Howe issued similar words after a bruising defeat against bitter rivals Sunderland last time out.
A response was sorely needed and the Newcastle head coach attempted to jolt his side by wielding the axe.
Stalwarts Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier were dropped as Howe made six changes and named a noticeably younger starting line-up.
Aaron Ramsdale, Sven Botman, Joelinton and stand-in captain Jacob Murphy were the only starters over the age of 25, yet that was not the most striking aspect of this team selection.
In a rather damning indictment of Newcastle‘s recruitment last summer, which he was heavily involved in, Howe named just one of his five outfield signings in his starting line-up, defender Malick Thiaw.
It meant that forward William Osula was handed a rare league start and selected ahead of £124m pair Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, having come mightily close to joining Eintracht Frankfurt back in September.
“I don’t pick the team based on transfer fees,” Howe said. “I pick the team based on what I see.”
Despite a flat display from the visitors, it looked like those calls were going to pay off, after Osula repaid Howe’s faith with a well-taken opener.
But a lack of control has been a recurring theme this season and Newcastle have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League.
Football does not work like this, of course, but if Newcastle managed to hang on and claim even 13 of the 25 points they squandered, Howe’s men would be joint-fourth in the table.
