Pressure is slowly beginning to build around Eddie Howe at Newcastle United after another disappointing result on the road, and the conversation has now moved beyond performances and into the betting markets.
While the club remains publicly supportive of their head coach, bookmakers have started to sense a shift in mood following Newcastle’s latest away defeat, with money being placed on who could eventually replace Howe if results do not improve.
Newcastle once again found themselves on the wrong end of an away day, this time at Old Trafford. Despite enjoying long spells of possession and creating enough chances to score, the Magpies failed to take advantage of their opportunities.
That inability to turn control into goals has become a familiar story this season, particularly away from St James’ Park. The defeat against Manchester United was not just another loss; it reinforced a worrying pattern that has followed Newcastle for months.
The numbers paint a clear picture. Newcastle are strong at home, where performances and results have generally been positive, but their away form has dragged them down the table.
With just one win from nine away league matches, they sit close to the bottom of the away standings. When a team is eighth at home but 15th away, it becomes obvious where the main problem lies. For a club with ambitions of pushing toward the top end of the Premier League, that imbalance is simply not sustainable.
For the first time since arriving at Newcastle, Howe is facing genuine scrutiny. It is important to stress that his job is not currently under threat. Those in charge at St James’ Park understand the wider context of the season, including the disruption caused by the Alexander Isak situation and a campaign filled with injuries and inconsistency.
Newcastle are not cut adrift in the league, and a decent run of form could still push them back into the European conversation. There remains a belief internally that Howe can steady things and deliver better results in the second half of the season.
However, perception matters in football, and the betting markets often react quickly to pressure points. Howe’s odds to be the next Premier League manager sacked have shortened to 20/1.
That still places him firmly outside the group of managers considered most at risk, with others seen as being in greater danger, but it does show that doubts are creeping in from the outside.
Once bookmakers start adjusting prices, it usually reflects a growing sense of uncertainty rather than an immediate threat.
What has surprised many supporters is that markets have already opened on who could replace Howe if the situation ever reaches that stage. Even more interesting is the list of names being mentioned.
Leading the betting is Andoni Iraola, a manager currently associated with Bournemouth. The irony of a former Howe club being linked again to Newcastle has not been lost on fans, but Iraola’s reputation as a modern, progressive coach clearly appeals to oddsmakers.
Below is a simple table showing the current betting odds for potential replacements, as listed by bookmakers. These odds do not suggest any imminent change, but they do highlight who is being talked about behind the scenes.
| Potential Replacement | Betting Odds |
|---|---|
| Andoni Iraola | 4/1 |
| Oliver Glasner | 5/1 |
| Xavi | 11/2 |
| Kieran McKenna | 8/1 |
| Marco Silva | 8/1 |
| Erik ten Hag | 10/1 |
| Adi Hutter | 12/1 |
| Edin Terzic | 12/1 |
| Marco Rose | 14/1 |
| Roberto Mancini | 14/1 |
The list itself reflects a wide range of styles and experience, from young coaches making waves in domestic leagues to proven names with European pedigree.
That variety shows there is no clear direction being signposted by the club, only speculation driven by results and market interest. For now, it remains exactly that: speculation.
Howe, for his part, has been calm and measured when discussing Newcastle’s away struggles. After the Manchester United defeat, he made it clear that he does not view home and away form as separate problems.
In his view, the focus should be on performances rather than locations. He pointed to the strong first-half display against Chelsea as an example of what Newcastle can be when everything clicks, and he also felt that parts of the performance at Old Trafford, especially after the break, were encouraging despite the lack of goals.
There is some truth in that assessment. Newcastle have shown flashes of the identity Howe wants, even in matches they have lost. The issue is that those flashes are not lasting long enough, and the margins at Premier League level are unforgiving. Missed chances, small mistakes, and lapses in concentration quickly turn promising displays into damaging defeats.
Right now, Newcastle stand at a crossroads. Improve away form and consistency, and the season can still be salvaged. Fail to do so, and the pressure will only grow louder.
The betting markets may be premature, but they reflect the reality of modern football, where patience is often in short supply. For Eddie Howe, the message is simple: results must follow performances, and they must arrive soon if he is to silence the noise and steer Newcastle back toward where they want to be.
