NEWCASTLE United lose 3-1 to Brentford, as their mixed start to the season and woeful away form continue. Is this just a blip along the road or a worrying precursor of things to come, and has Eddie Howe taken Newcastle as far as he can?
Following defeats to Brighton and West Ham, the Brentford game marked the third occasion in a row in which the Magpies have lost a Premier League away game from a winning position.
What's even more concerning is that Sunday's (November 9) result was Newcastle's tenth Premier League away game in a row without a victory, with the last being a win over relegated Leicester City in April.
Like the showing against West Ham the previous Sunday, aside from the two goals they scored over the games, the team failed to muster many, if any, goal-scoring chances of any real significance.
Newcastle only recorded a singular shot on target against Brentford _(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)_
In the dismal performance against West Ham - a contender for the worst since Eddie Howe was appointed in November 2021 - Newcastle had 12 shots, with four on target for an xG of 0.54, with the stats being even poorer against Brentford, where they only recorded five shots, with one on target and an xG of 0.42.
After calling out his team's 'energy', 'spirit', and 'mentality' in what he described as an 'unrecognisable' and the 'worst' performance of the season against West Ham, many fans thought there would be a reaction against Brentford.
Although there was slightly more fight and cohesion in their display than against relegation candidates West Ham, Newcastle still lacked much of the semblance and identity that Howe's side has become known for.
After the Brentford game, Howe told the Press Association: "I’m very disappointed that we got ourselves in a good position again and weren’t able to capitalise on that."
"It was always going to be a tough, physical game, and we needed to stand up to that.
"One mistake in the build-up to their first goal, we needed a reaction to that, and we didn’t get it. Very frustrating end to the game.
"It’s different to the West Ham game. It’s important today that I support the players.
"We know it’s not good enough, and I take full responsibility for that, and if we want to get that right, it starts now, and that’s all that I can do at this moment."
In the aftermath of Newcastle's visit to the Gtech Community Stadium, Sky Sports pundit and ex-Liverpool player Jamie Carragher suggested that Eddie Howe has taken the Magpies as far as he can, and should consider the England job if Thomas Tuchel leaves in the summer.
Carragher told Sky Sports: "I love him to bits. But now that we're four years in, I don't think Eddie Howe can do any more than what he's done at Newcastle.
"I don't see Newcastle winning the Premier League. So I'm not sure there's much more he can do. And that's not just talking on the back of Newcastle being a couple of points outside the relegation zone or questioning the manager in any way. But I think Newcastle have let him down.
"And if I'm thinking how Eddie Howe's thinking, if that England job came up in the summer after the World Cup with Tuchel's contract situation, I'd be there in a shot.
"Because, as I said, I think he's being let down. And I don't think he can take Newcastle any further than what he's done so far."
Jamie Carragher suggested that Eddie Howe has taken Newcastle as far as he can _(Image: Sky Sports)_
In his speech, Carragher also referenced the 'topsy-turvy' nature of Newcastle's sporting director, backroom staff and board upheavals, the 'mess' of the club's summer transfer window and PSR rules.
On those points, I totally agree. I think at times Howe has been let down by the board and the constant merry-go-round changes in senior positions, especially in regards to the recruitment team.
He is also, unfortunately, at this moment in time, confined by the constraints of PSR - a topic I could begrudgingly bemoan for hours at a time.
However, I think it's premature and highly reactive to say that Howe has taken Newcastle as far as he can.
Although on a poor run in the Premier League - sitting 14th in the table - Newcastle are currently 6th out of a 36-team league in the Champions League, and have a Carabao Cup quarter-final match against Fulham on December 17.
Under Howe, Newcastle have been in much more dire straits before. Let's not forget that before securing two Champions League qualifications and the club's first domestic trophy since 1955, when the Bournemouth legend took over, Newcastle were winless in their first 11 Premier League games, before Howe steered them out of the relegation zone and to an 11th-place finish.
Howe certainly has what it takes to pull Newcastle out of this slump. Saying that, if they are to fight across multiple fronts and turn their league campaign around, the board need to identify their targets and strike early in January.
In a transfer window where PSR constraints have been lessened, particularly due to the Alexander Isak deal, the board MUST back Howe.
In the meantime, for Newcastle to get back to their best, Howe's stubbornness and favouritism on team selection need to be lessened.
As much as he gives to the team, the Dan Burn at left back experiment doesn't work. Time and time again, he is exposed, both on and off the ball, by quick, high-pressing teams.
Similarly, as good a shot stopper as he is, Nick Pope's lack of composure with his feet and his dealing with balls into the box is constantly made apparent.
Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes - both of whom have been subpar at times this season - in Howe's eyes, also seem to be untouchable.
More bodies in the squad, as well as a shake-up to the starting line-up, are certainly needed to turn around the season. In terms of Howe leaving, I think from his perspective and Newcastle's, there is still lots of unfinished business and success to come - so fear not, I don't think the much-loved manager is going anywhere just yet.
**Note to readers**: **_With next week being the last international break of the year, the Toon Crier column is taking a short hiatus and will return on November 27._**