God. Nothing quite like a Premier League Wednesday night under the lights at St. James' Park. But something's missing tonight—Eddie Howe's animated presence on the touchline.
The gaffer's hospital-bound with pneumonia. Not just a sniffle or one of those convenient "illnesses" managers sometimes claim when they're actually serving a touchline ban. Proper pneumonia. The kind that puts the fear of God into your family.
I was meant to be covering the Man United fallout this week (what a spanking that was), but instead I'm sitting here wondering how Newcastle's momentum holds without their tactical mastermind. The Toon have been absolutely flying since they finally—FINALLY—ended that soul-crushing 70-year trophy drought by beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup back in March.
When Your Assistant Becomes Your Lifeline
Jason Tindall (you know, the one my colleague called "the most irritating man in football" last month) and Graeme Jones will be handling touchline duties. Teh dynamic duo stepped in against Man United too, orchestrating that beautiful 4-0 demolition job.
My mate who sits in the press box texted me during that game: "Tindall's loving this. Acting like he's Guardiola with a better jawline." Harsh but... not entirely wrong.
Tindall spoke to Newcastle's in-house media yesterday, saying Howe is "in the best possible hands" and will return "when he's ready." Reading between the lines there—this isn't something they're taking lightly.
St. James' Will Be LOUD
The match kicks off at 7:30pm, and I'm expecting the Geordie faithful to raise the roof. I was there back in 2018 when they beat Man City, and I swear the stadium physically moved. Cost me $40 in dry cleaning after someone's pint went flying during the celebrations.
52,000 fans packed in, all on Sky Sports for the nation to see.
What About That Palace Problem?
Last time these teams met in November, Newcastle transfer target Marc Guéhi (awkward...) scored an own goal before Daniel Muñoz equalized late on. Palace under Glasner are no pushovers.
Barnes has been on fire lately. That double against United showed exactly why Newcastle paid what they did for him. Tonali's back in the fold too after his... let's call it a "gambling sabbatical"... and Bruno Guimarães continues to be the heartbeat of everything good about this team.
Listen. This is a massive opportunity for Newcastle. Win their game in hand, and suddenly that Champions League race looks a whole lot more interesting.
The Howe Effect (Or Lack Thereof)
Howe released a statement thanking everyone for their support and praising the NHS staff. Always classy, that man. Even from a hospital bed.
"After a period of recovery, I look forward to being back as soon as possible," he said. Which tells us absolutely nothing about the actual timeline.
I remember when my dad had pneumonia in 2021. Knocked him sideways for nearly a month. Not saying Howe's case is the same, but it's not something you bounce back from in a couple of days.
Poor Eddie.
If you're watching tonight (and why wouldn't you be?), you can catch all the action on Sky Sports Main Event or Premier League. Just prepare yourself for 90 minutes of Jason Tindall's enthusiastic pointing and dramatic reactions on the touchline. The man makes Conte look positively catatonic.
Newcastle fans will be hoping the team can deliver another statement win. For Eddie.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Football requires a number of basic pieces of equipment, including a shirt or top, shorts, socks, shinguards and cleats. Goalkeepers require special gloves and sometimes even padded clothing in order to protect themselves during dives or jumps. To maintain safety and to comply with rules, it's important that players wear the right clothing.
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External Links
How To
How to determine the right size and fit for your football Cleats
For maximum performance and comfort, it is vital to get football cleats which fit properly. If you are wearing the correct size cleat, there should be about a finger's width between your longest toes and the cleat. They should fit snugly in the middle of the foot with little or no movement around the heel. The cleat's upper portion should be snug enough to make you feel secure but flexible enough for your foot to move naturally. For a perfect fit, try on cleats and socks that will be worn in matches.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://sportingexcitement.com/premier-league/klopps-red-bull-gig-going-flat-sources-say-hes-eyeing-madrid-and-brazil
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