Newcastle's difficult start to their Premier League season continued on Sunday
Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe(Image: 2025 Newcastle United)
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It is hard sometimes amid the social media frenzy and the rolling 24/7 nature of our dedicated coverage and discussion surrounding Newcastle United to take a step back and take a breath.
But when it comes to any ridiculous questions over the future of Eddie Howe as Newcastle United's head coach, perhaps that is the best advice to heed.
Yes, Howe has some legitimate questions to answer and, to be fair to the Magpies boss, he is prepared to field them and he took full responsibility for yesterday's 3-1 defeat at Brentford.
Newcastle should not be sat on November 10 without a league away victory to their name, with three wins from 11 Premier League games, and just two points above the relegation zone.
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Howe has to find a solution to increase Newcastle's creativity in forward areas, to get more from the midfield who were hailed in some quarters as the best in the Premier League last season, and a way of playing effectively with £69million club record signing Nick Woltemade.
Woltemade has started well at Newcastle, and has scored six goals in all competitions, but Newcastle haven't quite adapted to his tendency to drop deep and exploit the spaces in behind.
He also should have replaced Dan Burn as soon as he got a yellow card against Brentford and Newcastle would have been chasing a winning goal at 1-1 with 11 men on the pitch, instead of chasing down a 2-1 deficit with 10.
They are legitimate criticisms and, just like after last season's defeat at Brentford, Howe needs to make a change to reignite the season - in the same way moving Tonali into the 'six' role did last term.
It is true that the away form is a major problem and Howe is probably entering his first mini crisis of his tenure. The away form has to turn, and quickly, or Newcastle's Premier League season could turn sour fast.
It can also be true that not having Tino Livramento and Hall available has hamstrung him badly at full-back and not having Yoane Wissa means Woltemade is overused and and is playing in games and Newcastle teams that don't suit him.
But it is also definitely true that there shouldn't even be a conversation at this stage about his future. It is not an exaggeration to say Howe is the greatest manager in Newcastle's modern history.
He won the Carabao Cup eight months ago, twice reached Wembley finals and twice overseen Newcastle's qualification to the Champions League. His record is unparalleled and he has achieved more than Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson before him.
His legacy at Newcastle is secured and that gives him an awful lot of credit in the bank and should also give fans an awful lot of faith that things will turn around. It is also safe to say his next job would not be a downgrade on Newcastle. He would be snapped up by a big club or even by the FA to succeed Thomas Tuchel as England manager.
That is why PIF are steadfast in their belief that Howe remains the man to lead Newcastle forward.
It is also easy to forget Newcastle have won seven of their last 11 games in all competitions. If Newcastle's defeats had come in the Champions League, there would be questions about Howe's credentials to lead Newcastle in European football. So far, he has silenced those doubts after their Champions League campaign two years ago.
It is still early days in the season. Newcastle's start to the campaign is far from ideal but it is also very salvageable. Howe's tenure has been littered by incredible runs of form that have transformed their fortunes and a number of the club's signings have taken time to adapt to the 'Newcastle Way'.
If things don't improve in the Premier League, clearly there are conversations and questions to be had over Howe's future at the club down the line. But we are nowhere near that stage at the moment.
It is important we all keep a sense of perspective and remember that before being too reactionary.