‘Damaging’ Gary Neville claim tells fans all they need to know about Eddie Howe after Newcastle loss

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Newcastle United’s defeat to Brighton was followed by the usual social media meltdown from Toon fans.

Supporters searched for an explanation for the defeat. Newcastle United‘s missed chances were analysed, while Eddie Howe‘s substitutions were questioned.

There was also a fresh reflection on a failed summer transfer window that saw Newcastle United fail to strengthen their starting XI. It became even more evident that Newcastle need a winger, while there was no escaping Alexander Isak’s struggles with Will Osula the only forward in reserve.

Newcastle will look to sign a winger in January, while the hope is that Isak will soon re-find his form. On top of that, Callum Wilson is due back from injury, so there is belief that Newcastle’s goalscoring problems will soon disappear.

However, as is always sadly the case after a Newcastle United defeat, fingers were pointed at the manager. Questions were asked of Eddie Howe, as his side made it four Premier League games without a win.

It has been a tough start to the season for Howe, on the back of what was a very unsettling summer.

Newcastle defeat comes after pundits pined for Eddie Howe to become England manager

Part of that unsettlement was because of the England job, but that situation resolved itself last week. And that situation is the reason Newcastle United fans should have no concerns over Eddie Howe.

The FA announced Thomas Tuchel as the new England manager, and his appointment was not universally celebrated. There were concerns over the FA picking a foreign coach, while the fact that Howe was not even approached for the England job caused uproar.

Gary Neville was one of the pundits who questioned the FA’s decision to go with Tuchel, having expressed his desire for Howe to get the job.

“I think there are some serious questions for the FA to answer in respect of English coaching,” he told Sky Sports.

“I do think that we are damaging ourselves, accepting that Thomas Tuchel is better than any of the other English candidates.

“With the likes of Graham Potter, who has managed in the higher echelons of the Premier League, we’ve got Eddie Howe currently at Newcastle. I do think there are outstanding candidates that could have been appointed that are English.”

Newcastle’s problems are not on Eddie Howe

It was only last week that people were clamouring for Eddie Howe to get the biggest job in English football. That is Newcastle United fans’ reminder that Howe is very much the right man for the job at St James’ Park.

There are clearly issues with his team right now. However, they are issues that can be resolved rather than internal problems that stem from the man calling the shots.

The disaster that was the summer transfer window continues to cause problems. The fact that a new right winger was not signed was staggering, even if Paul Mitchell did try his best. Sadly for him, a last-gasp bid for Anthony Elanga was rejected.

Even before Mitchell’s arrival, Howe wanted to bring in Michael Olise. Unfortunately for Newcastle, he went to Bayern Munich. But if you added a player like him to this Newcastle team, things would probably look a bit different.

While it was a frustrating defeat against Brighton, there were positive signs. Newcastle were able to create chances. That link up between Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to play Isak in on goal was outstanding. The Magpies created enough opportunities, but simply could not capitalise on them.

On another day, Newcastle would have won. That does not help the Magpies right now, but it will give Howe hope moving forwards. And that hope will only intensify when Callum Wilson is able to feature again. He is closing in on a return to fitness, which will be a big boost. Once he returns, the big battle will be keeping him fit.

But while there are issues at Newcastle United right now, they are issues that Eddie Howe can resolve. And they are issues that he will resolve, as he is absolutely the right man for the job at St James’ Park.

After managing to keep him away from the England job, there is no chance that Newcastle will be thinking about replacing Howe in the near future. And nor should they. In Howe we trust.