Eddie Howe may be a success as Newcastle manager. He may not be. At this stage, his appointment, which was confirmed Monday, and whether it will work almost feels like a side issue amid the chaotic circumstances surrounding it. Perhaps a certain amount of confusion is natural when new owners come in to a club, but few takeovers have felt quite so unstructured as this.
It has been a month since the Saudi Arabian purchase of Newcastle. It took new ownership two weeks to sack Steve Bruce, who lingered for the 3–2 defeat to Tottenham.