Playing Devil's Advocate: Analysing the subtext of Eddie Howe's "I'm happy if..." speech

Eddie Howe has broken his silence around the idea of ditching Newcastle United and taking up the now-vacant England manager position.

The Newcastle boss has been heavily linked with the role and has long been a favourite to succeed Gareth Southgate even before he joined Newcastle, so naturally he's at the top of many people's list now.

On Friday afternoon, Newcastle fans got to watch an interview with Eddie Howe in which he set out his desire to remain at Newcastle United for as long as he is happy, while stating that he is currently very happy.

However, this is Newcastle United, and when someone speaks positively about the club and the future, there are those of us who read between the lines to pluck out any juicy negativity that keeps us fuelled as we're just so used to being powered by negative energy.

Blink twice if you're under duress

The cut-down version of Howe's interview released by the club leaves a little room for reading between the lines, but The Daily Mail's more comprehensive coverage of what was said can leave the door wide open for interpretation should you prefer to be unhappy. So, let's have a look at that and pick out the potential problems. Strap in as we look at the quotes and over analyse everything and make ourselves cry.

"There has been a lot of change at the football club this summer. It has been a very difficult summer for everyone connected with the club. With change comes always a new feeling. You can point to PSR, Amanda (Staveley) and Mehrdad (Ghodoussi) leaving, a change in sporting director which, of course, influences me. These are all big changes.

"I don't think I have the right to challenge those or the want to challenge those decisions. The club has to choose its direction and that ability is their right. I've got no issue with that. But obviously I have to be happy in my work. I have to feel that this is something that can benefit me and the football club for it to work. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say."

Is Eddie Howe trying to send a coded message here? Like a kidnap victim trying to give away their location in their ransom video. Is Howe unhappy with the changes that have been made? Does he not agree with the appointment of Paul Mitchell which was done without his input? Is Amanda Staveley's departure giving Howe pause for thought?

It's highly unlikely that this is what he's saying, but the language he's used leaves it so wide open and a lot of fans have picked up on that.

Howe has left himself a get-out clause

Howe then touched on the relationships and how he's essentially starting from scratch due to all the changes.

"I have been really happy for two-and-a-half years. I have loved every second of the relationships that I've had and the way I've been able to work. I think that has brought success.

"We're in the flux of change, it's just happened. I can't say with a definitive answer where that will lead. I hope it leads to everything that I've just said. That could easily be the case, but it needs to be that way for Newcastle, not so much for me. The club is always the most important thing."

It's another diplomatic response, really, given that there was clearly friction between him and Dan Ashworth. Now it's a case of whether or not Howe and Mitchell can work together. Howe has cleverly left himself a get-out clause here, giving himself the option of using Paul Mitchell's appointment as an excuse to bolt and take up the England job.

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Howe wants to be involved in recruitment conversations

Going deeper into that working relationship with Mitchell, it's very clear that Eddie Howe insists on being involved in recruitment, as well he should.

"I think these are things we are working on. At any football club it can't be one man's decision and I wouldn't expect that to be the case. I think collaboration on every level is vital. There has to be a unity around every decision because it is so big now. That collaboration is important to me.

"The transfer window is absolutely massive. That's no criticism of anyone who has come in. I want to make that absolutely clear."

Again, if you're looking for negatives, he's leaving that door open for himself, but in all honesty, he's just covering all bases which is the sensible thing to do.

Eddie Howe doesn't sound enthusiastic over the England job right now

For the avoidance of doubt, however, Eddie Howe gave a pretty definitive answer on the England role, and right now it genuinely doesn't sound like it interests him, and as we have been saying, he loves the day-to-day too much to take up an international role.

"I think England is a very special job for someone. I am very patriotic and I'm not ashamed to say that. I love my country. I want my country to do well.

"I was gutted for Gareth and the lads that they did not win the Euros. But I don't have a burning sensation within me that I feel I have to do that at some stage. I've said before, if it happens at some stage in the future, then it's to be for me. If not, then I'm very, very happy in the current role that I'm doing, the day-to-day management."

In conclusion, then, we agree that there is definitely plenty of scope there for the naysayers and doomscrollers to cling on to feed their negative souls, but for us, at worst, Eddie Howe is being tactical. He's leaving that door open as a thinly-veiled threat to the club - this had better work because I have other options - and hopefully, it works and he gets all the backing he wants and needs.

We're sure he will. There has been a lot of upheaval this summer, but it has all been done in the interest of moving the club forward. We're still very confident that Eddie Howe will be on the bench when Newcastle United take on Southampton on the opening day of the Premier League season next month.