Football Weekly – "As Manchester City advance, should Eddie Howe be under pressure?"

Date: February 5, 2026 | Host: Max Rushden | Panel: Barry Glendenning, Dan Bardell, Sam

Overview

This Football Weekly Extra episode dives into Manchester City’s progression to another domestic final, Newcastle’s limp performance and what it says about Eddie Howe’s tenure. The panel takes a sweeping look at the week’s football, including Carabao Cup semi-finals, Arsenal’s fortunes, Newcastle’s ongoing struggle for form and identity, and the looming pressure (or lack thereof) on Eddie Howe. Broader Premier League talking points, accessibility in football, and notable lower-table battles also feature, with lots of the podcast’s trademark humour and asides.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Manchester City 3 Newcastle 1 — Where Now For Newcastle?

[02:07 - 08:26]

• Panel’s mood: Newcastle’s collapse in the Carabao Cup semi-final is dissected, with Sam (Newcastle fan) humorously describing his experience leaving at half time:

  “I left at half time, the game was done, and I chose to have an hour on the sofa with my wife. Look, we didn't even have… we got, what did, seven minutes before?” — Sam [03:11]

• On the match:
  • Newcastle’s midfield was “hopeless” and “all those weaknesses we've seen across the course of the season, the gaps… the flat midfield three.”
  • Even as Newcastle were “torn apart in the first half,” Barry notes:

    “They did have quite a few very presentable chances that they failed to take… even if they’d scored half… they might have made a contest of this tie.” — Barry [07:22]

  • The only consolation: Anthony Elanga’s positive moment (goal) after a disappointing season.

2. The “Coffee Cake Theory” of Newcastle

[04:47 - 06:16]

• Sam offers a vivid metaphor on Newcastle’s season as “coffee cake”:

  “They always look appealing… you think, ‘I like coffee. I like cake,’ …and most of the time when you bite into a slice of coffee cake, you’re disappointed… But occasionally you get a really good coffee cake.” — Sam [05:03]

  • Last season: “entirely carrot cake” (always good).
  • This season: “ultimately bad coffee cake… that’s Newcastle United this season.”

3. Is Eddie Howe Under Pressure?

[10:11 - 13:37]

• Fans & Owners: Despite social media noise, the club’s leadership publicly claims there’s “no pressure” on Howe. Sam challenges this:

  “If that is genuinely true from the ownership, that is a fault of theirs. Because any Premier League manager… with owners coming out saying we're going to be one of the top sides in the world… they've got a big decision to make.” — Sam [11:06]

• Necessary Changes:
  • Newcastle’s “project needs a massive refresh.”
  • Howe called the squad “stale” last year; the play now is predictable.
  • “Change doesn’t necessarily mean changing the manager,” Sam argues, but the need for “oomph” is evident.
• Barry’s take: On Eddie Howe vs. Pep: “Eddie Howe is very much Pep’s bunny, isn’t he? In 21 matches… he’s lost 17 of them.” [12:17]

4. Newcastle’s Transfer Dilemma

[13:37 - 15:52]

• Few obvious saleable assets for a squad refresh; value of players like Gordon and Tonali has dropped.
• Bruno Guimarães is “definitely worth that much to Newcastle” but not necessarily a £100m midfielder to anyone else [14:09].
• Newcastle “haven’t evolved around the players they’ve ended up bringing in... it’s just a bit messy.”

Carabao Cup Structure & Fandom

[15:52 - 18:28]

• Debate over the necessity of two-legged semis:

  • Dan: “Don’t mess with it…it’s probably fair for each team to get to play at home.”
  • Sam: “There were an awful lot of empty seats at the Etihad… that’s a supposedly major cup semi-final… people are just struggling with the pure amount of football.” [17:03]

• Rule Oddity: On players cup-tied for the final, Barry notes:

  “Rules is rules, aren’t they?” — Barry [18:28], referencing Pep Guardiola’s frustration at Marque Gay’s ineligibility.

Football Accessibility & Club Culture

[19:17 - 21:45]

• Sam recounts a moving experience watching Arsenal with disabled fans:

  “It was a privilege to be in there with him, to see how popular he is… and how they celebrated… a wonderful celebration.” [19:17]

• Club culture: day with Wolves’ kit staff reveals “the kit room was also a bit of a sanctuary.” [21:45]

Premier League Title Race & Key Fixtures

[22:41 - 25:42]

• Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa lead the pack. Super Sunday: Liverpool vs. Man City.
• Dan:

  “City have felt quite patchy…trying to build a new defence on the fly due to injuries.” [23:26]

• Barry:

  “I actually do think Liverpool will win this. Florian Wirtz is really hitting his straps now… he and Ekitike… an excellent partnership developing there.” [24:24]

  • (Humorous confusion over whether Barry likes being asked to make predictions [25:21].)

