Jamie Carragher believes Newcastle United have hit their ceiling under both Eddie Howe and PIF.
PIF’s takeover at Newcastle United in October 2021 has been transformative for the club.
Still, Carragher just does not believe the “next step” in the club’s development is possible at this stage.
Indeed, Newcastle’s start to the Premier League campaign has verged into a crisis following Sunday’s dreadful defeat at Brentford.
Howe’s side sit just two points above the relegation zone in the Premier League table and while an improvement is expected, Carragher does not think the club can ever really kick on from what they’ve already done.
In fact, the Sky Sports pundit believes Howe would be better served as England manager from next summer onwards.
Eddie Howe claps the fans after Newcastle United lose to Brentford.
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
Jamie Carragher tips Eddie Howe for England job amid Newcastle United’s struggles
Speaking after Newcastle’s defeat to Brentford on Sunday, Carragher slammed the Newcastle United owners.
He believes that PIF have let the Newcastle United manager down amid so much uncertainty behind the scenes and at executive level. The former Liverpool defender is also of the view that Newcastle will not be winning a Premier League anytime soon.
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“Now that we’re four years in, I don’t think Eddie Howe can do any more than what he’s done at Newcastle,” he told Sky Sports.
“He’s won a trophy. He’s got Champions League football. I don’t see Newcastle winning a Premier League, so I’m not sure there’s much more he can do.
“That’s not just talking about Newcastle being, you know, a couple of points outside of the relegation zone or sort of questioning the manager in any way.
Newcastle United have let Eddie Howe down, the club has been a mess off the pitch for two summers now.
What more can he achieve that he hasn’t done already
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— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 9, 2025
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“But, I think Newcastle have let him down, I really do. The topsy-turvy sort of nature of the club in terms of sporting directors and other people behind the scenes.
“It almost feels at times like he’s there on his own. The coaching, the transfers, as I’ve said he’s had problems with sporting directors, people at the top of the club.
“The big Saudi investment, it hasn’t really kicked on. They could question PSR, the rules, I get all of that. But something to me, when I look at how he had to handle the summer, the [Alexander] Isak situation, getting players in late, the [Yoane] Wissa situation, it’s been a mess at Newcastle really.
“I think, when you’re talking about one of the greatest managers they’ve ever had in their history, I think he deserves better.”
Carragher also suggested Howe would be wise to be on alert to what happens with the England managerial situation next summer.
Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel will be in charge for the 2026 World Cup but his contract is currently set to expire and his future after that point remains unclear.
“If I’m thinking how Eddie Howe’s thinking, if that England job came up in the summer after the World Cup, I’d be there in a shot.
“Because, as I’ve said, I think he’s been let down and I don’t think he can take Newcastle any further than what he’s done so far.”
Geordie Boot Boys were told in 2024 that the English Football Association (FA) were big fans of Howe’s work.
Clearly, they eventually appointed Tuchel as Gareth Southgate’s replacement and Howe remains committed to the cause at St James’ Park. Tuchel, of course, could still stay on beyond next summer’s World Cup.
Howe has PIF’s full support at Newcastle but, after four years in the job, this is perhaps his biggest test yet.
Carragher is right, to an extent. PIF have not made things easy for Howe at times. It doesn’t make him exempt from criticism but it’s still important context.
Howe has every right to be disappointed at how things have played out.