Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in support of Eddie Howe at Newcastle United, despite the recent dip in form that has seen the Magpies slide from a potential European spot to a mid‑table position in the Premier League. Newcastle managed to raise their level of play in the Saturday night clash against Arsenal, but they still fell 1‑0, marking their fourth consecutive league defeat. The string of losses has placed Howe under intense scrutiny, with the club now sitting 14th on the table with 42 points – a mere six points clear of the relegation zone. Both pundits, however, argue that sacking Howe would be a mistake.
Merson went as far as to suggest that Chelsea would be lining up to hire him immediately, as they continue their 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 on Saturday Night Football.
"Chelsea would take him all day long. We were 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 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 his podcast from the Emirates, the former Manchester United defender described the campaign as "really disappointing" and highlighted the club’s transfer missteps in the summer window. He noted that signings such as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have yet to make a significant impact.
"I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go," Neville said. "They've got a really good manager. Where 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', it's absolutely the other way around at Newcastle." Neville warned that losing Howe would be a massive blow, calling him "an eight‑and‑a‑half out of ten manager, someone who's a solid performer – reliable, consistent, and with a great attitude." He urged the board to sit down with Howe, review the squad, and outline a clear plan for the summer transfer market.
"He'll say 'these are the players I want, these are the ones I'm going to bring in 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'." The former defender praised the current squad, saying, "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 is scheduled to meet the Newcastle hierarchy 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." Midfielder Bruno Guimarães offered a candid assessment of the season, acknowledging that the team finally displayed "passion" in the narrow loss to title‑chasing Arsenal. 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 been bouncing between strong and weak performances. "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 faces after a grueling 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." In summary, both Neville and Merson are urging Newcastle United to stand firm behind Eddie Howe, emphasizing his proven track record, his recent trophy win, and the potential interest from top clubs like Chelsea. They argue that continuity, strategic summer signings, and unwavering support from the board could see the Magpies rebound and re‑enter the race for European competition in the coming season.