So then, would you be happy to swap Eddie Howe for Pep Guardiola?
I am asking the question as it popped into my head, which managers would you prefer as Newcastle United manager, if indeed the current occupant left for whatever reason.
It is all very well some Newcastle fans saying Eddie Howe has to go.
Rarely though, if ever, do these supporters come up with a great master plan of what would then follow.
Who are the replacements that would do a better job?
To produce a list of potential candidates, I thought it obvious to look at those Premier League clubs that have all the advantages, especially when it comes to money.
So here are the managers that have been in charge at the so-called ‘Premier League big six’ clubs during Eddie Howe’s time in charge at Newcastle United (from 8 November 2021 onwards).
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta
Liverpool
Arne Slot, Jurgen Klopp
Tottenham
Roberto De Zerbi, Igor Tudor, Thomas Frank, Ange Postecoglou, Antonio Conte
Manchester United
Michael Carrick, Ruben Amorim, Erik ten Hag, Ralf Rangnick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Chelsea
Liam Rosenior, Enzo Maresca, Mauricio Pochettino, Frank Lampard, Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel
So come on, hand on heart, which of these 20 managers do you think would do a better job than Eddie Howe?
Remember, these are the managers that the current six most powerful clubs with the highest revenues have been able to attract.
I want Eddie Howe to stay for sure, to continue what he has been building against the odds these past four and a half years.
I am not convinced any other manager could have done better than Howe with the challenges he has faced.
However, if I was pushed, then I am happy to say that with their records both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have shown themselves to be excellent managers. They would be the only two of these twenty where I could say for sure that they would be an upgrade on Eddie Howe. I can’t see either of them coming to St James’ Park.
Mikel Arteta has been at Arsenal since 2019 and has won one trophy so far, the FA Cup at the end of that 2019/20 season. I think he is a decent manager but with all the advantages he has at Arsenal, I don’t see him as a better manager than Eddie Howe.
I like both Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte, both have very good records. However, I am not convinced either would come in and do a better job than Eddie Howe. Plus they are both busy with England and Napoli at present.
As for the rest of those who have managed ‘big six’ clubs during Eddie Howe’s time at St James’ Park? No thanks.
No manager has a job for life but when you look at who has managed the richest and most powerful clubs in these past four and a half years, who they could attract, I think it brings home how big a challenge it would be to find a better manager than Eddie Howe.