Eddie Howe has done a quite brilliant job at Newcastle United since his appointment in 2021.
It could be argued that Newcastle United securing Champions League football last season was an overachievement, even though, the long-term plan is to compete right at the top from the Saudi-led ownership.
Despite all of that, it would have stung the Newcastle United fanbase when they were booted out of the Champions League on Wednesday after a costly 2-1 defeat to AC Milan at St James’ Park.
Given Newcastle’s ambitious owners, it was suggested by former Scotland striker Kris Boyd that Eddie Howe’s future could now be under threat.
But that was something Paul Merson wasn’t accepting as he told Sky Sports ‘I am not having that’ and he made it clear that the 46-year-old is a ‘top manager’.
What hasn’t helped the Magpies is the fact that they have been hit with injuries and that quite ridiculous officiating during the 1-1 draw at PSG last time out.
Newcastle United in the Champions League
“I just think, the way it has gone for Newcastle, the owners will just expect for it to happen year in and year out,” said Boyd.
“They won’t understand how hard it is to get there. They will demand that they go again. Eddie Howe, I hope it’s not the case, but people will start looking at him now.”
Paul Merson responded: “Oh, no, no, no! I am not having that. I can have you with the Europe thing because I think staying in Europe, they have been fighting for that for a long time.
On if the owners will look at Eddie Howe: “Not Eddie Howe,” added Merson. “Of course, they will (be patient). He has pulled up trees. He is a top manager. Keeps calm. Never panics. He won’t come out tonight and start throwing his toys out of the pram. He will be out and calculating. He is a top manager.”
Newcastle United without any Europe
One of the reasons why Newcastle were able to drive towards a top-four finish last season was because they were only playing once a week.
Well, that’s going to be happening again during the second half campaign, which in the end, might just bode well for the team.
Yes, Newcastle would have wanted Europe, whether the Champions League or Europa League.
But the only positive from all of this is the fact that the players can really go full throttle now and try to climb that table again.
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