Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in defence of Eddie Howe, the Newcastle United manager, despite a recent slump that has seen the Magpies tumble from European contention to a mid‑table position in the Premier League. Newcastle managed to raise their level of play in the Saturday night clash against Arsenal, yet they still fell 1‑0, marking their fourth straight league defeat.
The loss has intensified the scrutiny on Howe, with the club now sitting 14th on the table with 42 points – a narrow six‑point cushion above the relegation zone. Both pundits, however, argue that Howe’s job is not in immediate jeopardy. Merson even suggested that Chelsea would be eager to hire him the moment he became available, as they continue their own search for a permanent manager. "I’m a huge fan of Eddie Howe and if he walks out, clubs will be lining up around the corner.
Newcastle need to be careful," Merson said on Saturday Night Football. "Chelsea would take him all day long. We’ve even talked about him being the next England boss – everyone will be queuing 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 added that he hopes Newcastle are already planning for the next season and that Howe can guide the team back into Champions League contention. Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast from the Emirates, the former defender lamented the season’s disappointments, pointing to a problematic transfer window that yielded signings such as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, who have yet to make a significant impact.
"I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go," Neville said. "They have a really good manager. At many clubs it’s easier to say ‘let’s change the manager and keep the players because they’re on long contracts’, but it’s the opposite at Newcastle." He continued, "If we lost him, we would lose an eight‑and‑a‑half out of ten manager – solid, reliable, consistent, with a great attitude.
I hope they sit down with Howe, go through the squad, and he outlines the players he wants, the areas he wants to strengthen, and gets the business done early while everyone is still thinking about the World Cup." Neville praised the side’s potential, stating, "They’re a really good team, 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 challenging for Champions League spots next season." Howe is scheduled to meet Newcastle’s board later this week.
When asked by Sky Sports about the upcoming discussion, he replied, "These meetings happen every year. This one will be a bit tougher for me, I’m sure, but it’ll be good to sit with the owners and talk about the future." Midfielder Bruno Guimarães offered a candid assessment of the club’s campaign, acknowledging that the team finally displayed a spark of passion in the narrow defeat to title‑chasing Arsenal. "It reminded me of what we’re capable of, but honestly it’s not enough.
We have four games left to try to salvage the season and at least secure European football for next year," he told Sky Sports. Guimarães expressed empathy for the supporters, saying, "The fans are as sad as we are, and we have to improve. The spark is still there – you can see it in training. We’ve been bouncing between good and bad performances, which isn’t what we want or what the fans deserve." He added, "I can see the fire still burning, but we need to show more consistency.
It’s not easy when you’re fighting for trophies, but at least today we showed passion. Overall, it’s not good enough." When questioned about the possibility of new signings to rejuvenate the squad after a grueling schedule, Guimarães replied, "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." In summary, both Neville and Merson argue that Eddie Howe deserves the club’s unwavering support, despite recent setbacks. They warn that dismissing him could trigger a rush of suitors, including top‑flight clubs like Chelsea, and stress that a stable, long‑term plan under Howe could restore Newcastle to a position where Champions League qualification is realistic. The upcoming board meeting will be crucial in determining whether the Magpies stay the course with Howe at the helm or consider a change that could set off a chain reaction across the Premier League.