Eddie Howe looked a defeated man at the London Stadium on Sunday, standing on the touchline as his Newcastle United side slumped to a disappointing 3-1 defeat against West Ham. It was one of those games where nothing seemed to click. The early spark from Jacob Murphy’s opener faded fast, and Newcastle never truly found their rhythm.
West Ham weren’t spectacular, but they were sharper, more aggressive, and far more clinical. After the first-half turnaround, the home side looked in control, while Newcastle, despite dominating possession, rarely looked like scoring again.
Howe had reverted to what most fans would call his strongest possible starting lineup. After making eight changes for the midweek cup game against Spurs, he restored the key names, hoping to see a positive reaction.
And when Murphy struck inside four minutes, it looked like the response had arrived. But instead of building on that momentum, Newcastle fell flat. They looked slow, disjointed, and short of ideas. By halftime, the team’s energy had completely drained away, forcing Howe into making three substitutions at the break.
Later, he used his remaining two changes by the 77th minute, but nothing worked. It was one of those afternoons where every decision, every tweak, felt futile.
After such a poor display, fans were understandably frustrated. Supporters have every right to question what went wrong, how things unraveled so quickly, and what needs to change before the next game. That’s part of being a fan demanding better.
But among the usual frustration, a small but loud group went further, suggesting that the real problem might be Eddie Howe himself. Some voices, particularly from online spaces and certain YouTubers seeking clicks and outrage, began calling for change in the dugout.
They painted the defeat as a crisis, as if Newcastle had suddenly fallen back into the dark days before Howe’s arrival.
The irony is that, in one sense, they are right Eddie Howe is to blame. He’s to blame for transforming Newcastle United from a struggling, uninspired club into one that dreams of competing at the top. He’s to blame for raising standards, expectations, and belief among the supporters.
For years under Mike Ashley, Newcastle fans were conditioned to expect mediocrity and disappointment. Howe changed all of that. He gave fans a team to be proud of, one that plays with intensity, courage, and ambition.
The early months of this season have been incredibly tough for Howe. Injuries have piled up, particularly among key players who are vital to the team’s system.
The pre-season was disrupted, the transfer window brought frustration, and some of the most important signings arrived late, limiting the squad’s rhythm. In short, it has been a campaign full of obstacles.
Yet even with all that, Newcastle are still competitive across multiple fronts ythrough to the quarter-finals of the League Cup and sitting within touching distance of the European spots in the Premier League.
Some critics conveniently ignore those achievements. They prefer to focus solely on the league table, pointing to Newcastle’s record of three wins, three draws, and four losses as proof of decline. But context matters.
This same manager started last season with a nearly identical record four wins, three draws, and three defeats before leading the team to a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.
That run included unforgettable nights and performances that reignited belief in Tyneside. Howe has already proven that he can navigate rough patches and bring the team back stronger.
When you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, the numbers tell a powerful story. Since taking charge in November 2021, Eddie Howe has turned Newcastle into the fourth-best performing team in the Premier League over his tenure.
That’s not an opinion it’s fact. He took over a side that was heading for relegation under Steve Bruce, a club battered by years of neglect and mismanagement. Under his guidance, Newcastle have not only survived but thrived, rebuilding their identity, culture, and reputation.
Of course, fans can question tactics, selections, or substitutions that’s part of football. But turning against the manager who has rebuilt the club from the ground up is not just reactionary; it’s disrespectful.
Howe deserves far more credit than he often gets. He has repeatedly proven his ability to turn things around when they seem to be slipping. Even before the West Ham defeat, Newcastle had won five of their previous six games. Every time he’s been written off, Howe finds answers.
The reality is simple: Newcastle United are far better off with Eddie Howe than without him. He embodies the values and ambition the club had been missing for so long.
To question his place because of one poor afternoon in London is not only short-sighted it’s foolish. If anything, Howe’s leadership and vision are exactly what Newcastle will need in the coming months to steer through this difficult spell.
Eddie Howe may take the blame, but it’s for all the right reasons for setting standards so high that anything less than excellence now feels like a crisis. That’s the mark of true progress. Newcastle fans should remember where the club was when Howe arrived and where they stand today. The transformation speaks louder than any defeat ever could.
