We sent out an invitation on Sunday afternoon to a number of Newcastle United fans who are regular contributors to The Mag, asking what they think about the current situation regarding Eddie Howe and NUFC.
This followed up a poll this morning (results will go up on Monday when it closes), which asked Newcastle United fans: ‘Do you now want Eddie Howe sacked, or continue and at end of season evaluate everything?’
Ahead of that poll result, the idea was to get in more detail a decent cross-section of what Newcastle United fans, who are also regular writers, think.
Below you will find that cross-section of opinions.
This is how we phrased the invitation to comment, for these Newcastle United fans:
‘Do you now want Eddie Howe sacked, or continue and at end of season evaluate everything?
If you don’t think Eddie Howe should be given until end of the season, say what you would like to happen if he goes.
If you do think Eddie Howe should be given at least until end of the season, then do you see him as still the long-term answer, or what would be the alternative?
Totally up to you really whatever you put, these lines above are just a suggestion. Feel free to write anything you want based around Eddie Howe and his job, how you see things going forward, plus of course if you want to mention how the club/owners have behaved, how they have/haven’t supported him.’
Simon Ritter:
‘The players are struggling, there’s no denying that, but I don’t believe any other manager/chief coach could have done a better job in the circumstances.
For the second time in three seasons, injuries have stalled our momentum while we have been competing on four fronts. The workload has been exhausting. Tonali, for example, has just played his 42nd game since mid-August. Last season he was a box-to-box all-action midfielder, probably our most important player apart from Isak. This campaign he has understandably been jaded.
Who could have taken his place? We have all seen how difficult finding a replacement for the Swedish striker has been. A Tonali 2.0 would be equally rare.
Not, though, as rare as an improved version of Eddie Howe. The supporters should stick with him and his team this season, next season and every flipping season until he decides he has had enough. He has earned that right.
A place in the last 16 of the Champions League, now a distinct possibility, was beyond my wildest dreams last season. That’s good enough to satisfy me.’
Matt Busby said to Joe Harvey…:
‘I made the case for the defence when asked to write up the three positives and three negatives following yesterday’s match against Brentford.
I was highly critical of Eddie Howe after we lost at Chelsea last season and I hadn’t been too enamoured when he first arrived on the scene in 2021.
After he landed us the League Cup, I vowed never to get sucked into such pettiness ever again.
This isn’t blind faith.
Eddie Howe is hamstrung by PSR and that’s not a cop out, it defines everything a football club can do in the modern era and to have achieved what he has, all things considered, is quite remarkable.
A reminder
– he saved us from nailed on relegation
– he got us to two cup finals
– he steered us to two Champions League campaigns (the current one isn’t over)
Most of all, he landed us that elusive trophy, ending seventy years of domestic strife.
That is astonishing, considering those who came before him, and it represents more than a healthy dose of goodwill.
This pre-season was a joke, disrupted by you know who’s disgraceful antics but this summer Eddie should be there to work his magic with those who arrived last year and hopefully, one or two additional recruits.
Under Eddie’s tenure, I think we’ll come out of the traps with renewed purpose and vigour next season.’
Jamie Smith:
‘My answer is, end of the season then evaluate.
PSR/SCR is a reality NUFC are up against and the most ridiculous thing is some fans think a new manager is a silver bullet that gets us back to the top 6.
The big names operate by buying who they want and we need someone who can attract gems at lower prices and make them work. Howe has done this brilliantly but cracks have appeared, such as the fact there still aren’t youngsters, or the sort of fringe bargains the likes of Brentford regularly uncover to supplement the squad, hence the widespread exhaustion. There has been no solution found to vulnerability on the counter or failure to defend leads.
The punishing schedule is a reason for this and the options are twofold. Use the summer to back Howe with considerable activity then challenge him to utilise a proper squad and prioritise, or do the same with a new manager and a clean start.
I’d say there are two pain points to indicate what happens in the summer.
The first is Villa next week, as the FA Cup is our last feasible chance at salvaging the season.
The second is next month’s derby.
With difficult games before then, this has potential for an insult to injury match of highly damaging proportions that could see Howe’s position severely weakened. Either way, there’s no gain by knee-jerk reactions right now, if a change is made, getting the right man is essential, and not a mid-season job.’
Tony Mallabar:
After yesterday’s defeat…and yes it was pretty damaging, it seems like the whole of the Newcastle United internet has been posting about where we stand with nice guy Eddie.
Well one of my life mantras is, if you are having a two-sided discussion and you have to use the term context, then you already have lost the argument.
So for my context, here we go. It’s already been well documented what nge ( nice guy Eddie) has done for us and in my opinion, what the rat did to us last summer is now being played out in terms of results and the players we had to bring in to replace him and take the team forward.
So enough context. What happens going forward.
Simple answer for me, go to Spurs on Tuesday, Villa on Saturday, Qarabag next Wednesday etc etc and support the team.
