The Magpies have had another below-par campaign, and losing to local rivals Sunderland after being hammered 7-2 in Barcelona was enough to send the vast majority of Geordies over the edge.
Boos at full-time after Sunderland defeat
Social media was awash with comments suggesting that both Howe and his assistant, Jason Tindall, should pack their bags and get out of the club.
That's quite the turnaround from 12 months ago, when the pair were responsible for bringing major silverware to the club for the first time in 70 years and getting the club back into the Champions League.
With seven games left to play in the Premier League this season, Newcastle only have European qualification to aim for.
On 42 points at present, the North East giants are seven points behind Liverpool, who occupy the Europa League spot, and a cavernous 12 points away from fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Though a late charge up the table isn't impossible, getting into that top four or five is going to prove difficult.
Particularly if the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes remain injured for much longer.
Financial constraints
A few seasons ago, under PIF ownership, there was a genuine belief that Newcastle would be consistently challenging for the game's major honours, including winning a maiden Premier League title.
With money seemingly no object, the club would be able to hoover up the best footballing talents on the planet and, under such a forward-thinking manager as Howe, success would quickly follow.
However, when the powers-that-be at the Premier League decided to change the landscape and introduce Profit and Sustainability Rules, that all but sounded the death knell for Newcastle's hopes and dreams.
Having the richest owners in the world gave the club some cachet, though their inability to outspend their rivals has absolutely hampered their progress.
Transfer blunders
Their cause also hasn't been helped by the sale of Alexander Isak, and some poor recent recruitment with the proceeds from the Swedish striker's move.
With a number of outgoing transfers expected to be made this summer in order for the club to stay on the right side of financial fair play, the status quo on Tyneside is unlikely to change anytime soon.
It's therefore worth asking the question as to whether Howe has taken this squad as far as he can.
His predecessor, Steve Bruce, managed just 28 wins from his 97 games in charge, conceding 152 goals in all competitions during that time, for a win percentage of just 28.9%.
The style of football under the former Man Utd captain also left a lot to be desired, and that's why Howe was such a breath of fresh air.
Steady improvement
Even in his first season in the St. James' Park dugout, where he took charge of just 28 games in all competitions, his 13 victories gave him a win percentage of 46.4%, a clear uplift on Bruce's output.
What may have gone under the radar in that 2021/22 campaign was that there were no 0-0 draws under Howe. His style and way of playing, honed at Bournemouth, could've earned him a crack at the England job before he ruled that option out, and he quickly won over the Geordies.
The improvement in the following campaign was marked. Newcastle had conceded 39 goals in those 28 games in 21/22, the same amount as they'd let in during 2022/23, despite playing 46 games.
77 goals scored across all competitions helped the Magpies to 24 wins, 15 draws and just seven losses. Momentum was clearly building, and to Howe's credit, he not only coached a good game, but he talked a good one too.
Howe and Ashworth - the dream team
Eloquent in press conferences and never afraid to answer the more difficult questions, he seemingly had the Midas touch.
Along with the then sporting director, Dan Ashworth, the pair became something of a dream team, attracting players to the club - Isak, Anthony Gordon et al - who fitted the new ethos. The juggernaut was off and running.
A 52.2% win percentage that season was bettered again in 2023/24, as Newcastle earned 28 wins from 48 games played, including 17 at home in all competitions - the most to date in Howe's reign.
88 goals scored bettered the previous two campaigns, as did a win percentage of 58.3%, which remains the highest under the Englishman during his time on Tyneside.
European qualification vital
Last season saw Newcastle break the century mark for goals (102) in 51 games, 23 of which were won and 10 drawn. Getting back into the Champions League again was clearly a real boost, though an overall win percentage had dipped back down to 45.1%.
In the current campaign, 51 games have already been played - equalling the most in one season under Howe, though Newcastle will have played 58 by season's end.
With 22 wins - 15 of them at home, the second most under Howe - 10 draws, and 18 losses, the win percentage of 43.1% is the lowest since he took over the reins on Tyneside.
89 goals scored is already the second most in a season during that time, and another 14 would break that particular record.
When weighing up the pros and cons, even if there hasn't been as big an improvement recently as the supporters would like, nor have things been as bad as some would believe.
Not getting into Europe would be a huge disappointment, of course, but against the backdrop of injuries to key players, FFP and a resultant lack of transfer spend, as well as losing Isak, Howe continues to do a remarkable job.
As has been seen when other clubs have hired and fired their managers willy-nilly, the Geordies really need to be careful what they wish for...
