Gary Neville and Paul Merson, both regular Sky Sports analysts, have publicly stood behind Eddie Howe’s position at Newcastle United, even though the club’s recent form has seen the Magpies slip from a potential European spot to a mid‑table standing in the Premier League. Their comments came after Newcastle’s latest outing, a narrow 1‑0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday’s edition of Saturday Night Football, which marked the team’s fourth consecutive defeat in the league. The result has left Newcastle perched in 14th place with 42 points, a precarious six points above the relegation zone. Despite the pressure that this slump has placed on Howe, neither Neville nor Merson believes the manager should be dismissed.
Merson went so far as to suggest that if Howe were to leave, Chelsea would be among the first clubs to line up for his services, noting that the London side is already in the market for a permanent head coach. "I’m a huge fan of Eddie Howe, and if he walks out the door, clubs will be queuing around the corner. Be careful, Newcastle," Merson said during the broadcast. "Chelsea would take him all day long.
We’ve even joked about him becoming the next England manager – everyone will be lining up to snap him up. It should be his decision if he wants to move on. He gave the club a trophy for the first time in 70 years, after all." Neville echoed the sentiment, urging Newcastle to start planning for the next season and to give Howe the backing he needs to guide the team back into Champions League contention.
In a separate interview on the Gary Neville Podcast recorded at the Emirates over the weekend, the former Manchester United defender described the campaign as "really disappointing" and highlighted the club’s transfer missteps in the summer window. "They ended up with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, and those signings haven’t paid off yet," Neville explained. "I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go." He went on to stress that Newcastle’s situation differs from clubs that can simply replace a manager while retaining a stable squad under long‑term contracts. "At Newcastle it’s the opposite – losing Howe would mean losing an eight‑and‑a-half‑out‑of‑10 manager, someone solid, reliable and with a great attitude," Neville said.
He urged the board to sit down with Howe and map out a clear recruitment plan for the upcoming season, targeting four or five new players and completing business early, before the World Cup dominates headlines. "They’re a good side, I enjoy watching them, and they need to back their manager properly, buy into his vision.
That’s what I’d do if I were Newcastle. I think they have one of the best managers around, and he can get them challenging for the Champions League next season." Howe himself confirmed that he will meet with Newcastle’s hierarchy later in the week. When asked about the upcoming discussions, he told Sky Sports, "These are things we have every year.
This one will be a little tougher for me, I’m sure, but it’ll be good to meet with the owners and talk about the future." Midfielder Bruno Guimarães offered a candid assessment of the team’s season after the Arsenal defeat. While he praised the players for showing "passion" in the narrow loss, he admitted the overall performance was insufficient. "It reminded me a bit of what we’re capable of, but honestly it’s not good enough.
We have four games left to try and secure European football for next season," Guimarães said. He acknowledged the disappointment felt by the fans and the squad alike, noting that the team has been inconsistent, swinging between strong and weak displays. "The spark is still there somewhere – you can see it in training. We fought well today, but this season we’ve been bouncing between good and bad games.
It’s not what we want and it’s not what the fans deserve," he added. When questioned about the need for new signings, Guimarães expressed optimism but also realism. "I hope so. I can’t comment too much as I’m just a player, but we need to improve many aspects of the club.
We need help," he said. Both pundits and players seem to agree that Newcastle’s immediate priority is to stabilize results and to reinforce the squad.
The club’s recent transfer activity, which saw the arrivals of Woltemade and Wissa, has not yet yielded the expected impact, and there is a growing consensus that additional reinforcements are required to compete on multiple fronts. Neville highlighted the importance of early planning, especially with the World Cup looming, suggesting that Newcastle should lock in their targets before the tournament distracts the market. The broader narrative surrounding Eddie Howe’s future is also shaped by his historic achievement of delivering Newcastle’s first major trophy in seven decades – the 2023‑24 FA Cup. That triumph elevated his standing among fans and pundits alike, and many argue that his track record should afford him a longer leash despite the current slump.
Merson’s comment about Chelsea’s interest underscores how highly regarded Howe is within the English game, with several top clubs reportedly monitoring his situation. In summary, while Newcastle United finds itself in a precarious league position, the consensus among Sky Sports analysts and the players themselves is that Eddie Howe remains a valuable asset. The club’s leadership is expected to engage in strategic discussions with him, focusing on squad development, potential signings, and a clear roadmap to return to the upper echelons of English football. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether Newcastle can arrest their decline, reinforce their roster, and set the stage for a resurgence under Howe’s guidance.