Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in support of Eddie Howe, despite the recent dip in form that has seen Newcastle United slip from European contention to the lower half of the Premier League standings. The Magpies managed to raise their level against Arsenal on Saturday's edition of "Saturday Night Football," yet they still suffered a 1-0 defeat, marking their fourth consecutive loss in the league. This string of setbacks has placed considerable pressure on Howe, with Newcastle currently sitting 14th with 42 points, only six points clear of the relegation zone. Both pundits, however, argue that the manager should not be dismissed.
Merson went as far as to suggest that Chelsea would be eager to hire Howe immediately, as they continue their search for a permanent head coach. "I'm a big fan of Eddie Howe and if he leaves, they will be queuing up around the corner. Be careful Newcastle," Merson said during the broadcast.
"Chelsea would take him all day long. We were even talking about him being the next England manager.
Everyone will be lining up to take him. It should be his decision if he wants to leave. He won a trophy for the club for the first time in 70 years." Neville echoed this sentiment, urging Newcastle to start planning for the next season and to give Howe the resources needed to bring the club back into Champions League contention.
In his interview on the Gary Neville Podcast recorded at the Emirates over the weekend, the former Manchester United defender described the campaign as "really disappointing." He highlighted the club's transfer activity at the close of the summer window as a major issue, noting that signings such as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa had yet to make a noticeable impact. "I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go," Neville asserted. "They've got a really good manager.
At some clubs it's easier to say 'let's change the manager and keep the players because they have long contracts', but it's the opposite at Newcastle. 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 went on to describe what he believes the club's next steps should look like. He imagines a meeting where Howe outlines his preferred squad for the upcoming season, identifying the players he wants to retain, the new faces he intends to bring in, and the timing of those acquisitions, especially with the World Cup looming.
"They will be thinking 'if we lost him, we've lost an eight-and-a-half out of ten manager, someone who's a real solid performer – reliable, consistent, someone who's got a great attitude'. I hope they're sitting down with Eddie Howe and they're going through the squad and he's saying 'these are the players I want, these are the players I'm going to buy into for next season, I want to get these four or five in, and I want our business done early while everyone's thinking about the World Cup'." Neville concluded that Newcastle must back Howe wholeheartedly, investing in his vision and trusting his judgment. "They're a really good side, I like watching them and they're going to need to back their manager properly, buy into him, back him.
That's what I'd do if I were Newcastle because I think they've got one of the very best managers and I think he'll get them back up challenging for the Champions League next season." Howe himself is slated to meet the Newcastle board later this week. When Sky Sports asked him about the upcoming talks, he replied, "These are things we always have every year. This one will be slightly harder for me, I'm sure, but it'll be good to meet with the owners and discuss the future." His measured response suggests he is aware of the scrutiny but remains focused on long‑term planning. Midfielder Bruno Guimarães offered a candid appraisal of the team's season, acknowledging that while the side finally displayed passion in the narrow loss to title‑chasing Arsenal, the overall performance was insufficient.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said, "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. 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." Guimarães highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued Newcastle, noting that the squad has oscillated between strong and weak displays.
"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.
I can see the fire is still there but we have to show more because it's not good enough. It's not easy with a team that's fighting for the trophy. At least today we showed passion but, overall, not good enough," he added.
When asked whether he hoped the club would bring in new players after a demanding schedule across multiple competitions, Guimarães replied, "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." His remarks underline the desire for fresh talent to bolster the squad and add depth, especially as the season approaches its climax. In summary, both Neville and Merson are advocating for continuity and patience with Eddie Howe, arguing that his track record, recent trophy win, and the potential interest from top clubs like Chelsea make him a valuable asset worth retaining. They stress that Newcastle should use the upcoming board meeting to solidify a clear plan for the squad, secure key signings early, and provide Howe with the backing necessary to restore the club's ambitions. The consensus among the pundits is that a stable, well‑supported managerial environment is essential for Newcastle to climb back up the table and, ultimately, to fight for a place in Europe once again.