Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in support of Eddie Howe’s position at Newcastle United, even though the club’s recent form has seen the Magpies slip from a potential European‑competition contender to a mid‑table side in the Premier League. Their comments came after Newcastle’s latest outing, a hard‑fought but ultimately unsuccessful match against Arsenal on Saturday’s edition of "Saturday Night Football," which ended in a 1‑0 defeat – marking the fourth consecutive league loss for the team.
The string of setbacks has placed considerable strain on Howe’s tenure as head coach. Newcastle currently sit 14th on the table with 42 points, a precarious position that leaves them only six points clear of the relegation zone. Despite the mounting pressure, neither Neville nor Merson believes the solution lies in sacking the manager.
In fact, Merson went as far as to suggest that Chelsea would be eager to hire Howe immediately, adding that the London club is already scouting him as part of their ongoing 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. Newcastle need to be careful," Merson said during the broadcast.
"Chelsea would take him all day long. We’ve even talked about him being a future England boss. Everyone will be queuing up to snap him up. It should be his decision if he wants to leave – he delivered a trophy for the club for the first time in 70 years." Neville echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that Newcastle and Howe should already be planning for the next campaign and that the Englishman has the capability to guide the Magpies back into Champions League contention.
On his recent podcast recorded at the Emirates, the former Manchester United defender lamented the season’s disappointments but stressed the importance of continuity. "It’s a really disappointing season," Neville began.
"The transfer business at the end of the summer window was a real problem for them. They ended up with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa and those signings haven’t paid off yet. I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go." He went on to explain that unlike clubs with long‑term contracts who can afford to replace a manager without disrupting the squad, Newcastle’s situation is the opposite. "If we lost him, we’d lose an eight‑and‑a‑half out of ten manager – someone solid, reliable, consistent, with a great attitude," Neville said.
"I hope they sit down with Howe, go through the squad, and let him outline the players he wants, the areas he intends to strengthen, and get the business done early while everyone is still thinking about the World Cup." Neville concluded that Newcastle have a talented side and that backing Howe properly – both in terms of transfer budget and institutional support – is essential. "That’s what I’d do if I were Newcastle.
They have one of the very best managers, and I think he can get them back up challenging for the Champions League next season." Howe himself is slated to meet the club’s hierarchy later in the week. When asked by Sky Sports about the upcoming discussion, he acknowledged that such meetings are a routine part of a manager’s yearly calendar, but admitted this one would be slightly more challenging given the current circumstances.
"These are things we always have every year. This one will be a bit harder for me, I’m sure, but it’ll be good to meet with the owners and discuss the future," Howe said. In addition to the pundits’ perspectives, midfielder Bruno Guimarães offered a candid assessment of Newcastle’s season after the narrow loss to Arsenal.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he admitted that while the team finally displayed a spark of passion, the overall performance was still below the standards expected at a club of Newcastle’s stature. "This reminded me a little bit of what we are able to do but, to be fair, it’s not good enough, our season, I know it," Guimarães said. "We have four games to save it and at least try to qualify for European football next season. I know the fans are very sad – the same as we are – and definitely we have to improve." He highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued the Magpies, noting that the squad has oscillated between strong and weak displays throughout the campaign.
"The spark is still there somewhere, if you see the way we train well. We fought well today but this season we have been bouncing between a good game and a bad game.
It’s not what we want and it’s not what the fans deserve," Guimarães added. When questioned about the possibility of new signings to rejuvenate the squad after a grueling schedule, Guimarães expressed optimism but cautioned that he could not comment extensively as a player. "I hope so. I cannot comment too much as I’m just a player but I think we have to improve a lot of things in the club.
We need help," he concluded. Both former players and current squad members thus seem to agree that the immediate future hinges on stability at the managerial level and strategic investment in the transfer market. While the Magpies’ recent run of defeats has rattled their league standing, the consensus among the experts is that removing Howe would be a short‑sighted move that could exacerbate the club’s problems. Instead, they advocate for a measured approach: reinforcing the squad, trusting Howe’s vision, and aiming to reignite the ambition that once saw Newcastle challenge for top‑flight honors.