Newcastle United have reached a point where serious questions are being asked about the direction of the team under Eddie Howe. While there is still respect for what he has achieved, the 2025/26 season has clearly not gone the way many expected.
After finishing fifth last season and building real momentum, Newcastle now sit 13th in the Premier League, a position that feels well below the level the club believes it should be operating at.
There is no denying that losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a huge £125 million fee disrupted Howe’s plans. Isak was the focal point of Newcastle’s attack, and replacing a striker of that quality is never easy.
Still, Newcastle have significant resources, strong squad depth, and backing from PIF, which makes the current league position difficult to fully excuse. Performances have lacked consistency, intensity, and creativity, and that has naturally led to growing scrutiny from supporters and observers alike.
Interestingly, despite this dip in form, Howe’s reputation across the league remains strong. Reports suggest that Chelsea are monitoring his situation closely as they consider life after Enzo Maresca.
While Liam Rosenior is said to be the leading candidate for the Stamford Bridge job, Howe’s Premier League experience and proven ability to build competitive teams have kept him firmly on their radar. Whether Howe would consider leaving Newcastle in the middle of a season is unclear, but the interest alone changes the conversation.
From Newcastle’s perspective, this could present an unexpected opportunity. If Chelsea were to make a serious move for Howe, PIF might see it as the right moment to refresh the project rather than wait for performances to decline further.
Letting a respected manager leave on his own terms, rather than forcing a change later, could be a cleaner and more strategic decision.
If Newcastle were to look for a replacement, one name stands out above the rest: Andoni Iraola. The Bournemouth head coach has quietly built a reputation as one of the most impressive tacticians in the Premier League. In fact, respected journalist James Horncastle has described him as the best coach currently working in the division, a bold claim that carries weight when backed by data and context.
At first glance, some fans might hesitate. Bournemouth have struggled for wins recently, and an 11-game winless run does not sound inspiring. However, context matters greatly. Iraola has had to rebuild his team almost from scratch after losing a large part of his best starting XI in a single summer.
Players like Ilya Zabarnyi, Dango Ouattara, Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, and even Kepa Arrizabalaga all left, weakening the squad significantly. Despite this, Bournemouth remain nine points clear of relegation and continue to post strong underlying numbers.
The clearest way to understand Iraola’s impact is through expected points, which measure performance rather than results. The numbers show a clear upward trend since he arrived, even when results have not always followed.
| Season | xPTS | Expected League Position |
|---|---|---|
| 25/26 | 29 | 8th |
| 24/25 | 63 | 6th |
| 23/24 | 53 | 9th |
| 22/23 | 34 | 20th |
These figures show that Iraola inherited a team expected to finish bottom and turned them into a consistent top-half performer based on how they play.
That is a clear sign of coaching improvement. Even this season, after losing key players, Bournemouth are still performing like a top-eight side on underlying metrics.
In contrast, Newcastle’s own numbers tell a worrying story. While still strong, they have steadily declined each season. Newcastle ranked third for expected points in 2022/23, then fourth, then fifth, and now sit sixth. That slow regression suggests the team is no longer being lifted to new levels, despite continued investment and squad development.
This is where the comparison becomes uncomfortable for Howe. Iraola has consistently improved his team’s performance with fewer resources, while Newcastle’s progress has stalled.
That does not erase Howe’s achievements, including winning the League Cup, but it does raise doubts about whether he is the man to take Newcastle to the next stage of their journey.
If Chelsea’s interest becomes concrete, PIF may be wise to act decisively. Allowing Howe to move on and bringing in a coach like Iraola could inject fresh energy, tactical clarity, and long-term growth into the squad. With talented players already in place and strong backing from ownership, Newcastle could be perfectly positioned to benefit from a managerial upgrade at exactly the right time.
Sometimes, progress requires difficult decisions. For Newcastle, this may be one of those moments.
