Newcastle United face a deeply uncomfortable position midway through the 2025/26 season. They sit 12th in the Premier League table after a turbulent run of results. This run has tested the patience of supporters and raised questions about the club’s direction. The Magpies won the Carabao Cup and finished fifth in 2024/25. They secured Champions League football, yet they have built virtually no momentum this campaign.
The week that shook St James’ Park
Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland dropped Newcastle below their rivals. This result stung deeply, given the fierce nature of the North East derby. Three days earlier, Barcelona handed the Magpies a humiliating 7-2 defeat in European competition. This left the fanbase incensed and placed Eddie Howe under intense pressure. According to talkSPORT, the Newcastle hierarchy continues to back Howe despite these setbacks. Even so, the club face a genuine prospect of missing out on European football entirely next season.
The case for bringing in Mourinho
Shaun Custis, Head of Sport at The Sun, made a direct case for José Mourinho on talkSPORT’s Inside the Toon YouTube show. Custis argued that a manager of Mourinho‘s global stature would attract elite players. This would place Newcastle in conversations alongside the game’s biggest clubs. He pointed to the renewed interest in Benfica’s results since Mourinho arrived there. It proves the Portuguese coach still has a unique commercial and sporting pull. Custis described him as a trophy-winning, box-office manager with genuine charisma. Few active coaches can match those credentials.
Why does the squad question complicate everything?
Jack Cunningham of talkSPORT.com offered a more sceptical view. He acknowledged that Mourinho carries goodwill among Newcastle fans. However, he questioned whether his current level matches the club’s ambitions. Cunningham argued that the squad itself represents the deeper problem. He believes no incoming manager would improve results without significant investment in new players. He named Cesc Fabregas, currently impressing at Como, as a more exciting long-term appointment if the club pursues a fresh start.
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Where do Newcastle go from here?
Howe has managed Newcastle since November 2021. He delivered real progress before this season’s alarming slump. The coming weeks will determine whether the club’s backing of their manager holds firm or gives way to a change in the dugout.
