Sky Sports analysts Gary Neville and Paul Merson have both come out in support of Eddie Howe’s tenure at Newcastle United, even though the club’s recent form has slipped dramatically. After a string of disappointing results, the Magpies have fallen from any realistic European ambitions to a mid‑table position in the Premier League. The most recent sign of Newcastle’s struggles came in their Saturday night clash against Arsenal on Sky’s "Saturday Night Football" programme.
Despite a noticeably stronger display, the visitors were edged out 1‑0, marking their fourth consecutive league defeat. The loss has intensified the 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 as far as to suggest that any departure by Howe would trigger a rush of interest from top clubs, naming Chelsea as the most likely suitor.
"I’m a big fan of Eddie Howe and if he leaves, they’ll be queuing up 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 go. He delivered a trophy for the club for the first time in 70 years." Neville echoed the sentiment, urging the club to start planning for the next season and to give Howe the resources needed to push the Magpies back into Champions League contention. In a separate interview on the Gary Neville Podcast recorded at the Emirates Stadium, the former defender lamented the club’s off‑field issues, particularly the transfer window mishaps that saw Newcastle bring in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, signings that have yet to make a decisive impact. "It’s a really disappointing season," Neville admitted.
"The transfer business at the end of the summer window was a real problem for them. They ended up with Woltemade and Wissa and that’s just not paid off yet. I think full faith and trust in Eddie Howe is the way to go. They’ve got a really good manager.
At some clubs it’s easier to say ‘let’s change the manager and keep the players because they have long contracts’; it’s absolutely the other way around at Newcastle." Neville stressed that losing Howe would be a massive blow, describing him as an "eight‑and‑a‑half out of ten" manager – reliable, consistent, and possessing a great attitude. He urged the hierarchy to sit down with Howe and map out the squad’s future, identifying the players they wish to retain and the targets they should pursue in the upcoming transfer window. "They’ll be thinking, ‘if we lose him, we’ve lost a solid performer.’ I hope they’re having those conversations now, planning early while everyone’s thinking about the World Cup." The former defender concluded with optimism, believing that with the right backing Newcastle can return to challenging for European spots next season. "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 is scheduled to meet Newcastle’s board later this week. When asked by Sky Sports about the upcoming discussion, he described it as a routine part of the job, albeit a slightly more challenging one 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," Howe said. In parallel, midfielder Bruno Guimarães offered a candid assessment of the club’s campaign. Speaking to Sky Sports, he acknowledged that the team finally showed a spark of passion in the narrow loss to title‑chasing Arsenal, but he stressed that the performance was still 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.
We have four games to save it and at least try to qualify for European football next season," he said. Guimarães expressed empathy for the fans, noting that both the supporters and the players share a deep disappointment. He highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued Newcastle all season, oscillating between good and bad 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. I can see the fire is still there but we have to show more because it’s not good enough." When questioned about the need for fresh faces in the squad after a grueling schedule across multiple competitions, Guimarães admitted he could not comment extensively as a player, but he emphasized the necessity for improvement.
"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. Overall, the consensus among the pundits and players appears to be that while Newcastle’s current position is far from ideal, the club possesses a strong managerial foundation in Eddie Howe. Both Neville and Merson argue that patience, strategic investment, and unwavering support for Howe could steer the Magpies back toward the upper echelons of English football, potentially even a return to Champions League qualification in the near future.