Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe handled questions over whether his job was on the line with customary directness
It was a question Eddie Howe had probably anticipated given Newcastle United are 12th and have won two of their past 11 league games, but is he really under pressure at St James’ Park?
He answered the question well, pointing out “he is always under pressure” at a club like Newcastle, whether it is “to keep on winning” or “get a win” if they haven’t had one for a while.
With four crucial games coming up, which include a home tie against Brentford in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, this is a pivotal period for the team and their manager as they look to get the season back on track.
How much support does he have in the boardroom?
This is always the crucial thing for any manager and as things stand, there is no appetite or desire to consider a change in the dugout despite the disappointing league position and form.
As one source told Telegraph Sport this week, “Eddie is an elite manager and coach, he is honest about where the team is, what the problems are and the situation we are in. That is what you are looking for.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan (left) and co-owner Jamie Reuben
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (left) and minority shareholder Jamie Reuben fully support Howe
“He understands the wider picture in terms of PSR and the financial challenges facing the club. He does not get too high when things are going well, or too low when they are difficult. He is the perfect fit for what Newcastle are trying to be and the challenges faced in terms of building long-term, sustainable success. Nobody is thinking about replacing him.”
It is about as unequivocal as you can get, but of course things can change quickly in football and as Howe himself said when asked about what sort of assurances he had received at boardroom level. “I don’t seek it, I’m not that type of person.
“I don’t know if it’s the right word, but I’m not needy, I don’t seek assurances or look above me and engage in conversations to see how the land lies. My work is always with the players and how to affect them positively. My future will be dictated by results on the pitch, not seeking anything [from the board].”
In terms of supporters, match-going fans have continued to display their unwavering support for Howe inside the stadium, chanting his name. There are, however, a growing number of dissenting voices on social media, especially in the aftermath of defeats, who are calling for a change. They are easily ignored, at least for now.
Eddie Howe banner on the Gallowgate
Howe retains the full-throated support of match-going fans
Board understands impact of financial rules
Newcastle remain trapped by profit and sustainability rules. Their ability to spend in January, as revealed by Telegraph Sport, is likely to be determined by whether they can sell anyone first. The rules put in place to prevent Newcastle spending heavily in the same way Chelsea and Manchester City did under wealthy owners before them – Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is the wealthiest owner in Europe – are working as intended.
It is stunting growth and progress on the pitch. In fact, with an ageing team that are, in Howe’s words, in danger of going stale, there is a strong argument to make that this group peaked two years ago when they unexpectedly qualified for the Champions League. When senior figures at the club talk about the wider picture, they see this too, but are unable to do much to rectify it in the short term.
Miguel Almiron
Newcastle’s ability to rejuvenate the squad in January rests on whether they will be able to sell the likes of the increasingly peripheral Miguel Almirón
And Howe has confirmed as much in public for the first time: “I wouldn’t expect us to be too active in the market as we currently stand,” he said. “If we trade [sell] players, that’s different. If we don’t, I’d expect us to be quiet.”
It will be up to him to get the most out of the players he has for the rest of the season, even though everyone can see the team need refreshing and quality needs to be added. If Newcastle do not sign a first-team-ready player in January, it will be the third window in a row they have failed to do so.
Crucial run of games
Newcastle are still only five points off sixth and have an excellent chance to reach the last four of a domestic cup competition for a second time in three years under Howe. But they need to put a run together and their problem has been infuriating inconsistency. They have played superbly against the big teams, but have let themselves down in more run-of-the-mill fixtures.
However, if you were looking for a run of games to turn things around and erase negativity, a home game against Leicester City, the cup quarter-final at home against Brentford and a trip to Ipswich Town, who have not won at Portman Road all season, would fall into the very kind category. Another home game against Aston Villa on Boxing Day is followed by a trip to Manchester United on Dec 30.
Win four of these, most importantly the quarter-final, and the year will end on a positive note with a real chance of pushing on and competing for European qualification again. The prospect of winning the Carabao Cup will keep everyone happy for as long as it can be preserved.
Do badly in this period, though, and the pressure will be on and serious questions will start to be asked about Howe’s position.
What if club take nuclear option and sack manager?
Firstly, it would be extremely expensive to replace Howe in terms of the compensation he and his coaching staff would be due. Telegraph Sport understands the sum involved would be more than £9 million and, given Newcastle’s PSR constraints, that would be a huge financial blow to absorb and would severely hinder their recruitment way beyond January.
There is also, as Manchester United discovered in the summer and again when finally deciding to sack Erik ten Hag last month, a lack of quality managers who are out of work. That would mean more money would need to be found to extract someone from another club.
The Newcastle hierarchy have always stressed they knew progress would not be linear after the PIF-led takeover and they are willing to ride out difficult spells.
They do not want to be a club that is constantly looking for new managers when things get tough as they want the benefits stability brings.
They have always argued Howe is the right man both for the club they are, in their current form, and the one they want to become.
Progress is going to be slower than people thought when the takeover went through in Oct 2021 and they appreciate that it is not down to any shortcomings on Howe’s part.