I love Newcastle United and literally on many occasions have stated that I have the time and money to go to every game home and away, it’s my passion.
But for nge it’s also his passion and his job.
Nobody will be trying harder than him to turn this around.
Ps Unless Rafa becomes available to take over again ( but that’s me just exercising my opinion as Newcastle’s number one fickle fan).
Daniel Watson:
‘We keep Eddie Howe, not just to the end of the season, but beyond as well.
Football is so knee-jerk in its reaction to bad spells, and as far as I am concerned. he has more than earned his grace period. Progress is rarely linear, and judging a manager solely on a rough patch, ignores the wider body of work he’s delivered over a sustained period of time.
We invested fairly substantial funds this summer, and it’s yet to bear fruit, but context matters. Any team would struggle after losing a striker who guarantees you 27 goals a season, that kind of output simply isn’t replaced overnight. Add injuries and inconsistency into the mix and it’s no surprise performances have dipped.
Structurally, we actually haven’t been all that bad. In many games the shape has been sound, but we’ve been let down by individual errors at key moments, which is difficult to lay at Eddie’s door.
Of course he has questions to answer — particularly around why we’re so vulnerable in transition right now — but criticism doesn’t equal failure, and it certainly doesn’t mean he doesn’t belong.’
GToon:
‘When Eddie Howe came in he was just what we needed. Nobody else could have done what he did. We owe him for that. Points to Eddie +5.
His second season is my favourite season (2022/23) under him so far. We didn’t win anything as we lost to manyoo but our league form was amazing. We were on a roll. Momentum and pride were masssive. The Geordie boys were back. Points to Eddie +5.
Last season (2024/25) we actually won something on what has to be one of our best footballing days ever. We were making progress and Eddie was getting value out of our players. We limped to 5th but it was enough. We were in the money and ready to become a force. Points to Eddie +10.
Here comes the summer…Perhaps the worst we’ve ever had as it turns out. People couldn’t wait to leave for various reasons and we were left with a huge rodent sized hole to fill, in addition to a new candidate for the sick bed vacated by Wilson. What followed was the biggest waste of money ever seen by the club, as we followed Eddie’s targets and ended up with Bambi and Mr Lazy up front and somebody who can run faster than he can think on the wing. Points to Eddie – 10.
The football so far has been awful with no flexibility and no drive, once again blighted by injuries. Young players are sometimes named on the bench but never get a chance. The same players are picked regardless of form. And don’t forget the game against the SMBs. So far Points to Eddie – 5.
So I have Eddie on +5. But the season is getting worse by the game so who knows.
In short, the club have to look at themselves and think of two things:
1. Have they backed Eddie enough on and off the pitch. The answer is no.
2. Are they happy to develop at the same rate so far and accept Eddie will become a top manager with more experience and there might be some ups and downs, or do they want to try to get the experienced manager and take us quicker to the next level. I don’t know the answer to that.
Personally, I couldn’t care less who the players or manager are as long as we win things and are going in the right direction. What do I think will happen… I think Eddie’s loyalty to certain players will cost him.’
David Punton:
‘Eddie Howe has done so much for Newcastle United.
He’s the man who broke the trophy drought, a moment I never thought I’d see actually happen.
Almost a year on from that memorable day, we find ourselves in a slump and questions are being asked about his job.
Football is a results business, so if the slide can’t be arrested then the clamour for change will grow.
Howe, as manager, is accountable. That’s how it works.
After the Brentford match I am concerned. I won’t lie. Has he taken us as far as he can?
I recall when Leicester sacked the manager who won them the Premier League. They’re currently mired in a Championship relegation battle, btw.
I’m wary of the club pulling the trigger and it gets worse under his replacement and we see an exodus of players.
This is why I think Eddie Howe should be kept on until at least the end of the season.
That comes with the caveat that if fails to win again this season and we drop into the relegation battle – that, sadly, would shift the dial in my view.
Howe has to change and get time to do so.
We all know it was a sad end at Bournemouth and I pray it doesn’t happen here.’
Greg McPeake:
‘At the breakfast table my lad chirps up, “are you in the Eddie Howe at all costs camp?”
My instant reply was that as long as he gets us into Europe or wins the FA Cup. A knee-jerk response to the comment but as we travel to the supermarket, me and him have a more reasoned in depth conversation about the state of play and more about how bad VAR and refereeing is and how some clubs are being run as cash generators at the expense of the fans.
For me though, Eddie Howe is the greatest since Kevin Keegan set Newcastle alight. A mid-table finish this season and no Europe or silverware, would be disappointing, but not the end of the world. Having spent Sunday afternoon with Mr Haddock and discussing how mine and his club (Forest) are being hamstrung through financial restrictions brought about by Chelsea and Man City, it is hard to be too critical of the current situation for both clubs we agree on. Eddie Howe deserves a statue for what he has done. Keeping us up and winning a trophy. Just remember the “Tara Fergie” banner at Old Trafford.’
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