Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes laughed at the suggestion Eddie Howe should be immortalised with a statue following Newcastle’s Carabao Cup victory at Wembley
Paul Scholes has drawn the ire of Newcastle United fans and been branded ‘classless’ after mocking the idea of a statue being built in Eddie Howe’s honour. The Magpies ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy and overcame nine successive losses at Wembley to beat Liverpool and win the Carabao Cup.
Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak saw Newcastle dispatch the Reds 2-1, sending the Toon Army into raptures. The win sees Howe having earned European football and silverware in little over three years after joining a team that sat winless and bottom of the Premier League.
It did not take long for the prospect of a statue to be raised in the former Bournemouth manager’s honour. St James’ Park is already home to monuments to record goalscorer Alan Shearer and legendary boss Bobby Robson, and some believe Howe should be ne next.
Speaking on the Overlap, a Newcastle supporter put forward the suggestion to Scholes and Jamie Carragher: “I want to ask you… does Eddie Howe deserve a statute?”
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Scholes could not withhold a laugh before offering his reply. Smirking, the Manchester United legend who has won two league cup trophies, said: “You won the League Cup f***ing hell! Everyone tries to get knocked out of that all year!”
The post on social media quickly garnered criticism from Newcastle’s supporters. “That response from Scholes is absolutely rank,” one fan said. “Arrogant, out of touch & completely classless.”
“Ending that 70 year wait was always going to = an outpour of emotion after decades of disappointment through generations of fans. If Newcastle can’t celebrate that, what is the point?”
“It’s gas Scholsey saying teams try to get knocked out of that, yet the last 11 winners before Newcastle comprised of Man City, Man U, Liverpool and Chelsea,” added another.
“What an embarrassing reply,” one fan posted. Let Newcastle fans celebrate however they like. If they think Eddie Howe deserves a state, then he deserves a statue.”
“They just don’t get it,” said another. “Never will..let’s see what they think if they go 56 years without a cup or 70 without a domestic cup…”
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It remains to be seen whether Howe will see his likeness when attending home games, but the 47-year-old is set to be awarded the freedom of Newcastle. He will join Shearer, Robson and Jackie Milburn in having his name carved into the walls of the civic centre’s banqueting hall
With the move to be confirmed at the next council meeting, before becoming a freeman, Howe would be required to swear to defend the city of Newcastle. He will enjoy ‘herbage’ or grazing rights for his sheep and cattle on the Town Moor however.
Karen Kilgour, the council leader, has proposed Newcastle’s manager for the city’s highest honour. “What Eddie has achieved is nothing short of extraordinary,” she said. “He will be forever a hero to our city.”
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