Roy Keane is in favour of Eddie Howe getting the Manchester United job, but Newcastle United’s 7-2 defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League will damage the English coach’s reputation.
Michael Carrick is making a case to get the Manchester United head coach role beyond this season.
If United can continue winning football matches, like they did last time out, beating Aston Villa 3-1, Champions League qualification will be secured, and Ineos will have a decision to make over Carrick’s future.
Former United captain Roy Keane has yet to warm to the idea of Carrick remaining head coach. He has previously stated that Eddie Howe would be among his top contenders for the job.
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Eddie Howe at Camp Nou
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Ineos should take note of Eddie Howe’s failings in Europe
Back in January, Keane put a name forward for the United job.
Unlike fellow former players, who suggested managers like Carlo Ancelotti, Keane suggested Newcastle boss Howe.
“Who’d I go with? I’d go with Eddie Howe,” Keane said.
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“I like him. I like what he’s done. He’s managed a lot of games; they play good football. I know it’s not for everyone, he’ll have his critics.
“I like what he’s done at Newcastle, even at Bournemouth; he’s still a young man. I love his calmness. I think sometimes Man United needs a little bit of that.
“I’d be happy to see him go in there.”
Howe has done a decent job at Newcastle – winning the Carabao Cup and qualifying for the Champions League – but there’s little to suggest he is ready to make a big step up to take over at a club like United.
Newcastle’s Champions League run ended devastatingly at Camp Nou, losing 8-3 on aggregate.
Howe’s side matched Barcelona for the first 45 minutes, but the match ended 7-2 in favour of Hansi Flick’s side.
This should come as a warning call to Ineos because it shows how Howe fell short against elite opposition.
Newcastle are just the second English side to concede six goals in a Champions League match, along with Spurs in a 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in October 2019. Howe is also the first Englishman to manage against Barcelona at the Camp Nou since Gary Neville, who lost 7-0 with Valencia in 2016.
Howe would’ve needed a convincing run to put his name in the mix for the United job.
He might be admired by Keane, unlike Carrick, but most United fans would prefer to see their 44-year-old former midfielder in charge next season.
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Eddie Howe has underachieved in the Premier League
When you look at the Premier League table, Newcastle are currently positioned ninth after winning 12 of their 30 matches.
It wasn’t long ago the Magpies were sitting in the bottom half of the table.
Keane should give it more thought before putting people like Howe forward for the job. He has hardly pulled up trees at St. James’ Park, with a superior transfer kitty to previous managers.
Newcastle have eight matches remaining in the league to secure a European spot, but they can forget about competing in the Champions League next term.
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