Could Eddie Howe manage Manchester United? We ask whether Newcastle fans would welcome his return or fear him becoming a Premier League rival.
Eddie Howe could soon be back in Premier League management, and the possibility of seeing him in the Manchester United dugout raises an interesting question for Newcastle supporters. Would we welcome his return to football, or would we be concerned about him managing one of our biggest rivals?
Howe has reportedly recently rejected an approach from French Champions League club Lens, preferring to wait for the right opportunity. Meanwhile, reports suggest Manchester United are considering him as a possible replacement for Michael Carrick should their disappointing start to the season continue.
It's all speculation and Eddie is sure to be mentioned as an option whenever a top 6 manager is under pressure or a vacancy arises. Has Howe Earned the Right to Manage a Top Six Club?
Whatever supporters think about his departure from Newcastle, Howe's achievements at St James' Park cannot be dismissed. He inherited a side in the bottom three and tipped for relegation, finished the season in 11th place, delivered Champions League football twice and, most memorably, ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the Carabao Cup in 2025.
Arguably from Eddie's viewpoint, the only reason why he struggled in the PL last season was down to Isak's exit and last summer's top targets turning us down and signing for the Big 6. Cue this season and not only did Gordon and Tonali depart, but the hammer blow was Bruno deciding he wanted to jump ship and seek the top honours at Arsenal that he obviously believed he couldn't achieve at SJP.
Add in the fact that, yet again, our two top targets Munoz and Manzambi gave us the elbow, and Eddie no doubt felt that this season was going to be even more difficult than last. I think part of his decision for quitting was that his stock was still high, but another poor season could have seen his reputation slump - and it wasn't beyond possibility that he could have been sacked.
Getting the sack would have been the worst end to the fantastic job that Eddie Howe did for the club; he was not only well liked by players and fans but he was also a great ambassador for the club and gave NUFC an image that we could be proud of. So where next for Eddie Howe?
If the door swings open for Eddie at Old Trafford then I think many fans will feel that in some way he has let us down; Man U are a club that we Toon fans just do not like and seeing Eddie in a Reds dugout at SJP would be a kick in the teeth. But, as me fatha Bill always used tell me.
Our support is now right behind Matty Jaissle and the huge task he has in taking his young squad back to where Eddie Howe took us; into the Champions League and on to another trophy. One thing I am certain of is that if Eddie Howe takes his next manager's job in the PL it will be with one of the Big 6 where he won't have the financial shackles that he faced at Newcastle United.