Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have publicly defended Eddie Howe’s position at Newcastle United, even though the club has endured a disappointing spell of form that has seen the Magpies slip from a potential European‑competition contender to a mid‑table side in the Premier League. Newcastle’s recent outing against Arsenal on Saturday night, broadcast on Sky’s Saturday Night Football, demonstrated clear signs of improvement, yet the visitors still fell 1-0, marking their fourth straight league defeat. The result has intensified scrutiny on Howe, who now finds himself under considerable pressure as the team sits 14th with 42 points, a precarious six points above the relegation zone. Despite the mounting concerns, both pundits argued that Howe’s job should not be in jeopardy.
Merson went further, suggesting that Chelsea would be eager to hire him as they continue their search for a permanent manager. "I’m a huge fan of Eddie Howe and if he walks out the door, clubs will be lining up around the corner. Be careful, Newcastle," Merson said on the programme.
"Chelsea would take him all day long. We’ve even talked about him being the next England manager – everyone will be queuing up for his signature. It should be his decision if he wants to leave. He gave the club its first trophy in 70 years." Neville echoed the sentiment, urging Newcastle to start planning for the upcoming season and to give Howe the resources needed to return the Magpies to Champions League contention.
In a recent episode of The Gary Neville Podcast recorded at the Emirates, the former Manchester United defender lamented the club’s transfer missteps over the summer. "The transfer business at the end of the window was a real problem for them. They ended up with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, and that hasn’t paid off yet," Neville explained.
He continued, "I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go. They have a really good manager. At some clubs you can say ‘let’s change the manager and keep the players because they have long contracts’, but it’s the opposite at Newcastle.
If we lose him, we lose an eight‑and‑a‑half out of ten manager – a solid performer, reliable, consistent, with a great attitude." Neville stressed the importance of strategic squad planning, "I hope they sit down with Eddie, go through the squad, and he tells them which players he wants to keep, which ones need a shift, and which new faces he intends to bring in for next season. They need to act early, especially with everyone thinking about the World Cup." He added, "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 – they have one of the best managers around and I believe he can get them back into the Champions League race next season." Howe is scheduled to meet Newcastle’s board later this week.
When asked by Sky Sports about the upcoming discussion, he said, "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 the owners and discuss the future." Mid‑fielder Bruno Guimarães offered a candid assessment of the campaign, acknowledging that the team finally displayed a spark of passion in the narrow loss to title‑chasing Arsenal. Speaking to Sky Sports, he admitted, "It reminded me a bit of what we’re capable of, but honestly it’s not good enough.
Our season has been below expectations." He emphasized the urgency of the situation, "We have four games left to turn things around and at least try to secure European football for next season. I know the fans are sad – we are too – and we have to improve." Guimarães highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued Newcastle, "The spark is still there somewhere.
We train well, we fought well today, but this season we’ve been bouncing between good and bad performances. It’s not what we want and not what the fans deserve. The fire is still there, but we need to show more. It’s not easy when you’re fighting for a trophy, but at least today we showed passion, even if it wasn’t enough." When questioned about the potential for new signings after a grueling schedule across multiple competitions, Guimarães responded, "I hope so.
I can’t comment too much as a player, but we need to improve many aspects of the club. We need help." Both Neville and Merson’s comments underscore a broader narrative: despite recent setbacks, there is a strong belief among seasoned observers that Eddie Howe remains a valuable asset for Newcastle United. Their advocacy suggests that stability at the managerial level, coupled with strategic investment in the squad, could restore the club’s ambitions and perhaps even set the stage for a return to European competition. The upcoming board meeting will be pivotal in determining whether Newcastle chooses to stand by Howe and pursue a long‑term plan, or to entertain the tempting overtures from other Premier League giants.