'Winning big games improves teams and individual players'published at 12:29 GMT
12:29 GMT
Image source, Getty Images
Winning knockout matches against big sides will help Newcastle as they try to become a team that challenges for Premier League and Champions League titles, says former Magpies midfielder Dietmar Hamann.
Eddie Howe's side progressed to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Tottenham on Wednesday, in a competition in which they are defending champions after ending their long wait for silverware last season.
"They found a lot of pleasure in winning the League Cup last season against Liverpool and they will want that feeling again," Hamann told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
"I know Wednesday was just a last-16 match but when you do win big games it improves teams and improves individual players.
"If you want to be in the Champions League on a consistent basis and challenging for the title, these games do help because they are knockout games that you have to find a way through.
"They did find a way through and I really like Newcastle.
"They have had some really tough games so far this season and some unfortunate defeats in the Premier League, but I really like what is happening and what Eddie Howe is developing."
Newcastle 2-0 Tottenham - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:01 GMT
11:01 GMT
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Carabao Cup game between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Here are some of your comments:
Newcastle fans
Steve: The first time I can remember, we actually had a squad to rotate, everyone played well, and that is still with three players missing.
Paul: Excellent performance from Tonali, ran the show, but a big thumbs up to Ramsdale - great saves, great on the floor with the ball and spread confidence through the back four.
Katie: A very professional performance, good pressing and energetic style. Slight worry that we didn't put our foot on the neck in terms of closing the game out by half-time. Need to be more clinical!
George: We were in control for most of the game. While Tottenham had a few chances, Ramsdale made a few good saves and had good distribution. Tonali covered every blade of grass on that pitch. He is my man of the match without a doubt.
Tottenham fans
Laurence: The front line looks very light again, no control, just trading attacks with the opponents and hoping to do more damage than them.
Simon: Richarlison is just awful, Xavi Simons is awful. Tel is awful, we desperately need a striker who'll get in there putting their body in and not bottling it at the last minute like Richarlison does, could've played all night and we'd never score.
Stephen: The result was coming for Spurs. No depth in midfield or up front, so it was only a matter of time before the defence gave way. No Van de Ven, no result.
Andy: The game against Newcastle highlighted how poor we are going forward. Every attack we had ended with a player making a bad decision on the ball. Spurs were of no threat. We can't carry on hoping for goals from set-pieces.
Newcastle attitude 'very good' in Spurs win - Howepublished at 22:59 GMT 29 October
22:59 GMT 29 October
Image source, PA Media
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports after a 2-0 win against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup:
"I'm really pleased because I think when you make the changes we did, you hope to see a performance that's in line with our identity and our expectations. I thought the pressing early on in the game and general attitude of the players was very good.
"It's most important that our attitude is right from minute one and the will to win that you need and we had. Individually I thought there were some really good performances, collectively we were strong."
On scoring from a corner: "[It's] something we've worked really hard on lately in our game and I think we have the height and power to cause teams problems.
"It's great to see a great delivery from Sandro [Tonali] and Fabian's [Schar] header was top class. He's always had a goal in him, he's always had that creative side of him game and it was a great moment for him."
But Newcastle never looked like joining them on Wednesday.
Captain Bruno Guimaraes talked about "creating history" once again by defending the trophy, and although head coach Eddie Howe made eight changes against Spurs, those who came into the team clearly got the message.
There was a blend of six survivors from the side that ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy last season alongside five of the club's summer signings.
And it worked.
By the time German forward Nick Woltemade made it 2-0, the home support were already singing - and dreaming - about a Wembley return in the March showpiece.
Newcastle have a lot of work to do to reach a third final in four years, but they still clearly believe.
Newcastle v Tottenham: Team newspublished at 19:14 GMT 29 October
19:14 GMT 29 October
Holders Newcastle United have made eight changes for their Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham at St James' Park.
Aaron Ramsdale, Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Sandro Tonali, Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock, Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes all come into the side.
Tottenham make four changes from the team that won at Everton at the weekend, with Antonin Kinsky, Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Richarlison starting for the visitors.
You can also listen to today's Radio 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Brighton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Crystal Palace", for instance.
