviously got one, Everton felt they should have had one,

07:49just what did you do?

07:50Yeah, I think our one was clear,

07:52on the replay I didn't see it live,

07:54I had no way of knowing,

07:56but I thought on the replay it was clear it was a penalty.

07:58I haven't seen Everton shout again,

08:01I thought Dan stood his ground naturally outside our way.

08:05Your 300th Premier League match today,

08:0820th manager to reach that milestone,

08:10how proud are you of that?

08:15Yeah, I had no idea until I was told earlier,

08:18I don't keep count of games,

08:20for me it's always about the team,

08:22individual stuff's irrelevant,

08:24but I think the thing that struck me upon hearing it

08:26was the 20th manager to do that,

08:28it just goes to show how quickly time goes,

08:30and we've all got to try and enjoy every moment.

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