Villa’s Season & Harvey Elliott Transfer Saga

[26:01 - 31:25]

• Frustrations over lost points (“must be so frustrating…”) and the January transfer window being a curse.
• Harvey Elliott’s future—caught in a contractual limbo due to loan terms:
  • “He’s too good a footballer to be in this situation and he may as well have just been sat on the bench for Liverpool.” — Dan [29:46]
• Panel laments loan/Premier League rules:

  “Rules are for little people.” — Barry (mockingly) [32:04]

Battle at the Bottom: Burnley, West Ham, Leeds, Forest

[33:38 - 38:46]

• Burnley’s squad “just not quite at Premier League level,” with little in the way of assets for other clubs to buy if relegated—Sam [34:24].
• Leeds-Forest described as a “massive game,” particularly with injury-prone Calvert-Lewin an issue for Leeds—Barry [37:21].
• Fun on leaving matches early (“Never leave a game early, but I told you what I did last night”)—Sam [39:43].

Top Four Race: Chelsea, United, Liverpool, Villa

[41:27 - 42:53]

• No “Europa League safety net” adds tension to the battle for Champions League spots.
• Dan:

  “Champions League is massively important for Manchester United to not be in Europe is huge…” [41:45]

  • Villa acknowledged as “the disruptors.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Howe’s fate: “If those that run of games doesn’t go well for them, I think Howe has to be under pressure.” — Barry [13:04]
• On transfer window: “It’s untenable really… shocked that we’ve got through January with nothing concrete happening.” — Dan, on Harvey Elliott [28:16]
• On football saturation: “I think people are just struggling with the pure amount of football that there is to go and watch and pay for these days.” — Sam [17:38]
• Sardonic banter:

  “Rules are for little people.” — Barry [32:04]
  “We’re trying to live in a society here, Max.” — Barry [31:52]

Secondary/Other Segments

Southern Table Matches & Brighton’s Malaise

[44:34 - 46:40]

• Brighton–Palace: “If Brighton don’t beat them at home, you have to think Fabian Hurstler is on thinnish ice… one win in 11.” — Barry [44:37]
• Brighton’s fans praised for patience.

CPR Awareness & Barry’s Hero Moment

[46:40 - 47:54]

• Heart Foundation campaign for CPR awareness.
• Barry shares performing CPR on a collapsed man:

  “I cleared his airway and performed CPR and got him going again… They told me I was a great man.” [47:54]

Saudi Pro League Grievances & Newcastle’s Priorities

[48:10 - 51:50]

• Ronaldo refusing to play at Al Nassr, frustrated with lack of star signings.
  • £488k a day salary: “What are you spending it on?” — Max [49:04]
• Sam: “Do I follow the Saudi Pro League? In no way whatsoever.” [51:50]
• Newcastle fans monitor infrastructure progress to gauge PIF’s commitment more than Saudi League issues.

Community & Football

[51:50 - 54:10]

• Highlighted: Cambridge United’s initiative with WinterComfort to raise homelessness awareness.
• Kevin Nolan’s failed docusign transfer anecdote.

Humorous Ending

• Barry apologises to the Football Weekly listener who tried to talk running with him while cycling too quickly on a Lime bike [54:14].

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Man City 3–1 Newcastle & coffee cake theory: [02:07 – 08:26]
• Is Eddie Howe under pressure, Newcastle’s summer: [10:11 – 15:52]
• Carabao Cup semi format, empty stadiums: [15:52 – 18:28]
• Disabled Arsenal fans feature: [19:17 – 21:45]
• Premier League top four race, Liverpool–City preview: [22:41 – 25:42]
• Harvey Elliott/Villa transfer saga: [28:16 – 31:25]
• Battle at the bottom: [33:38 – 38:46]
• Top four race ramifications: [41:27 – 42:53]
• Brighton crisis: [44:34 – 46:40]
• Barry’s CPR story: [47:22 – 47:54]
• Saudi Pro League/PIFF priorities: [48:10 – 51:50]

Tone & Style

• Light-hearted, humorous, occasionally self-deprecating: Banter about cake, rules, and running; metaphors and analogies for football teams/seasons; self-awareness about the panel’s pundit foibles.
• Mix of fan perspective and journalistic scrutiny: Especially on Newcastle and its project.

Recommended Listen For…

• Fans interested in Premier League managerial pressure, the inner workings at Newcastle, or who simply enjoy Football Weekly’s balance of insight, wit, and character.
• Anyone wanting a sense of current issues in English football, with genuine debate and memorable club football analogies you won’t hear anywhere else.