The atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was heavy with disappointment as Newcastle United’s hopes of returning to Wembley for a second consecutive year slowly faded into the Manchester night. For Eddie Howe, it was perhaps one of the most difficult moments of his career in the North East.
The Carabao Cup had become a beacon of hope in a season where the team’s Premier League form has often felt like a rollercoaster. Having been the man to finally break a seventy-year trophy drought for the club, Howe understands the weight of expectation better than most. Yet, against a ruthless Manchester City side, that dream of back-to-back domestic triumphs finally came to an end.
While the club has successfully navigated its way into the knockout stages of the Champions League, the domestic struggles have allowed critics to become more vocal. It is a strange position to be in; only thirteen months removed from a historic trophy win, some segments of the media and the fanbase have begun to wonder if Howe has reached his natural ceiling with this group of players.
However, if there was any doubt about where the “hardcore” supporters stand, it was silenced during the final stages of last night’s match.
Even as the scoreboard showed a painful 5-0 aggregate deficit, the away end erupted. The chant of “Eddie Howe’s Black and White Army” rang out across the stadium, a defiant show of loyalty from the fans who travel thousands of miles to support the team.
This moment of unity was not lost on the television cameras or the pundits. Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, was quick to point out the significance of the noise coming from the Newcastle section. He noted that despite the scoreline and the tough season, the fans are clearly still behind their manager and in Carragher’s view, they have every right to be.
This public display of support sends a powerful message to the club’s owners, the Public Investment Fund (PIF). While the world of modern football is often quick to call for change at the first sign of a slump, the hierarchy at Newcastle has shown no indication that Howe’s job is in jeopardy.
In fact, the relationship between the manager and the club’s leadership appears to be stronger than ever. Howe works closely with Sporting Director Ross Wilson and CEO David Hopkinson, forming a partnership that is built on long-term stability rather than short-term panic.
Interestingly, just hours before the difficult result at the Etihad, David Hopkinson spoke openly about his admiration for the manager. When asked if the club feared losing Howe to the England national team after the World Cup, Hopkinson was quick to dismiss the idea.
He described Howe as a “phenomenal partner” and highlighted an incredible work rate that often goes unseen by the public. Hopkinson emphasized that he judges a person by their actions more than their words, and everything Howe does suggests a man who is completely “leaned in” and focused on the project at St James’ Park.
It is this alignment between the fans, the manager, and the owners that will likely define how Newcastle finishes this campaign. The season is far from over, and while the Carabao Cup exit hurts, there is still plenty to play for on multiple fronts.
The club has experienced the highs of two Champions League campaigns and a major trophy in a very short window of time. To expect a perfectly smooth journey upward is unrealistic, and the club’s leadership seems to understand that growth often comes with growing pains.
For Howe, the task now is to take that energy from the away end and use it to galvanize his squad for the remaining matches. The loyalty shown by the traveling support is a rare commodity in the Premier League, and it serves as a reminder that the bond built during that trophy-winning run is not easily broken.
As the critics sharpen their blades, the “Black and White Army” has circled the wagons. With the backing of the board and the voices of the fans behind him, Eddie Howe remains the central figure in Newcastle’s ambitious journey toward the top of the global game. The road may be bumpy, but the majority of Tyneside is still very much enjoying the ride.
