- Alan Shearer gives damning Howe verdict
- Is Fulham loss the final straw?
- Why Shearer’s opinion brings so much treachery
To be or not to be – that is the pressing question around the Newcastle United future of Eddie Howe. Some believe he should be given another season, but there is a growing feeling among the fanbase that a fresh face is required.
This has created a rather polarising divide among the Geordie faithful, with the Howe-out crew and the coined ‘happy-clappers’ both making their opinions abundantly clear on what they want going forward.
But it isn’t only your average fan who is having their say. Club legend and boyhood Newcastle fan Alan Shearer has been vocal across the campaign about his feelings and has once again made his stance clear following the pitiful defeat to Fulham.
What did Shearer say?
In an interview with Chronicle Live, Shearer was asked about what he thought the plan should be going forward with regards to the controversial manager position on Tyneside.
He said, “He deserves the chance to go again and work with whichever players they decide to bring in and then hopefully have a good start to the season.
“I don’t know what’s gone on or what’s going on in terms of the training ground because I’m not part of that, but we also have to remember that these are the guys that brought Newcastle huge success.
“They brought a trophy to the club, and I do think that’s one of the reasons why they should be able to go again this summer and try and work out what’s gone wrong.”
Eddie Howe has faced a lot of criticism this season, including from Shearer himself, but the Newcastle legend’s position is one very much on the side of keeping Howe, which may not be fondly looked upon by the fanbase.
Can Howe turn it around?
Quite frankly, the club is in a very difficult position at present. The Magpies have a manager who has brought them some of the greatest times in the club’s history, including winning a first trophy in 70 years.
But there always comes a time where moving on is the best course of action; figuring out whether that is now is the difficult part.
If the hierarchy give Howe the summer window and the start of next season, they risk the wrong players being signed again and the club being put into an even worse position. This would also mean whoever comes in next has to deal with the fallout and mess created if Howe can’t turn it around.
But Howe has proved just what he can do and bring to the football club. He has never been tasked with taking the next step toward becoming an elite club before, so it is, of course, going to take time.
If Newcastle decide to get rid of him, they face the possibility of moving on just before Howe breaks through the rot and takes the club to new heights, but keeping him, of course, comes with the risk that he just isn’t able to do so.
Alan Shearer‘s position as a club legend who has had both a career in the game and a very short one on the touchline makes his opinion on Howe a more credible one than most and maybe should be listened to.
But the treachery in adhering to that opinion may be just too much given the possible consequences for the project going forward. In all honesty, nobody quite knows whether keeping Howe or letting him go is the best way forward, and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.
