He was worse than Botman: Toon star must not start for Newcastle again

Newcastle United’s 2-1 defeat away to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park has only intensified the growing uncertainty surrounding manager Eddie Howe and his long-term future at the club. With speculation already circulating in recent weeks, this latest setback has done little to quiet the noise, and instead raises further questions about whether he will still be in charge next season.

Reports had previously suggested that Howe’s position is no longer guaranteed beyond the current campaign, and Newcastle’s recent form is doing little to strengthen his case. The Magpies have now suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions and have lost four of their last six Premier League matches. That run has seen them slip to 14th in the table, a far cry from the heights they reached not long ago.

It makes for a stark contrast when compared to last season, when Howe guided Newcastle to a fifth-place finish and secured Champions League qualification. Fast forward to now, and they find themselves ten points adrift of the top five with only six games remaining, leaving their European hopes hanging by a thread. The dramatic drop-off in performance and consistency has inevitably placed the spotlight firmly on the manager.

However, Howe may feel particularly frustrated with how this latest defeat unfolded. The decisive moment came late in the game, when a controversial penalty was awarded to the hosts—one that could easily be described as soft. The decision ultimately proved costly and has sparked debate about the consistency of officiating in such situations.

The incident involved Sven Botman, who was penalised for a challenge on Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma following a long throw into the box. Replays suggested that the contact between the two players was minimal, and it was the kind of physical tussle that is commonly seen during set pieces across the league. If such contact is consistently punished, then similar decisions could be given in almost every match.

While Botman may have been slightly naïve to place his hands on the opponent, the reality is that his overall performance was far from poor. The Dutch defender was actually one of Newcastle’s more reliable performers on the day, winning the majority of his aerial duels, making key blocks, and contributing with interceptions and ball recoveries. Outside of the penalty incident, he showed composure and defensive awareness, and it would be unfair to single him out as the main culprit for the defeat.

In truth, Newcastle’s problems extended far beyond that late decision, particularly in the attacking third where they lacked quality and cutting edge. One player who endured a particularly difficult afternoon was Jacob Murphy. Given a starting role on the right wing, he failed to make any meaningful impact and struggled throughout his time on the pitch.

Murphy’s performance was marked by a lack of end product and poor decision-making. He failed to register a single shot on target, did not create any clear-cut chances, and was unable to provide an assist. Even more concerning was his ball retention, as he repeatedly gave away possession—losing the ball 25 times from just over 50 touches. His delivery from wide areas was also ineffective, with all of his attempted crosses failing to find a teammate.

Beyond his struggles on the ball, Murphy also found it difficult to impose himself physically, losing the majority of his ground duels and appearing out of sync with the rest of the attack. It was a performance that lacked both confidence and precision, and it ultimately hindered Newcastle’s ability to threaten Palace in dangerous areas.

What makes his dip in form even more notable is the contrast with last season. Murphy had been a key figure in Newcastle’s attacking success, contributing an impressive tally of goals and assists. However, since the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool in a big-money move, his influence has declined significantly. This season, his output has dropped sharply, with only a handful of goal contributions to his name.

Given his current struggles, there is a growing argument that Howe should look elsewhere when selecting his starting lineup. With players like Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga available as alternatives, Murphy’s place in the team is far from secure. Unless he can rediscover his form quickly, he may find himself relegated to a bench role for the remainder of the campaign.

Ultimately, while the controversial penalty decision will dominate much of the post-match discussion, Newcastle’s defeat cannot be pinned on a single moment or individual. Defensive misfortune, attacking inefficiency, and a general lack of cohesion have all contributed to their recent downturn. For Howe, the challenge now is not only to salvage results in the closing weeks of the season but also to prove that he is still the right man to lead the club forward amid growing uncertainty.