'A player who truly gets Newcastle United'published at 16:36 GMT 28 October
16:36 GMT 28 October
Charlotte Robson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
In this house we do talk about Bruno. We talk about winning Champions League and Premier League games (finally). We talk about how it was not pretty but it is OK, because it is a win. We talk about our captain, Bruno Guimaraes.
For all the drama of the summer and the feeling we had that a player we loved did not love us back, it was easy to forget the player that seems to love us the most. The player that came in when we were terrible and has taken us to two Champions League qualifications and a cup win. The player that got the captain's armband last year and retains it.
Bruno was excellent on Saturday against Fulham. He seems to understand exactly what is expected of him both from fans and from the manager. We could not be more furious with him than he was with himself when his header went over the crossbar (he rattled the net of the goal like he had been imprisoned by his own miss, and continued to shake his head for nearly 10 minutes afterwards).
I love how much he seems to enjoy himself here. I have always enjoyed watching people who are good at what they do be good at what they do - in any field - and he seems to enjoy showing us. He knows his life is beautiful.
Saturday showed us why he is our captain. He constantly pushes himself and the team, he appeals to referees, he smacks the floor when he is taken down by the opposition. He scores goals! He puts himself into positions where he can assist the team, and score the winner.
I wanted today's words to be about him, because he is the sort of player we should be celebrating. A player who truly gets Newcastle United.
Newcastle determined to get back to Wembleypublished at 13:57 GMT 28 October
13:57 GMT 28 October
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It took 70 years for Newcastle United to end their wait to win a major domestic trophy last season, so the holders are certainly not going to give up the Carabao Cup without a fight.
Just as Tottenham manager Thomas Frank talked up how his side were "very eager to win more trophies" before Wednesday's game at St James' Park, opposite number Eddie Howe followed suit at his news conference on the eve of the game.
"It means a lot to us," he said. "We're the current holders so we don't want to give up that easily."
Howe clearly has a fine balance to strike.
This feels like an opportunity to give players such as Fabian Schar, Jacob Ramsey, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga and William Osula starts.
But it is also hard to envisage Howe making too many changes beyond that against a Spurs side who have been so strong on the road - not when Howe's previous experience in the competition has only made him more determined to get back to Wembley.
"It's made the desire to win even stronger," he said. "Having gone through the experience of winning and the high you get and seeing the joy in everyone - whether that be the players, supporters, owners, seeing how that united the city and the celebrations - that can only make you want to experience that more."
Howe on injuries, Osula and Tottenhampublished at 10:54 GMT 28 October
10:54 GMT 28 October
Melissa Edwards BBC Sport journalist
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup game against Tottenham at St James' Park (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Sven Botman does not have a concussion after he was forced off against Fulham but the defender didn't train on Monday.
Elsewhere, the injured Lewis Hall is the closest player to returning but Tottenham comes too soon, while Tino Livramento is "on track" with Howe predicting the Manchester City fixture (22 Nov) for his come back.
Yoane Wissa is also recovering at the expected pace but the striker will still need a "mini pre-season" before Howe can set a return date.
Will Osula played a crucial part in the winning goal against Fulham on Saturday despite navigating an ankle injury and the Magpies boss is "relieved" he didn't go on loan in the summer. Howe said: "Will is vitally important, he is quick, he is athletic. He has a good attitude and better know how to manage game situations. He is now coming on the pitch looking like a complete package."
He added: "Great personality, a real zest for life, he has very close friendships, he is very serious about his work. He is very serious about his development and his game."
Jacob Ramsey is back fighting for a starting position but Howe admitted that the midfielder needs to be "physically at his best" before his "technical abilities can shine".
On winning the Carabao Cup last season: "That feeling was incredible. One of the big drivers once you've experienced that is you want it again and again as quickly as possible. We don't have unlimited opportunities for that so this is one of those chances to go far in a competition, go deep and try and repeat the experience. These early rounds are really difficult. It leaves us on no uncertain terms of what we have to do."
Facing Spurs will be a one of the "bigger challenges" for Howe's team as they take on a side who are unbeaten away from home under Thomas Frank.
