Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in support of Eddie Howe’s position at Newcastle United, despite the recent slump that has seen the Magpies tumble from a potential European‑qualification spot to the lower half of the Premier League table. Newcastle managed to show a noticeable improvement in their performance against Arsenal on Saturday’s edition of "Saturday Night Football," but the effort still ended in a 1‑0 loss – marking the club’s fourth consecutive defeat in the league.
The string of setbacks has placed considerable strain on Howe’s tenure as head coach, with the team now sitting 14th with 42 points, a mere six points above the relegation zone. Both pundits, however, argue that Howe’s job should not be on the chopping block. Merson went a step further, suggesting that Chelsea would be eager to hire the English manager as they continue their search for a permanent boss. "I’m a big fan of Eddie Howe and if he leaves, 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 manager.
Everyone will be queuing up to get him. It should be his decision if he wants to move on – 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 Magpies back into Champions League contention. Speaking on his own podcast from the Emirates over the weekend, the former Manchester United defender described the campaign as "really disappointing." "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 that hasn’t paid off yet," Neville explained. "I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go. They have a very 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." He continued, "If we lost him, we’d lose an eight‑and‑a‑half out of ten manager – someone solid, reliable, consistent, with a great attitude. I hope they sit down with Howe, go through the squad, and he tells them which players he wants, which ones he sees as a shift, and which new signings he wants for next season.
He’ll want to get those deals done early while everyone is still thinking about the World Cup." Neville praised the current group, saying, "They’re a really good side, I enjoy watching them and they’ll need proper backing – the board must buy into him, support him fully. That’s what I’d do if I were Newcastle because I think they have one of the very best managers and he can get them back to 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 responded, "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." Mid‑fielder 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, "It reminded me a little of what we are capable of, but honestly it’s not good enough. I know our season isn’t where we want it to be." He added, "We have four games left to try and rescue it and at least aim for European football next season. I know the fans are very sad – the same as we are – and we definitely have to improve." Guimarães highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued Newcastle, "The spark is still there somewhere; you can see it in training.
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 still there, but we have to show more because it’s not good enough. It’s not easy when you’re fighting for a trophy.
At least today we showed passion, but overall it wasn’t enough." When asked whether he hoped the club would bring in fresh faces after a gruelling schedule across multiple competitions, Guimarães replied, "I hope so. I can’t comment too much as I’m just a player, but we need to improve a lot of things at the club.
We need help." The broader context of Newcastle’s situation includes a transfer market that left the squad thin in key areas, with the summer signings yet to make a decisive impact. The club’s board faces a dilemma: whether to double down on Howe’s long‑term vision or to consider a change that could jeopardise the stability they have built over the past few years. Both Neville and Merson argue that the latter would be a mistake, emphasizing Howe’s tactical acumen, his ability to develop young talent, and the cultural shift he has instituted at St James’ Park.
Neville pointed out that other Premier League clubs have a tendency to fire managers after a short run of poor results, but Newcastle’s recent history suggests a different approach may be warranted. "When you have a manager who took you from the brink of relegation to a trophy win, you need to give him the time and resources to rebuild," Neville said. "The board must back him in the transfer market, give him a clear plan, and let him execute it." Merson echoed this sentiment, noting the allure that top clubs like Chelsea hold for successful managers. "Chelsea would love to have Howe, but they need to understand that he’s not just a short‑term fix.
He’s built something special at Newcastle, and leaving now could undermine his legacy and the progress the club has made." In summary, while the Magpies endure a rough patch, the consensus among seasoned analysts is that Eddie Howe remains the right man for the job. The upcoming meetings with the owners will be crucial in determining whether Newcastle will continue to invest in Howe’s project or entertain the tempting offers that may arise from other ambitious clubs. The next few weeks will reveal whether the club can rally behind its manager and set a course for a more successful season ahead.