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 Stuart:
Hand on heart, what position do you currently believe Newcastle United are most likely to finish in the 2026/27 Premier League season?
If Matthias Jaissle can implement the style of play that he wants then I will say top 10.
If Eddie Howe had stayed would your 2026/27 prediction have been different (up or down…)?
Hard one as I think that towards the end of last season we were looking void of inspiration and with the core of players that were so successful under Howe in our best period under his management (Gordon, Tonali and Bruno G, Tripps and Krafth) now leaving and replacing them with unproven yet highly talented youngsters, I don’t think we would have done so much better under Howe as he relied so much on a mix of youth and experience. I think it was best for all parties that he left with our love and gratitude. I would say a slight improvement and possibly finish 11th with perhaps another semi final. Now with MJ in charge let’s see what we can do.
Who would you have liked to see replace Eddie Howe, Matthias Jaissle or somebody else?
I think because it all happened so quickly I never really thought about it but if Matthias Jaissle was not in the mix to replace Eddie then I would have liked to have seen the club put the feelers out to Pep Guardiola. He has always been very complimentary to us and maybe he would have liked to take on one more challenge. As it is and from what I’ve seen from Matthias Jaissle I am quite excited to see what he will bring to the club.
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?
Hmmm…easy 18 points!!! I believe we will beat Liverpool in the Kevin Keegan derby, Spurs are always good for 3 points, Bournemouth are always tough so I would not be disappointed with a point, Leeds will be tasty but I think we will have too much for them, Coventry and Hull we should be beating. So I’m going for a very optimistic 16 points.
What do you see as the biggest priorities in the remainder of the transfer market this summer?
Replacing Bruno is a must we need to replace his grit, endeavour and creativity. Back up for Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, as much as I love the guy it is time that Jacob Murphy is replaced as is Joe Willock. Maybe a new forward…Ivan Toney?
Sandro Tonali leaving, your thoughts?
When Isak left us last year I was not angry at the fact he wanted to leave but the way he destroyed his legacy to get his own way but he was moving to Liverpool who had just won the Premiership. Tonali moved to Tottenham who had just finished 17th for the second successive season. He and his PR team can dress it up anyway they want but he went for the money and the bright lights of London. I wish the lad well but we only really ever got 1 good season the season before last (albeit good enough that we managed to get a 100 million) from him so overall I think it’s a very good bit of business.
By say Christmas and with all players fit, what do you predict will be the Newcastle United first choice eleven for the 2026/27 season and please put ‘new signing’ in any position where you think that will turn out to be the case.
4-2-3-1
Hornicek
Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall
Miley, New signing
Elanga, Woltemade, Barnes
Wissa
Predict the top six in the Premier League (in order) and which three clubs will be relegated in 2026/27.
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Liverpool
Manchester City
Chelsea
Man United
Hull City
Ipswich
Everton
Which eight current Newcastle United players (in order) are going to be most important for the 2026/27 season?
Bruno Guimaraes’ replacement
Hornicek
Thiaw
Hall
Livramento (if he stays fit)
Botman (same as Tino)
Barnes
Woltemade
NUFC CEO David Hopkinson said the intention is that by 2030 the club will be competing to win all competitions. What do you make of what he said?
It’s nice to dream.
How important (or not) is a huge new stadium for Newcastle United?
Very important when you take into the chaos that PSR has caused. Sooner it’s done the better.
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?
I would have snapped both hands off. To think where the club was under the previous regime to now is just staggering. Did we become too good to quickly? Maybe but after years and years of depression and oppression under the previous regime we deserved every last bit of it.
What thoughts do you have on the 2026 World Cup finals overall?
Better than I thought but jeez that half time show was atrocious and embarrassing.
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. He deserves his chance to win trophies and he never held the club to ransom ( as far as I am aware)
Claimed back in October 2021 that Newcastle United was simply a ‘Sportswashing’ project for Saudi Arabia, has that proved to be the reality? I never took notice of those claims.
I didn’t and I don’t want to be drawn into the politics of it all. I just wish the communication was better between the club and the fans as I feel that has really suffered since Amanda and Merhdrad sadly left the club.
Three words to describe how you currently feel as a Newcastle United fan?
Exhausted, excited, curious
Three words to describe this summer 2026 NUFC transfer window so far?
Change, unknown, exciting
Do you think Newcastle United would have had more or less chance of having a successful 2026/27 season if Eddie Howe had stayed?
I will always be a massive Eddie Howe fan and I backed him even when things weren’t going so well for us last season. However, football moves at 100mph and I could tell towards the back end of the season just gone that he seemed bereft of fresh ideas, thrown in the 2 defeats to the unwashed, then I felt the writing was on the wall. However, the timing is not very good at all, but Wor Eddie will never have to buy a pint in toon again. He deserves his rest after giving 5 years of his life to the club which culminated in a trophy and twice qualifying for the Champions league.
Do you see a potential lack of leadership on the pitch next season with Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier leaving the club?
Absolutely. Bruno G was the glue who kept the team together, who kept us going when we felt defeated and kept the city and fans united. It pains me that he will be lining up for the gooners next season and I would have been a little bit less heartbroken if he went abroad.