'Intensity is our identity': Newcastle United's slogan has never looked so far from the truth

Not long after Newcastle United hired Eddie Howe as manager, the former Bournemouth boss had his players practically vomiting on the training pitch has he knocked out years of apathy and replaced it with intensity.

Soon, Newcastle were forging an identity as one of the most intense teams in the Premier League. They were constantly pressing, always first to a stray ball and just an absolute nuisance to play against.

Newcastle were once again exciting to watch and the results followed, but after 18 months, that intensity and desire seemed to fade.

It was easy to blame a string of injuries and tired legs from having a depleted squad having to play three games a week, but we no longer have that excuse and still, that intensity is for all intents and purposes, gone.

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Inconsistency is the word of the day in NUFC media

We still see it in spells during each game, but it used to be a full 90 minutes of constant running at full pelt. Now we have maybe five minutes of 'intensity' and 20 minutes of comfortable possession and then around those spells, it's just utter chaos.

The word 'inconsistent' or its derivatives has been used in several headlines this morning as other outlets have their say on the matter, and as much as we don't like being sheep, there is literally no other word that best describes Newcastle this season. Inconsistency is our identity.

There have been several reports today starting to heavily question Eddie Howe and we simply can't defend him anymore.

Eddie Howe's burning through his extra lives

Howe has burned through the good grace afforded to him for his miraculous first 18 months in charge and the barrel of valid excuses for last season. This was supposed to be the year we kicked on with a fitter squad.

Yes, okay, he wasn't backed in the transfer market, but that was a direct result of overspending when he first came in. We're not questioning his purchases for the most part. The ideas were right and we have signed some immense players, but sentimentality has stopped Howe from cashing in on players who aren't up to the standard, and with each passing window they lose value. It's a hole Howe has dug for himself in many ways.

But there are others involved in that, so we have to look at what's happening on the pitch and that's all Eddie Howe. Stale tactics, a lack of understanding of how his players fit together - or an ignorance to it in order to force his way upon them.

Whatever it is, he needs to find some humility and change things up for the sake of his own job.

There is still a large majority of the Toon Army who stand behind Howe, but with two wins in 11 games and seven goals conceded in two games, that wall is cracking.