'It sounds to me': Jamie Carragher now shares what he's hearing behind the scenes at Newcastle

The hope is that Eddie Howe and Paul Mitchell have found a way to resolve their differences at Newcastle United. The past few months at St James’ Park have been turbulent, particularly with the arrival of Paul Mitchell as the club’s sporting director, which has sparked some tension.

Mitchell joined during the middle of the transfer window, stepping into the role of overseeing player transfers. However, his impact was not as significant as many had hoped, with no major signings that could dramatically strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad.

Behind the scenes, there have been reports of friction between Howe and Mitchell. This has caused concern, with many fearing that the situation might escalate into something more problematic.

Fortunately, recent reports suggest that Howe and Mitchell have held fresh discussions, and there are signs that they are beginning to understand each other better. This is a positive development, especially considering the club’s owners, PIF, are eager for the relationship to work.

Despite the rocky start, there is optimism that the two can move past the early hurdles and focus on building a successful team.

Jamie Carragher recently shared his thoughts on the situation during an episode of the Stick To Football podcast, where he weighed in on the reported tension at Newcastle.

According to Carragher, the whispers within the game suggest that Mitchell’s arrival has caused some disruption, with his approach appearing too aggressive for some at the club. Carragher remarked that Mitchell’s entry has felt like a rapid shift, catching people off guard.

Roy Keane, who was also on the podcast, added that managing relationships upward is one of the toughest parts of being a football manager. He acknowledged Howe’s great track record but pointed out that he will need to navigate this new dynamic carefully in order to maintain stability.

HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY – JULY 16: Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe (L) laughs with Newcastle United Sporting Director Paul Mitchell (R) during the Newcastle United Pre Season Training Camp at the Adidas HomeGroup Training Facilities on July 16, 2024 in Herzogenaurach, Germany. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

The Daily Mail has also shed light on Mitchell’s arrival, indicating that he came to Newcastle with a clear mission to shake things up. His bold approach, while potentially beneficial in the long run, has caused some friction.

If his strategy ultimately leads to success, he may be vindicated. However, in the short term, it seems like Mitchell is walking a fine line. While Newcastle have made significant progress since the club’s takeover, much of that success is credited to Eddie Howe and his ability to manage the team effectively. It’s crucial that Mitchell supports Howe rather than create additional challenges for him.

Roy Keane’s insights into the situation are particularly interesting. He highlights the challenge that Howe now faces, pointing out that after a strong start to his Newcastle career, this is a critical moment for him.

Howe must draw on his experience to navigate the issues off the pitch and ensure that they do not negatively affect the team’s performances. As Keane notes, Howe has done an excellent job so far, and this new challenge is just another test of his management skills.

Ultimately, the relationship between Howe and Mitchell is likely to improve if the team’s performances on the pitch improve. The current unrest behind the scenes is proving to be a distraction, and even club legend Alan Shearer has voiced concerns that it could start to impact the players.

Newcastle cannot afford to let internal issues spill onto the pitch, especially as they aim to continue building on their recent progress. If performances falter, speculation around the tension between Howe and Mitchell will only increase, making the situation even more difficult to manage.

To stabilize things, Howe needs to get more out of his squad, and the pressure is certainly on for him to deliver. He may feel, however, that his job has been made more difficult by the lack of signings, which has left the team somewhat under-equipped for the challenges ahead.