We wanted to get an overview of how Newcastle United fans are feeling at the moment.
Thoughts on the 2025/26 season that has just concluded.
As one season ends though, thoughts immediately turn to what comes next, only 11 weeks to go until the 2026/27 Premier League kicks off.
An ideal time to get a snapshot of views from Newcastle United fans on their thoughts, with a busy summer ahead of us all.
So we sent out questions to a number of regular/irregular contributors to The Mag.
Next up answering the questions is Simon Ritter:
Is Eddie Howe still in charge next season the correct decision?
Yes, though I wouldn’t be shocked if he walks in the next two months. Saddened but not surprised.
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.
New signing (not Trafford)
Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall
Tonali, Bruno
Ramsey, Woltemade, Barnes
Osula
Three words to describe how you currently feel as a Newcastle United fan?
Lucky, grateful, conflicted
Three words to describe Newcastle United now?
Punch-drunk, exhausted, uninspired
Newcastle United fell from 5th to 12th in the Premier League, what percentage of the blame/responsibility would you attach to each of these?
Alexander Isak 0% blame; 10% responsibility
Eddie Howe 20% blame; 20% responsibility
The players 40% blame; 30% responsibility
Newcastle United owners (not dealing properly with Isak situation, not having senior staff in place etc to help get summer 2025 transfers done etc) 30% blame; 30% responsibility
Bad luck and small margins 10% blame; 10% responsibility
I cannot blame Isak for wanting to further his career. Neither can I predict how he would have done if playing for us last season, but his strike/departure definitely hindered the team and probably morale.
King Eddie’s apparent inability to foresee events has imo cost us quite a few points in the Premier League this season.
Thanks to the generosity of friends old and new, I attended more matches last season than in any campaign since 1975/76. My record at away games was no wins, a couple of draws and lots of defeats. The Selhurst Park loss was particularly galling: we scored just before the interval in a game, predictably, of few chances. We nearly went two-up seconds after the restart but, when we didn’t, an uninterested Palace started to put us under pressure. Howe didn’t react until they had all the momentum. They hit the bar, they brought on three of their best players and, inevitably, they equalised. And then they were presented with the winner. As for the debacle of the only goal at The Emirates, don’t get me started.
The players should accept more blame than any other party. Dropping 27 points from winning positions is, pardon the pun, indefensible. The concession of late goals was the most upsetting aspect of a traumatic season. A long, long time ago, I can still remember football commentators saying: “A team are at their most vulnerable just after they score.” We proved the truth of that cliche minute after minute, match after match, month after month.
Ask six of our fans what we should do immediately we take the lead and you will probably get eight answers: “Go for the jugular” or “Keep playing the same” or “Take the sting out of the game” or “Retain possession” or . . . .
I don’t believe we deliberately sit back and invite the opposition to equalise. Any team worth their salt will respond to a setback with renewed vigour (Tottenham excepted, obviously). How we cope with the changing dynamic is the question. Possession-based play is not our forte. The movement and passing are inferior to that of many Premier League rivals. We are at our best when playing quickly, progressively and powerfully. There was nowhere near enough of that in 25/26. The manager cannot force the players to do anything; they have to show willing. Mental and physical fatigue contributed to a disappointing season but an ability to let the ball do more of the work would certainly have been welcome.
The owners are ultimately the ones calling the shots, so they are far from blameless.
Luck and small margins played a part, especially with some decisions and non-decisions by referees and VARs. I believe the coaches and players failed to realised Webb and his PGMOL underlings had moved the goalposts, probably at the behest of their TV paymasters. Arsenal knew from the off. We apparently didn’t.
What rating out of 10 would you give each of the permanent summer 2025 signings for their contributions across the 2025/26 season and what are your hopes/expectations (if any) for each of them next season at Newcastle United?
Anthony Elanga. I thought he showed a lot of promise in pre-season and was thus perplexed by his failure to do the business when it counted. Being in and out of the team couldn’t have helped. His pace is staggering and, if his confidence holds up, I reckon he will make many supporters eat humble pie. 3/10
Jacob Ramsey. No thanks to Sean Longstaff, the midfielder couldn’t show his ability early doors. He will improve and give the midfield some much-needed pace. 6/10
Malick Thiaw. He looked good on his first start at Bournemouth, barring one dodgy tackle that could have cost us a point. That was the story of his season. He would be my first pick in central defence and I expect him to improve. 8/10
Yoane Wissa. Beware buying from Bournemouth, Brentford or Brighton. Unlike Chelsea (hilariously) we rarely do. Those clubs are built on behind-the-scenes excellence that doesn’t accompany any player they sell. Wissa’s injury was rotten luck and it seems to have destroyed his confidence. Howe will need all his man-management expertise to revive this striker. 1/10
Nick Woltemade. Unlike the signing of Wissa, this was one recruit that thrilled me. He was superb in the Euro U-21s and I expect him to look good at the World Cup. So much ability, he somehow needs to gel with those around him. 7/10.
