EDDIE HOWE has “the richest club in the world” and is once again regularly fighting for honors despite being unable to fork over the big Saudi money.
The 47-year-old achieved legendary status at Bournemouth by leading the then meager Cherries all the way from League Two to the promised land of the Premier League.
Now he could be on the verge of writing his name into Newcastle's history books if he can end the 70-year wait for a major trophy.
Howe came very close two years ago when he and the Magpies suffered heartbreak in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.
Qualifying for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish softened that blow, and now he is looking at more than just a Wembley appearance when he takes Toon to Arsenal for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Of course, for Howe, it's a far cry from those early days at Bournemouth since he took charge in November 2021, just weeks after their takeover by Saudi Arabia.
A major outlay was made in the January transfer window to secure the club's Premier League status, but despite reaching the Champions League, PSR rules have slowed their rise to the top flight of football.
Although, despite having the purse strings tightened and even being forced to sell young starlets against his will, Howe can still compete with the big boys for silverware.
And he achieved that in a number of different ways – and it started right away.
On his very first day on the job, Howe arrived at 6:45 a.m. and worked a twelve-hour shift, a schedule he still repeats almost daily.
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He watches every second of training, even rewatching some on video, and is a noted workaholic who leaves no stone unturned in his quest for success.
And while it's all going well at the moment after their six-match winning streak, he decided to take on a whole new vantage point as he looked for answers during the four-match winless streak before that.
Howe decided to watch the sessions from above on a scaffolding, and whatever he saw from the heavens was a treat.
And it's not just the grass that Howe thinks is important; punishments are also vital.
Although he is not a sergeant major and disciplinarian, players know not to cross the boss when it comes to the high standards he demands.
Howe installed a 'Wheel of Fortune' with varying amounts of fines at the club's training headquarters.
Striker Callum Wilson, who is currently sidelined for at least a month, explained that he was brought in to help players who were late for work.
He said, “We have a wheel and you spin it, and on the wheel are the numbers you have to pay. The maximum is three figures and it has been kept fairly quiet.”
Setting the laws and standards for international stars is in a completely different universe to disciplining the players he had in the lower league at Bournemouth.
So what does this group of men from around the world like to do?
Before taking them to Arsenal, Howe said: “They are a great group of people. I enjoy coming in every day and am very proud to represent them.
“You always have good moments and bad moments and when you manage 30 players there are always going to be difficult moments to navigate through, but overall they are very respectful and very humble. They want to get better and I really enjoy the daily interactions.”
Although Howe sometimes looks uncomfortable in the spotlight, the man he couldn't have done it all with seems to enjoy it.
And while the players on the field are accused of s***house tactics on the field, Jason Tindall, the man affectionately known as 'Mad Dog' by the Toon Army, relishes his role as a bad cop. away from it.
He famously got under the skin of Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp, and has angered both Ruud van Nistelrooy and Unai Emery in recent weeks.
Tindall is the yin to Howe's yang, and the latter won't go anywhere without him and all his aggy antics, just like when he refused to take over at Celtic in 2021 without him by his side.
Reflecting on their partnership, Howe said: “We started with no money, no facilities, working with a group of players, and it was just the two of us and we did everything together. You name it, we've done it.
“We traveled five hours away in the car to watch the opposition, just the two of us, and we never changed that approach during our journey together.”
And he has no problem with his antics on the sidelines, as he previously said: “We are both very active on the sidelines and I have encouraged Jason to be that way. He's a great guy and he's been brilliant for me.”
But anyone who thinks Tindall is just there for moral support and to play the pantomime villain is sorely mistaken.
The 'most annoying man in football' has helped transform Newcastle into one of the most inventive and effective sides in the top flight with his routines.
And they could play a key role tonight if Newcastle are to improve on their poor record of just one win in the Emirates.
Howe, who is still without suspended defender Fabian Schar and captain Bruno Guimaraes plus number 1 Nick Pope, said: “We are aware that there are certain records where we need to do better and that is clearly one that we have not got right done. historically and we would like to change that.
“We can't talk about it; we have to make it happen.”
Meanwhile, he will also make a belated appeal to Sven Botman, who returned from nine months away in victory at Spurs, saying: “We need to talk to the player, to the medical team and the experts who will give me some of the insights .” the answers to what we do with him next.
“Sven is a competitor and extremely driven for the team and himself. He wants to do really well in his career, so I have no doubt what he will say, but we have to talk to other people and come to the right decision.”
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