Ask a fan of Newcastle United after Saturday’s game against Aston Villa what their thoughts were about the game, and almost everyone will have the same answer.
We needed a natural striker on the field, and yet the contracted striker at the AWOL club went at the start of the largest season in the recent memory.
The mood has turned sharply in the fan base in the last few days in the direction of Alexander Isak, and the end in Villa Park certainly made their feelings known after the last whistle signal, so that furious hymns pointed to the Wil-away Swede.
And in his comments after the game, Eddie Howe has tackled the vocal worries of the fans around Isak and published his own mini update while the club adapts to its constant absence.
During this entire Isak -Saga, Howe has been praised how he deals with the situation. Where some managers could throw the player under the bus so easily, Howe still radiates professionalism in every word he speaks.
And when he is asked about the hymns after the crowd’s match today-“One Greedy B ******”-accepted Howe that fans are free to express their opinion after they spent 90 minutes supporting the team:
‘Whatever happens (with Isak) our supporters acted really well today because they supported the team when we were playing. “
“They have always done that incredibly well. If they want to say something afterwards, they are free to do that.”
His absence in Villa Park means that Isak will officially get a fine for missing a competitive fixture: his first fine during this entire Saga.
The general expectation is that if Isak is still a player in Newcastle after the transfer window is closed, he is expected to return to the team and will slowly return to the team.
And there is careful optimism within the club that Isak will eventually see the fault of his ways and that fences can be restored, something that how to see Howe likes to see.
“We want a resolution. If I say ‘we’, I am talking about myself, ownership, the players, everyone really, because I think we need that clarity this season.
“Nothing has changed, the door is good and really open. But Alex has to decide what he wants to do.
“Alex has control over what he does. I have no control over him.”
Don’t have a striker today today has delivered a very frustrating performance of the boys, who undoubtedly have the feeling that they all earned the points after a particularly dominant first half.
On a ground where we struggle notoriously, you could claim that Isak’s selfishness took us two points here.
And How does the thoughts of the entire team reflect when he seems to want the whole test to be over and ready, and the team can have their headman back, or find someone else who is willing to be here.
“I hope the Isak story is solved quickly, because it is news around us all the time”.
“Players have succeeded in excluding that and to perform. We have to keep doing that. We have to take it without the story against us”.
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