Eddie Howe shares 'formidable' plea with fans and press after difficult summer

Eddie Howe endured possibly his most difficult pre-match press conference yet as Newcastle United manager except maybe for when the news broke about Sandro Tonali.

Newcastle have failed to strengthen their starting XI in the transfer window this summer and with 12 hours to go in the window, it looks very likely that will still be the story when the window closes tonight.

The gaffer kept his wry smile throughout this morning's presser, but you could tell that all was not well and that he was clearly miffed at how things have turned out.

While Howe was right in saying that the season isn't won or lost in the transfer market, there's no doubt it still plays a part and if you're going into the new season with the same squad as last year while others around you have strengthened, you will get left behind.

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Eddie Howe has asked for everyone to come together and be positive

That being said, Howe worked miracles with worse players than he has now, and as long as he can keep the players he has fit, we still stand a chance.

More importantly, if everyone is pulling in the same direction, that will help too and that's what Howe called for this morning in his press conference via the Newcastle United app.

"I understand the fans' frustration over the transfer window. We’re all in it together. We need one united cause, and you guys too, please - and that’s a cause against everyone we’re playing. What we can’t do is tear ourselves apart. We’re a formidable force when we’re united."

Sunday is the perfect day to put on a united front

This transfer window has been a straight up nightmare, but at 11:01pm tonight it becomes history and the only thing we can do is look forward.

The longer we dwell on things the more it will eat away at the energy around the club, so let's get all of our frustration and bitterness out of our systems today and tomorrow, and then get back to backing the club 100% on Sunday and push the lads on to battering Tottenham.

It's going to be a long season if we don't and I say this as someone who is very aware that they've been Captain Negativity for the past few weeks.