He may be under fire right now after the defeat to Sunderland at the weekend, but Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has got the backing of Mark Clattenburg, at least.
You won’t have to go far to find a Newcastle United fan who is feeling pretty annoyed at Eddie Howe this week. Indeed, many have blamed him for the poor performance from the players and the way the team was set up for the Tyne-Wear derby.
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Still, Jamie Carragher had some sympathy for Howe. The Sky Sports pundit insisted the Newcastle manager has achieved great things at the club, often under difficult circumstances.
Interestingly, Mark Clattenburg slammed Newcastle for the performance, but it’s clearly not tarnished his opinion of Howe in the grand scheme of things.
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Mark Clattenburg discusses Eddie Howe success
In a fresh episode of Beyond the Back Four, the guests were discussing who the greatest manager of the Premier League era is, and Mark Clattenburg made mention of Eddie Howe and all that he has achieved with the Magpies.
Clattenburg said: “Success breeds into legacies. Eddie Howe will leave a legacy at Newcastle for winning that first trophy in so many years. He is still up there as one of best Newcastle managers but he’s not one of the most successful managers in the league.
“Everything is based on trophies and how they’ve won it. When Man City had money pumped in, they could buy whoever they wanted, which can bring success, but different coaches have brought different styles. Legacy is all about winning trophies and how you leave a club.”
While Howe may not be the greatest manager the league has ever seen, he does hold a special place in the hearts of most Magpies fans. For winning the Carabao Cup alone, he will be regarded as a top Newcastle United manager for years to come.
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How much longer Howe remains at Newcastle United is another matter, though. There were growing calls for him to leave the club at the weekend, though some of that is likely a kneejerk reaction to the derby defeat more than a fair assessment of the bigger picture.
Still, there is a legitimate argument to be had over whether Howe has actually taken Newcastle as far as he can.
He’s a very good manager, no doubt. But, is he at the top of the game when it comes to tactical flexibility, game management, and having that winner’s mentality? Probably not.
We’re not suggesting Newcastle should sack Howe, at least not any time soon. However, if PIF are serious about turning Newcastle into a powerhouse, they need an elite manager who can take the club to the next level.
Finding that person is the hard part, though.
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