Alan Shearer delivers verdict on Eddie Howe’s Newcastle future, as club legend reveals what the Magpies boss needs to do to ‘quieten the noise’ after dismal defeat at Brentford
- Newcastle suffered their fifth league loss of the season at Brentford on Saturday
- The pressure is mounting on Eddie Howe with his side struggling to kick
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Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has spoken out about Eddie Howe’s future after a difficult start to the season for the Magpies manager.
Howe celebrated three years at St James’ Park last month and has turned the club around from relegation candidates to European contenders during this period.
However, Newcastle have struggled to kick this term and are currently in 12th place after their fifth defeat of the campaign at Brentford on Saturday.
The 4-2 loss was littered with errors that left Shearer questioning the players’ attitude and branding the team ‘terrible defensively’.
The pressure is mounting on Howe, but Shearer remains convinced he is the man to change Newcastle’s fortunes.
I have no doubts Howe is still the right man for Newcastle,” Shearer wrote in his column The athletics.
Alan Shearer is convinced Eddie Howe must be given time to turn things around at Newcastle
Shearer feels Howe needs support during a difficult period for Newcastle
The Magpies slipped to a dismal defeat at Brentford on Saturday and are in the bottom half
‘He can and must lead the team forward. After what he has done, not only taking the team from relegation and then straight into the Champions League, but in the way he has set standards and built an identity, he deserves time and patience.
‘He needs support, because that identity is fading. I don’t think there is the mood – or the money – to make a change. ‘
Shearer admitted he was disappointed with Newcastle’s summer recruitment after they failed to get a deal over the border for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, while they also sold Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton, to ensure they have adhered to PSR rules, .
He is concerned that things are stagnating at the club and has called on the club’s owners – PIF – to come out and make clear their vision for taking Newcastle forward.
But for now, Shearer believes Howe must focus on getting Newcastle through a ‘crucial spell’ in their season so they can look ahead to 2025 with optimism.
Newcastle face Leicester and Ipswich in the pre-Christmas competition, both sides of a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Brentford.
There are brown springs of discontent at St James’ Park, and Shearer believes three straight wins are needed to take the heat off Howe and get Newcastle back on track.
“Give it 10 days and three brilliant wins and I’ll be singing a different tune, but the way things are standing it feels like inconsistency is ingrained,” Shearer continued.
‘No matter how good they think they are, players have to exhaust themselves every game. Howe must find a way to get past Leicester and Brentford as that will keep the season alive and silence the noise. ‘