Alan Shearer expects Eddie Howe to leave Newcastle this summer

Newcastle United are on their worst run of form since Eddie Howe took over from Steve Bruce, and the pressure is mounting on the manager.

The Magpies made it eight defeats in the last 11 Premier League games on Sunday, falling to another 2-1 defeat thanks to a late goal, this time at the hands of Bournemouth.

It was another game in which the team made the same mistakes and tried the same old tired ideas. And we use the word 'tried' there very loosely.

When Bruno Guimaraes came on in the second half, it was the first time we'd seen any genuine effort all day, but 10 weeks out soon took its toll on the Brazilian and his intensity soon faded.

Another defeat has just added more fuel to the fire on the debate around whether Eddie Howe is the right man for the job, and while there's still a good portion of fans who are willing to give him another go, the calls for him to go are getting louder. 

Alan Shearer thinks Eddie Howe may leave Newcastle

Now Alan Shearer isn't sure if the ex-Bournemouth boss will be in the hot seat next season. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the former Toon skipper went on a long rant about how the players have let Howe down, and that could be causing him to question if he even wants to be at the club any more.

"I sat and watched it and the players were terrible.

"As tough as it is for Eddie, I don't know what is going to happen with him. I listened to his interview afterwards and I watched him on the touchline and I just think is he going to want to go again? Is he going to get the chance to go again?

"There are so many moving parts with it for him. If all things are equal then, yes, I would like him to [stay]. But does he feel as if he is going to have the chance? Does he want to do it again? Are Newcastle going to have to sell?

"If he has money to spend and he doesn't have to sell then, yeah. But I looked at the players yesterday and if that was what they call fighting for their manager because he is under huge pressure. Whether you like it or not. They were terrible. They chucked him under the bus, the players. The performance was c--p from every single one of them.

"It is a tough situation, a tough summer for Newcastle coming up. They have got some big decisions to make. As I am sat here, I don't see Eddie in charge of Newcastle next season, unfortunately.

"I look at his interview after the game, and I am not sure the fight is there. It is a very different club now to the one that he would want to go forward. He doesn't look in a good position."

Long-term stability > Short term boosts

As we've stated many times, we still back Eddie Howe. You only have to look at the combined Premier League points tally since he took over, which shows Newcastle sitting fourth, to know that he does know what he's doing. 

Stability will produce better results long term, and that's better than short-term change for a quick boost. Look at Chelsea and Spurs, they change managers bi-weekly, and what good is that doing them? 

Mikel Arteta was given time to get it right at Arsenal after a horrendous start, and yes, his side keeps bottling it, but they're always there or thereabouts.

Howe might take the decision away from the board

That being said, we agree with Shearer ... does Howe even want to continue here? With these players? Probably not. If they aren't going to put in the effort for him, why would he want to stay?

Our hope is that there are some big changes in the summer in terms of players in and out and maybe a new coach to bring in some fresh ideas - as long as Howe listens and takes those ideas on board.

We desperately need a new approach. The 4-3-3 is more stale than the bread buns in my cupboard that I keep forgetting to throw out.