Newcastle’s next few games could define the outcome of their season, with a tricky spell of games on the horizon that Mail Sport’s Football Editor Ian Ladyman believes is ‘stalking’ Eddie Howe.
Howe’s side have been ravaged by injuries in recent months, and have been down to the bare bones of their squad while competing on three different fronts before the end of December.
However, an early Champions League exit was swiftly followed by a defeat on penalties in the Carabao Cup, in a run of desperate form that has seen them win only two of their last eight.
Yet as Ladyman pointed out, the end might not yet be in sight for the Magpies, who have got a gruelling start to January awaiting them.
‘I think the thing that stalks Eddie Howe at the moment is the upcoming fixtures,’ he began on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off.
Now if they come out, if they come out the other side of that run, having not picked up too many points, then they won’t be eighth, they’ll be ninth, 10th, 11th, and then it becomes a problem.
‘It becomes a problem for Eddie simply because the noise will grow louder and we can say what we like about owners and backing managers, the fact is that when that noise grows louder, more persistent, it gets harder for everybody.’
While there has undeniably been pressure mounting on Howe’s shoulders since the start of their poor run, it is as yet unclear whether the former Bournemouth boss’ position is under any creditable threat.
Ladyman was quick to add that although the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain had been quick to wield the axe in favour of short-term gains, Howe was very much the Saudi Arabian owners’ hire, and is therefore in a better position.
Since Newcastle’s owners have taken over in 2021 there has been plenty of talk about the financial power that they can rely upon, although Chris Sutton suggested that newly-promoted Burnley have a higher net spend.
And given the relative strength of their rivals, Sutton added that it could be harsh to judge Howe’s achievements as poor when they are coming up against some of the best teams in Europe.
‘You actually think about the fact he’s gone in and the money and the way people view it and the way that they think it should equate to trophies, it’s not that easy when you’ve still got Manchester City hanging around Arsenal, hanging around Liverpool, hanging around and other clubs challenging.
‘So I really do think that the owners probably will see the big picture and need to see the big picture with Eddie Howe.’
Sutton also suggested that the Magpies’ current crisis might be sorted should the club decide to enter the transfer market this January.
‘They’ve had a lot of injuries and they just haven’t been able to cope. And you know, that’s the way it is,’ Sutton added.
‘Does that make Eddie Howe a bad manager? It’s basically crying out, I think, for him to be aided by bringing in a better quality of player in at Newcastle.’
