Stability or change? Newcastle’s looming decision

February 10, 2026 Oliver Obel

Newcastle United are not in crisis, but they are no longer moving with confidence either. Results have faltered, performances have flattened out, and the league table reflects a team stuck in neutral rather than one building momentum.

Eddie Howe remains publicly supported, and there has been no indication of immediate change. Still, as the season drifts on, the question facing the club is no longer about survival, but about whether standing still carries its own risks.

Safe enough, but uneasy

League standings show Newcastle sitting ten points clear of the relegation zone, with multiple teams acting as a buffer between them and the bottom three. The traditional 40-point safety line is also within reach.

That has kept panic at bay. Yet it has not softened the mood around recent performances. Defeats have begun to outweigh wins, and matches that once felt controlled have turned scrappy. The home loss earlier this winter, where Newcastle struggled to impose themselves for long stretches, became a familiar pattern rather than an outlier.

This is not a team flirting with danger it is one struggling to assert its identity.

After the breakthrough, a slowdown

Last season’s Carabao Cup triumph was meant to be a turning point. Ending a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy raised expectations not only among supporters, but inside the club itself.

The assumption was that Newcastle would translate that success into sustained league progress. Instead, this campaign has unfolded unevenly. Cup involvement has offered moments of focus, including an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa, but week-to-week league form has failed to match the optimism that followed Wembley.

That disconnect has sharpened scrutiny, even if it has not yet become outright pressure.

Howe addresses the question directly

Howe has been open about his position. Speaking ahead of a recent match against Tottenham, he rejected the idea that he doubts his ability to move the team forward.

“There’s no doubt in my mind [I’m the right man] and that’s why I’m sat here,” he told reporters. “If there was, then I wouldn’t be, because the club’s the most important thing. I’d never put myself before the club.”

He added that he would step aside if he believed someone else could better serve the club, framing the issue as responsibility rather than insecurity.

Reality under ambitious ownership

Howe’s legacy at Newcastle is secure. He delivered the club’s first silverware in generations. But sentiment rarely governs decision-making in the modern Premier League, particularly under ownership determined to close the gap on the established elite.

Football365 reported that Newcastle’s struggles in last summer’s transfer market illustrated their current position in the hierarchy, as Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham all beat them to key targets. That reality applies not just to players, but to managers too.

Timing and competition

Several major clubs are expected to review their managerial positions in the coming months. Manchester United are widely anticipated to make a change in the summer, while uncertainty also surrounds Tottenham and Liverpool.

If Newcastle were to enter that market, they would likely be competing with those clubs for the same limited pool of proven candidates. Delaying a decision could narrow options rather than preserve stability.

For now, Howe remains in charge, backed by his record and the absence of immediate danger. But football rarely waits for comfort. At Newcastle, the margin between patience and hesitation is becoming thinner by the week.

Sources: Football365