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Graeme Souness understands the pressures that come with occupying the Newcastle United manager's position. The former Liverpool and Scotland legend was in charge of the Magpies between 2004 and 2006, taking over from Sir Bobby Robson at St James' Park.
His spell on Tyneside didn't unfold as anticipated, with expensive acquisitions including Michael Owen, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Albert Luque failing to deliver, and Newcastle would ultimately become his final managerial appointment.
Circumstances are vastly different nowadays, naturally, with the Saudi-backed ownership pumping significant funds into the squad and Eddie Howe achieving triumph in the Carabao Cup whilst guiding United to Champions League qualification on two occasions.
Their present Premier League season has been disappointing, though, with the initial quiet rumblings of dissatisfaction emerging amongst a minority of supporters for the first time during Howe's four-year tenure.
Whilst United's performances at St James' Park have been solid, they haven't secured an away victory in the Premier League since last April, with frustrating losses to West Ham and Brentford contributing to their slide to 14th position.
The Newcastle manager continues to enjoy support from the overwhelming majority of supporters, and crucially the club's ownership, with Souness maintaining he remains the correct choice to steer his team back up the league standings.
"Newcastle is a very difficult place – it's one of them where when it's going well, it's the best but if it's not going well, it can turn quickly," Souness told ChronicleLive, via SkyBet. "Eddie is 100 per cent the right guy to take the club forward, he was the first to win them a trophy since 1969.
"He's hit the wall a little bit away from home and that's something he'll want to put right."
Souness observed with keen interest as Alexander Isak agitated for a move to his former club Liverpool during the summer window, leaving Howe to navigate a challenging predicament.
However, whilst the Scotsman never shied away from delivering home truths to his players throughout his managerial tenure, he acknowledges that the landscape has shifted dramatically, with bosses frequently powerless when confronted by player ultimatums.
"It's taken out of your hands now," he added. "As a manager, you no longer have those discussions, that'll be with your director of football and maybe those further up the chain.
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"Today, the modern player is worth so much money, and such an asset, that if a player downs his tools, what do you do with him? Do you isolate him? Do you not have him anywhere near your dressing room?".
"You could do that, but they might socialise with players outside of the training complex.
"So, players today make the decision for you – they have all the cards. The big players today can dig their heels and just say that they're not going to play for you."
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