In the upcoming months, Newcastle United is expected to “get trigger-happy” and fire head coach Eddie Howe.
Given Newcastle’s concerning downward trend, Howe is facing mounting pressure and is currently the third-most likely Premier League manager to be fired.
PIF is reportedly “unhappy” about Newcastle’s early Champions League departure, and Howe suffered even more damage when Chelsea eliminated them from the Carabao Cup earlier this month.
In their last seven games across all competitions, Newcastle has only won once. They have fallen to ninth place after their humiliating 3-1 loss to Nottm Forest on Boxing Day, which hasn’t been helped by their persistent injury crisis.
Newcastle’s upcoming games against Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool won’t make things any easier.
Journalist Dean Jones believes “there will have been conversations” at St. James’ Park regarding the former manager of Tottenham, Manchester United, and Chelsea, who is reportedly “charmed” by AS Roma.
“At some point, they will get a bit trigger-happy and they will decide to make a change,” Jones said.
“You’re already seeing Jose Mourinho being linked with Newcastle. Those things don’t happen by luck. There’ll be stories there, there will be conversations had, even if they’re very low-key conversations, just try starting to sound out who they could get if they didn’t have Eddie Howe.
“I think at the back end of the season, they’ll get towards a big decision.
“Because if Newcastle aren’t in the Champions League places in the league, they’re already out of Europe, if they don’t win a cup, they will be thinking, well, has he taken us as far as he can go? How do we now take this club quickly to being a proper Champions League-level side?”
During his latest press conference, Howe suggested that he has “learned to accept” it when he is criticised.
“I don’t look at it like I’m in the spotlight now. I’m always in the spotlight and criticism is part of this job. It goes hand in hand with it,” Howe told reporters.
“You say I haven’t been criticised, but it just goes with the territory. I’ve learned to accept and understand that and – no disrespect – but to blank it out and make sure I help the players. That hasn’t changed for me.”
When asked if he had been given assurances over increased funds for January, Howe answered: “No, we haven’t had those assurances.
“I think it’s a difficult month, as we always say when January comes around. I apologise if I sound like I’m saying the same things, but it is a very difficult month to bring in quality players.
“Financial Fair Play continues to play a part in our decision-making, so let’s wait and see.”
