Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in defence of Eddie Howe’s position at Newcastle United, despite a recent dip in form that has seen the Magpies slip from European contention into the lower half of the Premier League standings. Newcastle managed to put in a noticeably better display against Arsenal on Saturday’s edition of Saturday Night Football, yet they still fell 1-0, marking their fourth straight league defeat. The loss has intensified scrutiny on Howe, who now finds his side sitting 14th on the table with 42 points – a mere six points above the relegation zone.
Both pundits, however, argue that the manager’s job should not be in jeopardy. Merson went further, suggesting that a club like Chelsea would be quick to snap up Howe as they continue their search for a permanent head coach. "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 on the broadcast. "Chelsea would take him all day long. We’ve even joked about him becoming the next England manager – everyone will be queuing up for his signature.
"Ultimately it’s his decision if he wants to move on. He delivered a trophy for Newcastle for the first time in 70 years, which is a massive achievement." Neville added that he hopes the club is already planning ahead for the next season and that Howe can steer the Magpies back into Champions League contention. Speaking on his own podcast from the Emirates over the weekend, the former Manchester United defender lamented the season’s disappointments but stressed the importance of continuity.
"It’s a really disappointing campaign," Neville said. "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 those signings haven’t paid off yet." He continued, "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 sack the manager and keep the players because they have long contracts’. At Newcastle it’s the opposite – you need to protect the manager who has done a lot for the club." Neville painted a picture of what a constructive dialogue between Howe and the board could look like.
"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 areas I need to strengthen, I want to bring in four or five new faces for next season and I want to get the business done early while everyone is still thinking about the World Cup’." He praised the quality of the current side, "They’re a really good team, I enjoy watching them, and they need proper backing – the board must back their manager, believe in his vision and invest accordingly. That’s what I would do if I were Newcastle. I think they have one of the best managers in the league and he can get them back into a Champions League challenge next season." Howe is scheduled to meet the Newcastle hierarchy later this week.
When asked by Sky Sports about the upcoming talks, he replied, "These are things we have every year. This one will be a little 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 club’s season, acknowledging that the team finally displayed a spark of passion in the narrow defeat to title‑chasing Arsenal.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Guimarães said, "It reminded me a bit of what we are capable of, but to be fair, it’s not good enough. I know our season isn’t where we want it to be. We have four games left to try to salvage it and at least fight for European football next season." He added, "The fans are very sad – we are too – and we must improve. 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." Guimarães highlighted the need for fresh talent, "I hope the club brings in new faces after such a gruelling schedule across competitions. I can’t comment too much as a player, but we need to improve many aspects of the club.
We need help." Overall, the consensus among the pundits and players is that while the recent run of results has been disappointing, Newcastle United possesses a solid foundation under Eddie Howe. The club’s leadership faces a pivotal decision: whether to stand by their manager, provide the necessary resources, and aim for a resurgence, or to look elsewhere in a market where top coaches are increasingly in demand.
The coming weeks, particularly the meeting between Howe and the board, will likely determine the direction Newcastle takes as they aim to reclaim their status among England’s elite clubs.