Howe said: "Tactically, very interesting and very versatile. They build up in lots of different ways. Very aggressive off the ball. They have different ways to make things happen including set plays. Very well organised and ultimately, set plays are a big guider of that. Credit to him [Frank] and his coaching staff to what they're doing."
Newcastle 2-1 Fulham - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:35 GMT 27 October
09:35 GMT 27 October
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle United and Fulham.
Here are some of your comments:
Newcastle fans
Geoff: Three much-needed points. What we need, though, is to tidy things up. At times, we were great, sweeping forward, setting up chances, only to make a silly pass to lose the ball. Some of our players were largely anonymous, but I suspect they were weary after the last game. Still, a win is a win.
Ward: The usual pattern at home. We started on the front foot but failed to take our chances. Worryingly, there was an inability to kick on and control the game after we made the breakthrough and we let Fulham back in. I also think we try to be too intricate in congested areas in and around both boxes when we should be trying to stretch the game, look for the open spaces and release our flying wingers as quickly as possible.
Alvin: Encouraged, relieved, but a bit concerned. Encouraged by Murphy and Bruno finally stepping up to take the scoring load off Woltemade and also relieved to score a late winner after being on the receiving end so many times this season. Concerned that the team just doesn't seem capable of replicating the sparkling Champions League form in the Premier League.
Steve: Not pretty, but successful teams have to learn to "win ugly". It caps off a good week for us and, hopefully, the momentum will set us on a good run of results. We take it one match at a time.
Fulham fans
Gary: No business in the transfer window, early-season injuries and now exactly what people predicted is going to happen. Relegation beckons.
Ryan: Fulham are an absolute mess at the moment. I saw in Marco Silva's body language after the game that he's had enough. The owner only has himself to blame for the mess that Fulham are in at the moment. If they had given the manager what he wanted at the start of the summer transfer window, Fulham would be a lot higher in the table. If they're not careful, they will be in a relegation battle. I think it's time for a change of manager and owner.
Bryn: We badly need Tony Khan to wake up and do his job for once in the January window. I have no desire to be once again just hoping for a point here and there in the vain hope of reaching 38.
Rob: Good in places. Calvin Bassey has been an accident waiting to happen. We can't keep clean sheets. Time is up for Smith Rowe; our record on spending big money is poor, Mr Khan. Can't blame Marco if he leaves in the summer.
'Brilliant Bruno still believed'published at 12:30 GMT 26 October
12:30 GMT 26 October
Media caption,
Newcastle United were rapidly running out of time.
With 90 minutes on the clock, the hosts were heading for a 1-1 draw against Fulham at St James' Park.
But captain Bruno Guimaraes still believed.
The Brazilian's mentality and fitness were such that he was busting a gut to get into the box to try to affect the outcome.
That gamble paid off when visiting keeper Bernd Leno could only parry substitute William Osula's shot into the midfielder's path and Guimaraes lashed the ball into the net in front of the Gallowgate End to send the stadium into raptures.
"We cannot play the perfect game every time but we need to find the three points and we did this," he said. "This is the Newcastle I know - we fight until the end."
He said his winner was also reminsicent of Magpies legend Alan Shearer scoring in front of the Gallowgate End.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 10:45 GMT 26 October
10:45 GMT 26 October
Pundits Michael Carrick and Ashley Williams join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
Newcastle analysis: Others step uppublished at 18:31 BST 25 October
18:31 BST 25 October
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It felt a mental test as much as a physical one.
Would Newcastle be able to back up their impressive 3-0 win against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday night?
Could Eddie Howe's side inject some much-needed momentum into their Premier League season and move into the top half of the table?
Energetic Newcastle certainly started with the intent to do so - twice hitting the woodwork through Nick Woltemade and Murphy - and it did not take the winger long to put his side in front with his first goal of the season.
But, rather than taking control, the hosts repeatedly gave the ball away and failed to grab that crucial second goal as they allowed Fulham back into the game.
Newcastle looked in need of inspiration when Howe turned to his bench and substitutes Anthony Elanga and Osula played a crucial role in Guimaraes' winner.
Howe's side have relied on Woltemade to score in the Premier League, with the German netting four of his side's previous five goals in the top flight before this game.
But on an afternoon when Woltemade did not find the back of the net, the hosts found a way to win. Just.