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Opinion

Fabian Schar – Eddie Howe’s kind of centre-back

2 years ago
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Eddie Howe has been talking up the merits of Fabian Schar.

The Swiss international defender had been one of the many victims of Steve Bruce.

Not fitting Bruce’s ‘tactical’ preference of going for defenders who would just launch the ball forward, rather than playing football from the back. Steve Bruce getting rid of Florian Lejeune, whilst Fabian Schar became almost totally sidelined.

Only 13 Premier League starts last season under Bruce last season and the last of those on 6 February 2021, Schar was given two PL starts in August. However, not given a single minute by Steve Bruce after the home draw against Southampton, despite Newcastle ending up with the worst defensive record in the Premier League AND really struggling to play any football from the back.

Fabian Schar must have been one of the many players to be so relieved when Steve Bruce was finally sacked, then the arrival of Eddie Howe has seen so many Newcastle players suddenly look so much better…

Still a long way to go BUT the improvement seen in certain players has been staggering to what we became used to under the former Head Coach.

Howe’s more professional and dedicated approach to training, as well as encouraging his team to play football rather than just defend around their own box, has brought serious improvement.

Fabian Schar has came in from the cold and started all four matches under Eddie Howe.

Recent games seeing things improving both in defence and going forward, with Schar playing a significant part in it.

I think fans now accept that Newcastle United don’t currently have the greatest set of options at centre-back but it was ludicrous to see the likes of Krafth and Clark getting a game ahead of Fabian Schar.

Eddie Howe clearly a big fan of the Swiss international and the NUFC Head Coach says that this has been the case for some time.

Eddie Howe reflecting on the form of Fabian Schar:

“I think Fabian Schar has been excellent.

“I have been an admirer of Fabian, from afar, for a long, long time.

“I think he is a fantastic footballer.

“He fits my mould of what I want in a centre-back.

“He is very composed and he is also very creative.

“And he can also defend.

“The pleasing thing in the last two games [against Norwich and Burnley] has been his defensive resilience, that mentality to not want to concede.

“I think he has defended really, really well. Which of course, for every centre-back, it is the first port of call.

“I thought together with Jamaal Lascelles [against Burnley], he was excellent.

“I thought those two really did set the foundations for the victory.”

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