Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe reveals why he hasn't been worried by lack of from from two big summer signings
Newcastle United dominated the game against Tottenham Hotspur last night in London as they came away with a 2-1 win, signalling the end of Thomas Frank's Spurs adventure.
It was a vastly improved performance from a very different-looking Newcastle United side, although it was definitely made to look even more impressive by the poor standard set by the opposition.
What was good to see for Newcastle fans, though, was just how instrumental in the win both Anthony Elanga and, most of all, Jacob Ramsey were.
Jacob Ramsey could have had a hatful of goals were it not for Spurs players throwing themselves in front of every shot, and he was good value for his goal that ultimately proved to be the winner. He was definitely worthy of his Player of the Match gong.
Eddie Howe says Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga were bought for a long-term vision
Meanwhile, Anthony Elanga is starting to look like the player we thought we were getting when we spent £55 million on him in the summer. He was a constant threat down the right for the Magpies.
Eddie Howe spoke after the game about why he signed the pair and what was expected of them.
"The idea behind the signings is they are good ages - they will only get better. They are really good athletes; they have pace, and their legs are really important.
"The way the Premier League is going, it's only going to get quicker and quicker. The demands are getting greater.
"I am really enthusiastic about what their future can look like here. Of course, time will tell as I have said. We need to give them time and patience to develop. I keep saying their lack of training has slowed their development.
"I think they are starting to feel at home in the team. Once you feel part of it, you feel integral to how the team plays, they can only get better."
There's still time to prove us doubters wrong
Fans would obviously prefer to see a more instant impact when players come in, especially when so much money has been paid, but at least things are starting to pay off.
We're mindful of getting too carried away here, especially given how poor Spurs were last night, but the improvements are there for all to see.
These performances will give the pair more confidence and that can only help them to improve on the pitch too. It's time to see some return on our investment for the remainder of the season.
