Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is beginning to feel the pressure at St James’ Park after a frustrating and uneven first half of the season. While there is no sense of panic inside the club just yet, results have not matched expectations, and questions are starting to grow louder among supporters and decision-makers alike.
Newcastle were hoping to build on recent progress and push closer to the top of the Premier League table, but instead they find themselves stuck in mid-table and struggling to find consistency, especially away from home.
Howe is not believed to be in immediate danger of losing his job, and he still has a great deal of respect within the club. However, football is a results-driven business, and Newcastle’s away form has become a real concern.
Winning just once on the road in the league so far this season is simply not good enough for a team with ambitions of European qualification. Dropping points week after week has left Newcastle sitting 13th in the table, already nine points off the top four. While European places are still within reach, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The ownership group will be watching closely as the season unfolds. They invested heavily to lift the club into the upper tier of English football, and expectations have risen sharply as a result.
Finishing in the bottom half of the table was never part of the long-term plan, and while patience remains, improvement is needed sooner rather than later. Howe’s challenge now is to steady the ship, fix the away performances, and prove that he is still the right man to lead Newcastle forward.
Against this backdrop, attention has quietly turned toward possible alternatives should the club decide that a change is needed. One name that continues to come up is Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.
According to reports, Iraola would be a leading candidate if Newcastle ever move on from Howe. While Bournemouth themselves are having a difficult season, currently sitting just above the relegation zone, Iraola’s reputation remains strong across the league.
Despite Bournemouth’s struggles, context matters. The club lost several important players during the summer, weakening their squad significantly. Even so, Iraola has continued to earn praise for his tactical ideas, his calm leadership, and his willingness to develop young players.
Many see him as a modern, progressive coach with a clear footballing identity. Some pundits have even gone as far as calling him one of the most exciting young managers in the game.
At Newcastle, that profile fits well. The squad is packed with young, talented players who thrive under coaches that encourage energy, structure, and bravery on the ball. Iraola’s style, which focuses on intensity and smart pressing, could suit a team like Newcastle that wants to compete aggressively while still playing positive football.
If he were given access to stronger resources and a deeper squad, many believe he could take his coaching to the next level.
The situation remains delicate. Howe has earned credit for what he has already achieved at Newcastle, including lifting standards and restoring belief around the club.
That goodwill still counts for a lot. Changing managers is never an easy decision, especially when the current coach has done so much good work behind the scenes. However, football at the top level moves quickly, and owners with big ambitions are rarely patient for long when results stall.
Newcastle now face a defining period in their season. A strong run of form could quickly change the mood and push talk of replacements into the background.
On the other hand, continued struggles, particularly away from home, will only increase the scrutiny on Howe’s position. The club must decide whether stability is the best path forward or whether a fresh voice could unlock more from the squad.
As things stand, there is no immediate move planned, but the presence of a highly rated coach like Iraola on the market would certainly make any future decision more complicated.
For now, Howe remains in charge, but the pressure is quietly building, and the coming weeks could be crucial in shaping Newcastle United’s direction for the rest of the season and beyond.
