Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in support of Eddie Howe’s position at Newcastle United, even though the club’s recent form has been disappointing. A string of poor results has seen the Magpies tumble from a potential European‑competition spot to a mid‑table position in the Premier League.
The latest setback came on Saturday night when Newcastle faced Arsenal in the "Saturday Night Football" slot. Despite a noticeably sharper display, the visitors were edged out 1‑0, marking their fourth consecutive league defeat. The loss has intensified scrutiny on Howe, who now finds his side sitting 14th with 42 points – a mere six points clear of the relegation zone.
Both pundits, however, argue that the manager’s job should be safe. Merson even suggested that if Howe were to walk away, Chelsea would be lining up to hire him without hesitation. "I’m a huge fan of Eddie Howe and if he leaves, clubs will be queuing around the corner.
Be careful, Newcastle," Merson said during the broadcast. "Chelsea would take him all day long. We’ve even talked about him being the next England manager – everyone will be lining up 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 echoed the sentiment, urging the club to back Howe fully and start planning for the next season. He believes the current squad has the quality to challenge for a Champions League place if given the right support.
On his recent podcast recorded at the Emirates, the former Manchester United defender lamented the club’s transfer dealings over the summer. "The business at the end of the 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." He went on to highlight the rarity of Newcastle’s situation compared with clubs that can simply replace a manager while keeping a stable roster. "At some clubs it’s easier to say ‘let’s shift the manager and keep the players because they have long contracts.’ It’s absolutely the other way around at Newcastle," Neville said. "If we lost him, we’d lose an eight‑and‑a‑half out of ten manager – a solid, consistent performer with a great attitude." Neville hopes the club will sit down with Howe soon to map out the squad overhaul for the upcoming campaign.
"I hope they’re sitting down with Eddie, going through the squad and he’s saying ‘these are the players I want, these are the ones I’ll bring in next season, I want to get four or five new faces and finish business early while everyone is thinking about the World Cup,’" he suggested. "They’re a good side, I enjoy watching them, and they 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 he can get them back into Champions League contention next season." Howe is scheduled to meet the Newcastle hierarchy later this week. When asked by Sky Sports 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 club’s season after the narrow defeat at Arsenal. Speaking to Sky Sports, he admitted the performance showed a glimpse of the team’s potential but fell short overall. "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," he said. Guimarães acknowledged the disappointment felt by the fans and the squad alike. "I know the fans are very sad – the same as we are – and definitely we have to improve," he added.
He praised the passion displayed in the Arsenal game, noting that the spark is still present in training sessions. "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 a trophy. At least today we showed passion but, overall, not good enough." When asked about potential new signings, Guimarães expressed hope for fresh faces to strengthen the squad after a grueling schedule across multiple competitions. "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, both Neville and Merson stand firmly behind Eddie Howe, warning that the manager’s departure would invite a bidding war from top clubs, notably Chelsea. They argue that Newcastle must demonstrate confidence in Howe by investing wisely in the transfer market and giving him the tools needed to restore the team’s fortunes.
With a crucial meeting on the horizon and only a handful of games left to salvage the season, the next few weeks will be decisive for both the manager’s future and Newcastle United’s ambitions for a return to European competition.