Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in strong support of Eddie Howe, the Newcastle United manager, despite a recent dip in form that has seen the Magpies slip from the European competition conversation into the lower half of the Premier League standings. Their comments came after Newcastle’s narrow 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday’s edition of "Saturday Night Football," a defeat that marked the club’s fourth consecutive league loss and left them sitting 14th with 42 points, a mere six points above the relegation zone. Both pundits were unequivocal: Howe should not be dismissed.
Merson went a step further, suggesting that if Howe ever decided to leave, Chelsea would be lining up to hire him "all day long" as they continue their own search for a permanent manager. "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 queueing 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 the sentiment, urging Newcastle to back Howe and to start planning for the next season.
He believes the club can still return to the Champions League under Howe’s guidance. On his recent podcast recorded at the Emirates, the former Manchester United defender described the campaign as "really disappointing" and pointed to the club’s transfer activity as a key issue.
"The transfer business at the end of the window in the summer was a real problem for them. They ended up with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa and that’s just not paid off yet," Neville explained.
"I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go." Neville highlighted the rarity of a situation where a club cannot simply replace a manager while retaining its playing staff. "At some clubs it’s easier to say ‘let’s shift the manager and keep the players because they’ve got five- or six‑year contracts’, but it’s absolutely the other way around at Newcastle," he said.
He warned that losing Howe would mean losing "an eight‑and‑a‑half out of ten manager, someone who’s a real solid performer – reliable, consistent, with a great attitude." Neville urged the hierarchy to sit down with Howe, discuss the squad, and outline the players they intend to bring in for the next campaign. "He’ll say ‘these are the players I want, these are the ones I’m going to buy for next season, I want to get four or five in early while everyone is thinking about the World Cup’," Neville suggested. "They’re a really good side, I like watching them and they’ll 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 have one of the very best managers and I think he’ll get them back up challenging for the Champions League next season." Howe himself confirmed a meeting with Newcastle’s board is scheduled for the week, describing it as a routine part of the job but acknowledging that this particular discussion will be "slightly harder" given the current circumstances. "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," he told Sky Sports. Mid‑fielder Bruno Guimarães offered a candid assessment of the team’s season after the Arsenal game.
While he praised the players for showing "passion" in a narrow defeat to a title‑contending side, he admitted the overall performance was insufficient. "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.
He emphasized that the squad has only four games left to salvage a respectable finish and to keep hopes of European qualification alive. "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 added. Guimarães also reflected on the inconsistency that has plagued Newcastle throughout the campaign, noting that the team 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," he said. He remains hopeful that the fire within the squad can be reignited, but stresses that more effort is required to meet the expectations of a club that once lifted a trophy after a 70‑year drought.
When asked whether he expects new signings to bolster the squad after a grueling schedule across multiple competitions, Guimarães expressed optimism but cautioned that he could not speak on behalf of the board. "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.
In summary, despite a string of disappointing results and a precarious league position, both Gary Neville and Paul Merson are advocating for patience and continuity at Newcastle United. They argue that Eddie Howe’s track record, his recent trophy win, and his reputation in the broader football community make him a valuable asset worth protecting. The club’s upcoming meetings with the manager and potential transfer activity will be crucial in determining whether the Magpies can reverse their fortunes and aim for a return to the European stage in the coming season.