It was always going to take a lot to bring Eddie Howe's position at Newcastle United into question, but a 7-2 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona and a second defeat in the same season against Sunderland in the space of a week may be the final straw.
The 48-year-old has been one of the most successful managers in the club's history - perhaps even the most successful. Last season's Carabao Cup victory is something even a Sunderland double can't tarnish. But all good things must come to an end.
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If Newcastle are to become a consistent top four side in the Premier League, then they could decide to do so without Howe.
Who could replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle?
It's not an easy job to come into. Whilst Howe will inevitably leave Newcastle in a better place than he found them, it will take a world-class manager to drag the Magpies to the next level.
This is still a side recovering from endless poor recruitment, with the most damage done last summer, and it remains to be seen how much spending power Ross Wilson will have to make up for last time out.
Newcastle technical director Ross Wilson
But this is also still a side with strong foundations. Hand any world-class manager a squad which includes Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Lewis Hall, Malick Thiaw, Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon, and they should aim for European football at the very least.
Just who that next manager could be if Howe is relieved of his duties remains the question. One man who is available is Roberto De Zerbi. The former Marseille boss left France earlier this season and would finally add some entertainment back to a lethargic Newcastle side.
Olympique de Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi reacts
Other options include Andoni Iraola who is out of contract at the end of the season and Crystal Palace's FA Cup winner Oliver Glasner who has already announced he will be departing Selhurst Park in the summer.
Alas, they are not the only options. Once the World Cup concludes this summer, those at St James' Park could have the chance to hire an experienced candidate.
Newcastle could sack Howe to hire former Premier League manager
On course to finish 12th and miss out on Champions League football, this current Newcastle side are all too similar to Tottenham Hotspur just before the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino.
The Lilywhites were consistently average and in dire need of a long-term manager to take on an exciting project with much-needed improvement in the recruitment department.
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Newcastle, as it happens, have also welcomed some disastrous signings in recent years and need someone with experience in transforming sides. On paper, it makes Pochettino the perfect option.
Unlike in 2014 too, this is not a manager coming off the back of little experience in the Premier League.
Pochettino has taken Spurs to a Champions League final, taken charge of Chelsea, managed Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain and is now in charge of USA ahead of a home World Cup. It doesn't get much more experienced than that.
Pochettino PL record
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The Argentinian is also far more expansive than Howe has been throughout the current campaign. His preferred 4-2-3-1 system could even become a breath of fresh air in what has become a very combative Premier League.
If there are two players his arrival would boost it is Gordon and Nick Woltemade. The duo have the potential to become Pochettino's next Heung-min Son and Harry Kane, with Gordon's speed and ability to press potentially combining well with technical giant Woltemade.
Getting the best out of the latter has proven to be a particularly tough task for Howe - so much so that he's dropped him into midfield. If anything has highlighted the manager's struggles, it has been that move.
Heralded "one of the best managers in the world" by Pep Guardiola at Spurs, Pochettino would quickly scrap that. Whilst Kane became a player who could drop deep under Jose Mourinho at Spurs and has been that player ever since, he was an out-and-out No.9 under the South American.
Harry Kane under Pochettino
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Everything about Woltemade, from his towering height to his technical ability, points towards a player who should be leading the line in an expansive system and not one who drops into midfield.
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