What do you see as the biggest priorities in the transfer market this summer?
A top-class goalkeeper, with Nick Pope as the bench-warmer. A rapid centre-back, a solid right-back in the mould of Trippier, a midfielder who can play a defence-splitting pass in every game. Oh, and a clinical finisher.
Was it the correct decision to sell Anthony Gordon and how do you think he should be judged on his time at Newcastle United (and do you think he will prove a success at Barcelona)?
As with Isak, I cannot blame him for wanting to better himself. We would have achieved nothing by turning this into a scouse scally saga. As I wrote in a too long review of his time at SJP, Gordon divided opinion massively. A hero to many, a villain to others. His petulance never helped the team but his tireless determination was often the difference between success and failure. When he didn’t show willing, he looked dreadful. He is moving to a club and a league that offers many more matches that should be straightforward. His finishing has improved in his spell at St James’ and I reckon he will be a success at Barca.
How confident are you that Newcastle will not lose Bruno, Hall, Livramento, Thiaw and Tonali? Do you think it would be a good thing if any of these players were sold?
Based on my predicted team above, I am confident they will all stay. That is my desire.
Which players emerge with credit from the 2025/26 season?
Apart from Elanga and Wissa, I would give them all credit. Bruno and Hall were the best.
What would represent success in the 2026/27 season for Newcastle United?
Another cup final and a top-five finish.
Predict the top six in the Premier League (in order) and which three clubs will be relegated in 2026/27.
I’m struggling with this one because there could be a lot of changes between now and when the summer transfer window “slams shut”. Already, the scene has altered massively. Alonso did well in Germany, against the odds, but he has his hands full with the King’s Road prima donnas. Iraola needs to rebuild at Anfield, Arteta got lucky last season (no red cards, no penalties conceded, who’s having a larf?!), Guardiola has gone, Carrick’s new-manager bounce cannot last much longer . .
Villa coped with a massive workload and I can see them winning the title. Man City second, Arsenal third, Man Utd fourth, Newcastle United fifth (heart over head), Liverpool sixth.
The three promoted teams could all be relegated, with the Solent Spymaster masterminding Southampton’s return to the Premier League for the 27/28 season.
Which eight current Newcastle United players (in order) are the most important to keep for the 2026/27 season?
Bruno, Hall, Woltemade, Thiaw, Osula, Tonali, Ramsey, Livramento
At what point did you first think the 2025/26 Newcastle United wasn’t going to turn out as you had hoped it would?
When Isak dug his heels in. A prolific striker is almost priceless. We got £130m for him, allegedly, but I would have much preferred his retention. The failure to beat an oddly passive Bournemouth on their patch was another sign of trouble ahead. It was the first of my fruitless trips in search of an away win. Maybe I’m the problem here.
Which players do you think would be ideal (and realistic) signings this summer (don’t feel limited to only players who have been linked to Newcastle United in the media)?
Having said beware signings from the B-teams, I would still recruit Damsgaard to give our midfield a bit more guile and dead-ball expertise. Is Dean Henderson available?
We are now coming up to five years since the Newcastle United owners bought the club from Mike Ashley. Are you now more or less (or the same) optimistic about where they will take the club compared to how you felt back in October 2021? How committed do you think the owners are now to NUFC? Yasir Al-Rumayyan said the intention was to make Newcastle number one in the world, CEO David Hopkinson says the intention is that by 2030 the club will be competing to win all competitions. What do you predict will be the reality in the next five years?
Honestly, I cannot remember how I felt in October 2021. It all seemed a bit surreal. We should have realised the entrenched establishment wouldn’t roll over and let their tummies be tickled. My optimism is based on the PIF being in this for the long haul. They are proud people and will want to find a way to succeed. I can see another trophy, either domestically or from a European tournament.
How would you rate your optimism for next season at Newcastle United from 0-100?
Until the season starts, I am at 90. Subject to rapid fluctuations.
Will you be taking an active interest in the Newcastle players at the World Cup?
Yes, unless I’m reading a good book, cooking up a storm or finding a fence to creosote. Fifa is even worse than Uefa in chasing the money and I have little interest in watching an overblown tournament. As for our club players, come back stronger and fitter, please.
When Anthony Gordon is playing at the World Cup will you still be thinking of him as one of our own?
No. He did well for us and for himself. That’s now in the past. Good luck, young man.