‘I don’t think Newcastle United can get Champions League’ Chris Waddle

Chris Waddle has been talking about Newcastle United.

The former United star reflecting on how his old club have got on so far this season and what the rest of this 2026/27 campaign could lead to for NUFC.

I was just checking back and in mid-July Chris Waddle was saying that he doubted whether any club would pay £50m for Bruno Guimaraes.

He was a little off the mark then, Arsenal eventually having to pay £75m and Newcastle United reluctantly selling the midfielder who will now turn 29 in less than two months time.

So is Chris Waddle likely to prove more accurate with his latest analysis and predictions for what will happen with Matthias Jaissle and his squad this season?

Chris Waddle declaring to Betpack about Newcastle United as we are into this international break now: “There’s been a big turnaround at the football club in the last few months and there were a lot of doubts going into the season, whether we’re going to finish in a Champions League spot or be in a relegation battle? New manager, obviously putting new ideas over…and a big turnaround in players…So I think for Newcastle it’s going to be an up and down season. Can they get Champions League? No, I don’t think they will. I think middle of the table for this season would be a good season for them with losing so many key players.”

The 1980s United star going on to say: “Beating Hull is a great win for them against a team in form, they did hang on towards the end. They came under a lot of pressure. They do play a high line and they do play a pressing game. It does take a toll on your legs, and the subs are key to trying to keep that performance up. But as you could see, a lot of players played so much football including the World Cup and they just don’t get a break, and as the season goes on it will get harder and harder for Newcastle the way they play. That’s my only concern.”

I’m not quite sure how closely Chris Waddle is following events at Newcastle United this season but the final quarter of that Hull City game wasn’t a battle to see the win out because of so many NUFC players playing too many minutes at the World Cup this summer.

Of the 20 players in Saturday’s matchday squad only Yoane Wissa played any kind of significant football at the 2026 World Cup finals and he thrived on it, having had such an injury affected 2025/26 season. The only other players in the NUFC squad on Saturday who were out at the World Cup finals were Bazoumana Toure, Malick Thiaw and Matias Fernandez-Pardo who all played very limited time on the pitch for their countries. Whilst Lukas Hornicek didn’t play get on the pitch at all.

Chris Waddle going on to say about Lukas Hornicek (and other summer signings): “Newcastle didn’t end up signing James Trafford but I think Lukas Hornicek has done alright. You’re the last man in defence and if it goes past you, it’s a goal so there is always going to be scrutiny. I think he’s handling it very well. It’s not an easy league to come into, let’s be honest. It’s fast, it’s physical, there’s a lot of crosses coming in the box, there’s a lot of shots, so it’s not an easy league to just come in and set the place on fire. But I think like most of the signings, they’re all gradually getting into the system and getting used to the football. We know last year, Eddie Howe signed three or four players, and they didn’t hit the ground running at all and they struggled all season. But at the minute, you’ve got to say that the new Newcastle signings have hit the ground running.”

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