Eddie Howe's future at Newcastle United was the subject of discussion on Sky Sports on Tuesday.
Newcastle United fans have been told their ‘expectations are too high’ by one of manager Eddie Howe’s former players.
Howe’s future at St James Park has been the subject of much discussion in recent weeks after a home defeat in last month’s Tyne-Wear derby clash with Sunderland left the Magpies sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table and four points adrift of the top seven. There have been positives throughout what has been a largely challenging season on Tyneside as Howe led his side to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and guided the club into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history.
However, there has been some understandable frustration with Newcastle’s inability to find consistency in performances and results and there is still a feeling there are more questions than answers over the current Magpies squad ahead of the summer transfer window. Speculation over Howe’s long-term future were heightened when United chief executive officer David Hopkinson appeared to stop short of confirming the former Bournemouth boss will be in charge next season.
Speaking to local media outlets including The Gazette, the Magpies chief said: "I don't have a stance on his future. What I can tell you is that the derby loss hurt. We take it seriously. There's nothing within us that thinks 'well, it's just three points and on we go'. It has resonated.
“I spent a couple of hours in a one-on-one lunch recently with Eddie [Howe] and we talked through a multitude of things, including that. Eddie's our manager. I expect to have a great run to the end of the season here and we'll talk about the future when it's time. Right now, we're focused on this season's competition."
Frustrated
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Sky Sports pundit Charlie Austin, who scored 31 goals in 61 appearances under Howe during his time with Burnley, described his old boss as ‘a phenomenal manager’ and warned Newcastle fans their expectations are ‘too high at this moment’.
When asked if Howe could leave St James Park this summer, the former Bournemouth striker told Sky Sports: “No, you’re getting frustrated but it’s the expectations. It’s the Newcastle fans’ expectations are too high at this moment in time. I understand they’re twelfth in the table, they got into the Champions League and we saw this last time they got into the Champions League. They didn’t back it up with their performances in the Premier League, did they? I just feel like the job he has done at that football club is superb.
“He’s brought the players in. The two biggest signings he made were Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn at the start and they’ve been fantastic servants for the football club, of course they have. When they bring in new players, he (Howe) is the man to do it. He has been a phenomenal manager for the football club and the last thing I will say is be careful what you wish for. I’m not sure you’re going to take him (Andoni Iraola) over him. I really don’t. The job he has done there has been superb.”
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