If you believe what’s being written in the mainstream media and the angry voices on social media, then you’d think Eddie Howe is under pressure as Newcastle United manager.

David Hopkinson’s vague answers on the subject during his round table with journalists on Monday didn’t help, with both sides able to find a way to spin the CEO’s words to fit their agenda.

Hopkinson clearly said ‘Eddie Howe is our manager’, but he did also blatantly allude to the fact that a change would have ot be made if goals weren’t met. However, that just seems to be common sense to us.

If Howe doesn’t bring European football next season, and it sounds as though the Europa Conference League will be enough, then perhaps there’ll be real pressure.

For now, though, Howe has seven games to prove the doubters wrong, and with training time between games for the first time this season, we expect to see an upturn in form.

Tony Pulis makes some good points

Former manager Tony Pulis has been speaking about the Howe pressure on The Managers Podcast, and he made some good points, but they aren’t flawless.

“Not only the League Cup, they’ve qualified for the Champions League for two years as well, since Eddie’s been there,” Pulis told The Managers Podcast.

“He’s actually taken over a club that were in the bottom, were looking as though they were going to fight against relegation, and he’s spun it right round to what they’re getting now.

“The problem in this country is, the more you give people, the more they want. And there are loads and loads of people out there. Never mind what you give them, they won’t be happy, or they’ll take it, and then ask for a little bit more again, and a little bit more again.

“I think the majority of Newcastle supporters actually adore Eddie Howe. I think they are absolutely delighted with what he’s done at that football club, and will back him. I think the board will back him, I don’t think there’s a problem.”

Eddie Howe can’t live off his past successes forever

The transformation under Eddie Howe is remarkable and undeniable, and he’s done that with a constant backdrop of change and uncertainty, with the hierarchy above him changing more frequently than our league position.

However, we aren’t just Eddie Howe happy clappers, and we do realise that he can’t dine out on his past successes forever. It’s not even a case of wanting more, as Pulis suggests, it’s a case of wanting consistency.

If we are good enough to qualify for Europe one season, then we buy six players, we expect to be qualifying for Europe again. We don’t think anybody was expecting Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga to take us to the Premier League trophy; we just wanted steady progress.

Now we look to have some stability in the boardroom with a sporting director who might actually stick around there’s nowhere to hide for Howe, so next season, for us, is when we can really judge him.