Newcastle United fans preparing for the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Less than three weeks to go now until Liverpool travel to St James’ Park.
An ‘interesting’ summer so far…
So many talking points.
An ideal time to get a snapshot of views from Newcastle United fans on their thoughts.
So we sent out questions to a number of regular/irregular contributors to The Mag, varying to a degree the questions that different fans received to answer.
Next up answering some questions is GToon:
Three words to describe how you currently feel as a Newcastle United fan?
Relaxed resigned disappointed
Three words to describe Newcastle United now?
Make or break.
Bruno Guimaraes wanting to leave Newcastle United after four and a half years, has that changed your opinion of him as a person?
Not at all. I think he’s a great person and a great player. He joined us without a relegation clause. He has given everything for the cause and he lead us to a cup win. He’s a really nice bloke too and pretty funny.
He’s almost 29 and if he stays he’s 30 before he has the chance of Europe etc etc. he’s done his bit for us, through the prime of his career. He has also never downed tools like the other three. I don’t begrudge him a new adventure. He has one year left in the starting 11 and then he’s probably too slow. Would he get in our new team? Does he suit the style? Is he quick enough?
Do you see it as good news or bad news that Eddie Howe resigned?
I’m surprised he resigned when he did but not too surprised that he did.
Last season was an absolute disaster and I don’t think he felt he had the answers going forward, especially if his best players were being sold. In my opinion Eddie Howe has done what he could. He was pretty clueless last season. Beaten twice by that lot is just unacceptable. Don’t forget Eddie has spent more than every other Newcastle manager in history put together so I did expect some measure of success to be honest.
Hand on heart, what position do you currently believe Newcastle United are most likely to finish in the 2026/27 Premier League season?
Top 5.
There’s no way that team could have done another season together. The forwards looked clueless and the midfield looked lost and the defence looked beaten. Something had to give. I’ve said it many times on here before – you have to grow a team and let it evolve, small changes to improve every season. We went ages without improvement and then there was the disaster of last summer. However, we now have a fresh start with an exciting young coach and an exciting young team. We just need the balance.
If Eddie Howe had stayed would your 2026/27 prediction have been different (up or down…)?
Eddie could not get a tune out of that team last year. Removing three of the best players is hardly going to help. In my opinion he’d done his bit. Eddie needs a new challenge too. If he’d stayed we would have been lower mid-table again and his legacy would have been tarnished. He was pushing it towards the end of last season to be honest.
Do you see a potential lack of leadership on the pitch next season if Bruno Guimaraes follows Kieran Trippier out of the club?
Sometimes when you have such a vocal captain as Bruno it stifles the other players. We need players to step up. We need 11 captains on the pitch not just one.
The opening six league games are Liverpool home, Spurs away, Bournemouth home, Leeds away, Hull home and Coventry away. How many points would Newcastle need to take for you to be happy and what would you predict will be the reality?
WDWDWW. Aim high. Why not.
The reality is I’m off to see The Human League the night we play LiVARpool and I’ve cancelled Sky. Just don’t lose to liVARpool for once …
What do you see as the biggest priorities in the remainder of the transfer market this summer?
Replace Bruno with a fit athlete. Don’t sell Hall. Give Pope away. Replace Botman. And for the first time in months, rediscover our identity instead of score, defend, concede, lose.
Sandro Tonali leaving, your thoughts?
I remember thinking it was very odd when Eddie said he’d had a word with him about speculation around Xmas. Why would he do that? Why would he have to do that? Clearly Mrs Tonali fancied London life and suddenly Sandro was unsettled. His lack of effort throughout the season, bar one decent game in the cup, would suggest he wanted a move. Technically excellent at times, missing at other times. Lewis Miley, here is your chance. Tonali gave us one very good season and I’ll remember him for that. But I’ll also remember how he didn’t step up when Bruno was injured, preferring to hide, knowing he was on his way in the summer.
What would represent success now in the 2026/27 season for Newcastle United?
Don’t lose at home to liVARpool or the SMB. Top 6 or 7 finish and then build on the squad, making it better every window. Show no sentiment towards the players. If we can improve a position then improve it.
Predict the top six in the Premier League (in order) in 2026/27.
Scum 1-4 then us then Villa.
Which eight current Newcastle United players (in order) are going to be most important for the 2026/27 season? Keeper, CF, Hall, Thiaw, Burn and the new lads
Some time ago Yasir Al-Rumayyan said the intention was to make Newcastle United number one in the world, how far along the road to that do you think we are?
Build a bigger ground and it will happen the same season.
How would you rate your optimism for next season at Newcastle United from 0-100?
I’m normally a very optimistic person despite what people might think. I don’t see why we can’t win every game. But… I’m still not over last season. There also seem to be new rules regarding poaching our players where the media join in along with others until they get what they want.
How important (or not) is a huge new stadium for Newcastle United?
It is quite simply the most important thing we will ever do. Decent players and a million here and there in corporate deals is treading water. The new 80k stadium is the game changer.
When the takeover happened on 7 October 2021, if somebody at that point had told you then what would happen by August 2026, would you have taken it?
Of course. We actually won something.
Did England have a successful 2026 World Cup finals?
Yeah. They did ok.
Do you think the Newcastle United owners have a strong long-term plan for the club, or are they making it up as they go along?
A bit of both really. I’m disappointed with the lack of communication. That costs nowt does it.
What do you think of the choice of Matthias Jaissle as the new NUFC boss?
He looks mildly insane so he’ll do for me. I’ll leave the last word to Mr Newcastle, Kevin Keegan -. “They work all week and at the weekend they want to come to SJP and they want to be entertained”…. If he can manage that he’ll do for me. Bring on Der Entertainers!