Newcastle United journalist John Gibson has given his view on reports claiming Jose Mourinho could take over at the club from Eddie Howe.
It’s fair to say that Howe has done a pretty remarkable job in recent weeks at the club, making them one of the more in-form teams in the Premier League and giving them a real shot at staying in the division – a far cry from the side that he took over in November.
However, according to Italian journalist Maurizio Catalani, the club might be looking to upgrade on the former Bournemouth manager when the end of the season rolls around, as he claimed: “I have my strong doubts that Mourinho will stay with Roma. I know Newcastle, who have an unlimited budget and are currently the richest club in the world, are thinking seriously about it.”
Speaking on the latest edition of NUFC Matters, Gibson was having none of it, as he didn’t see the Newcastle board wanting to change a formula that was working with Howe in the dugout.
He said: “I don’t think the board, with the feel-good factor they’ve got at the moment, Newcastle winning games, Eddie Howe handling himself brilliantly, that story is just absurd. I can’t even believe there’s a moment’s truth in it. I would be mortified if there was any truth in it, because it would be a backward step.”
TIF Thoughts on John Gibson’s comments about Jose Mourinho and Newcastle United…
Would you ever want to see Jose Mourinho manage Newcastle?
Yes
No
If this was the Mourinho of a few years ago, then you might understand why Newcastle might want to use him as the man to take them to the next level.
However, given the way things have ended at his last few jobs at Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, he just doesn’t have the same aura around him that he once did. He’s now seen as a troublemaker rather than the serial winner that he was during his earlier days, and it’s not really worth the time or money to risk appointing him.
However, there might come a point where Newcastle do decide to move on from Howe – whose highest Premier League finish is ninth – and appoint someone of a much higher calibre in order to move the club forward and match their lofty ambitions. If that time does come, though, it would surely be a foolish move to appoint Mourinho.
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