Is This The Beginning of The End For Eddie Howe?

Is This The Beginning of The End For Eddie Howe?

Where do I even begin?

It's safe to say it wasn't exactly the greatest of weekends.

The first Tyne-Wear derby in 10+ years, and right on cue, Newcastle United do the most Newcastle thing you can imagine and put in one of the most diabolical performances I've ever seen.

It was lacklustre in every facet, devoid of any passion (bar a couple), and quite frankly a sorry excuse for a team that usually goes by the mantra 'intensity is our identity'.

Setting up for a smash and grab against any team (bar the elite) is indefensible as it is, but doing it in one of the fiercest derbies in the country? Some would argue that's a sackable offence.

And Eddie Howe didn't exactly redeem himself in the media, with a pretty timid and relatively reserved assessment of events – followed by a disagreement with his captain's comments, which had some fans wincing.

Eddie Howe and Bruno's Disagreement

Bruno was pretty strong in his post-match summary, giving a scathing review in which he didn't exactly mince his words.

Bruno stated, quite bluntly, that the performance was 'a mess' – a sentiment which was agreed upon by most sane Newcastle supporters.

But Eddie Howe didn't agree, as he responded in a press conference by stating he opposed the thoughts of his captain in that particular instance.

Bruno Guimaraes was totally right to say that the performance on Sunday against Sunderland was a mess.

I think Eddie Howe has got it wrong in his assessment of the game, and they can't put it right until the return fixture at St James' Park.

The real issues was the total… pic.twitter.com/mDRsKE3Ga7

— Jack Cunningham (@JackCun96) December 17, 2025

After all, it isn't rare to see comments in the media be the start of a dramatic downfall for managers…

Okay, okay. Maybe that isn't a reason to warrant thinking about a manager's future alone, but add in the mentioned abysmal failure of a derby performance and the struggles Newcastle have faced across the season – and questions do have to be asked.

No Consistency, No Quality

Take the derby aspect out of the Sunderland game for a second, and one thing screams out.

The consistency is non-existent.

But at this point, it isn't even the consistency argument. The question is now more about whether Newcastle are actually going to play well… Ever again.

Even the example Eddie Howe continues to bring up to the press in reference to the poor away form, the Everton game which ended in a 4-1 win, still somehow wasn't convincing.

In fact, for large majorities we were on the back foot; even when the score was 4-0, it never quite felt as comfortable as it should.

"Newcastle are not quite consistent enough in the Premier League"

How should Eddie Howe go about regaining Newcastle's momentum? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/QuK2OFyFpi

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 17, 2025

This season so far, Newcastle have picked up a grand total of 0 points from losing positions. Not only that, but when flipping the script to look from winning positions, 13 points have been lost in the Premier League and an extra eight have been lost in the Champions League – those numbers are quite simply not good enough.

To put it more simply, a game is never won if you're Newcastle United.

Those performances have been largely put down to the tactics, with Eddie Howe's lack of adaptability and seeming stubbornness to continue playing conservative football no matter the situation heeding criticism from fans.

All of the above has led to many beginning to question whether Howe has taken the club as far as he can, and a plateau has been entered that will not be recovered whilst he is at the helm.

At Least We Beat Fulham

Now, as I was composing this piece - Newcastle happened to be playing Fulham in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.

And, as is of course the way when I'm writing something about Eddie Howe's job edging ever closer to being in jeopardy… We won.

Well, don't I look stupid?

No, but seriously, having watched the game as I was typing this piece, and despite the 2-1 victory, everything I have mentioned was still present.

The performance wasn't quite as bad as some of the ones we have seen, but the uninspiring pace of build-up, lack of any real chance creating threat, and just all-round slightly dull performance were still present.

Lucky Newcastle getting a goal against a team that has 0 intention to score. Shame we’ve gone through.

Take the set piece goal away and the dreadful goalkeepeing mistake and we’ve been terrible again.

Scruffy performance, not sustainable. From open play we are shocking, I…

— Sam (@NUFC7890) December 17, 2025

A lot of the players had come out and stated that today was a chance to put Sunday's result right.

But this win definitely does not make up for whatever we witnessed at the weekend.

And as Bruno said, the only time that can be put right is in the return fixture in March.

From Eddie Howe's point of view, the performance may not have been the greatest tonight, but the result is all that mattered – and he has just about managed to manufacture that.

The hope will be that if a more consistent string of results can follow, no matter how those points are picked up, then the performances will get better as a result.

Howe does still have credit in the bank from all of the amazing things he has provided for the fanbase and club, but it can't be denied that some concerns are beginning to arise and the suitability of his management to take the project forward is raising some small but noticeable murmurings.