Eddie Howe may well become the victim of his own success at Newcastle United. The 44-year-old has been brilliant since taking over from Steve Bruce at St James’ Park and has steered the Magpies well clear of the relegation zone.
Such is the recent success he has enjoyed, he was awarded the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award for February after picking up 10 from a possible 12 points. While top-flight status is not yet secure, it looks increasingly likely that Newcastle will be playing at the top table again next term.
That will be thanks to the work done by Howe but many feel that, as aspirations on Tyneside become more optimistic, the new owners may look for a higher profile manager to push for the European places. Speaking on TalkSPORT, both Martin Keown and Jim White think the former Bournemouth boss deserves the opportunity to take his side to the next level but Simon Jordan isn’t sure he’ll be afforded the time.
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“Absolute credit to Eddie Howe,” said Jordan. “I still think in the long term, he’ll be the casualty of his own success because he’ll keep Newcastle in the division and Newcastle’s aspirations will become loftier.”
White responded: “I don’t see any reason why Eddie isn’t the man to take them to the next level with the new signings that come in. If they are going to start spending £200m and getting the massive names in that we’re told they’ll go for, Eddie is the man to take them forward.” Keown agreed: “Of course he is and he deserves that, he deserves the opportunity.”
While very complimentary of the Newcastle boss, Jordan was one of those who is not convinced Howe has what it takes to compete with the other giants of the English game. “Whether he will become a top-six manager, I doubt because I just don’t see him in the same category as some of the guys sitting in the top-six positions," he said. “Put aside Manchester United at this moment in time, I think he is a country mile off some of the managers that are at the top of the league.”
Even the biggest Bournemouth and Newcastle supporters would struggle to argue that Howe is a manager with the same capabilities as Guardiola and Klopp but time is certainly on his side. He is seven and 10 years the junior of those two managers respectively and potentially has the chance to become one of the world’s best in the North East. The early signs have been more than promising and, at present, he is the best man for the job at Newcastle. He will be hoping to enjoy plenty more success over the years to come as the Magpies look to make the step to the next level.
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