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 Toon Man:
Which eight current Newcastle United players (in order) are the most important to keep for the 2026/27 season?
Bruno, Hall, Tonali, Osula, Thiaw, Ramsey are the players to build a team around. Gordon will be a miss – but the players listed combine age, skills, heart, and some “intangibles” that are needed for success. Not downplaying Burn, Joelinton, Barnes, or others – but their ages and limitations make them somewhat expendable
At what point did you first think the 2025/26 Newcastle United wasn’t going to turn out as you had hoped it would?
Before the first game actually as our summer was a chaotic disaster with Isak putting his tools down combined with the club taking too long to land replacement talent. Howe wanted players in early and the Board failed to deliver.
Three words to describe how you currently feel as a Newcastle United fan?
SOBER: We were giddy with the seemingly easy success. We were high on the euphoria of the FCB being gone, of the ambition of the club, of Amanda’s proactive communication, of the manager pushing the right buttons and coercing the very last bit of talent from journeymen players he inherited, and the recruiting team finding the right players to play in Eddie’s high press system. We experienced the excitement of Champions League football and we were riding the crest of a wave with fan unity and a team, club, fan base optimistic and relishing more trophies and crashing into the European’s elite.
Alas, it came crashing down – beginning with the exodus of Amanda and Mehrdad and the forced sale of Anderson and Minteh. The management team turnover and the predictable stagnation of the squad and subsequent realisation of opponents how to play successfully v. Howe’s predictable tactics that were found out by the world when confronted with three games per week.
So, I am SOBER. Sober to the truth that success will be a tough grind – whether with finances, stadium assets, manager inflexibility, and a case could be made for a new signing needed at goalkeeper, defence (two if we lose Livramento), a midfielder, and a goal scorer – at a minimum! I am realistic that this is unrealistic. I am also confident that Eddie can get the most out of players if only playing one match per week (plus cups), but that confidence is already being tested in my mind – will he evolve his formation to get the best out of his squad or adjust formations by opponent and circumstance? So many questions, but I’ll take a confident, yet a bit sceptical, view of the coming season.
I am CURIOUS. Curious as to how the management team gets on with building the squad and revenue, how the gaffer goes about his business and to see if he’s learned any lessons, how PIF will move forward on the stadium, academy, and training ground (among other things), how the incomings/outgoings will progress, and if we’ll get them in early. Every day I wake up and read about our football club…and I am hoping that good news will come in abundance.
Newcastle United fans are COMMITTED and I count myself among legions of committed fans that make up our Toon Army. We have to be committed to have survived the yo-yo life of the best, albeit among the most frustrating, clubs in the world. Black and White pulse though our arteries and veins…and my arteries and veins…like all true fans…gets blood pumped by a heart that lies in St James’ Park.
Three words to describe Newcastle United now?
Newcastle United have been HUMBLED by inconsistent performances, missed expectations, and intensity of top-level competition during the 2025/26 season, prompting period of reflection across players and staff. They are CONTRITE about shortcomings, and are FOCUSED on discipline, recruitment, and cohesion, and determined to rebuild confidence while striving for stronger, consistent future results.
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: 20%. Isak split the lock room and derailed a summer…but he’s not the biggest culprit.
Eddie Howe: 35%. Howe’s refusal to adjust his tactics by opponent and situation (horses for courses) resulted in tired legs, stale tactics, and, quite possibly, increased injuries. He failed to use his players in their best positions or in a formation that highlighted their talents.
The players: 9%. We had players going through the motions with flip-flops on the latter quarter of the season. That is inexcusable for anyone paid to wear the badge. With that said, it is up to the gaffer and staff to ensure they are motivated, believe in the tactics, and put them in a better position to succeed.
Newcastle United owners (not dealing properly with Isak situation, not having senior staff in place etc to help get summer 2025 transfers done etc): 35%. The shakeup of senior management – especially at sporting director caused chaos and prevented nimbleness and skill in the transfer market. Their intransigence by holding onto Isak prevented them from getting first choice players in and put Howe in a bind with bedding these new player in with the team and tactics.
Bad luck and small margins: 1%. Only the schedule is bad luck. We make our own luck – or the FA, EPL, and UEFA and their referees make our poor luck for us.
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: 3 – Worst passer that I can remember – but he does have talent. I am not sure he has the right skillset for this team though.
Jacob Ramsey: 6 – Came on late and will be a contender to start next season
Malick Thiaw: 7 – Was a player of the year contender until his legs gave out from too many minutes
Yoane Wissa: 2 – Yet to see him play his best. Early injury may have derailed his season.
Nick Woltemade: 6 – I see a player there – just not in a 4-3-3
What do you see as the biggest priorities in the transfer market this summer?
Goal Scorer, Goalie, Full-back. Centre Back
We need a proven goal scorer (Bowen would do for me) and a quality shot stopper (Restes at Toulouse is my fave at the position). Of course, we also need full-back cover at both sides (unless we sign a player that can do both) and a young CB to groom.
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)?
Gordon wanted to move on – so it was right to cut a good deal for the club, allow him to leave, and save the pain and embarrassment of another Isak drama. Plus, we sold him early so we can invest early!
The Newcastle United owners refused to sell Alexander Isak across summer 2025, only to then do so on deadline day. If they had carried out their reported intention to make him stay and the window had closed with Isak still at the club (plus Wissa and/or Woltemade not signed), how do you predict things would have then turned out for Alexander Isak and Newcastle United (Would he have still refused to train and play? How would Newcastle’s season have turned out? etc etc)?
Wow – this is a toughie!
I can’t get inside Isak’s mind, but it seems he was prepared to continue with his “strike”, thus it was right to sell him. In hindsight, we all wished it would have been done earlier in the window so that we could have replaced him with a like for like player with a similar skillset to not disrupt the playing style of the team.
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?
Goalkeeper: New Signing
Defence: Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall
Midfield: New Signing, Bruno, Joelinton
Front: Osula, Woltemade, Barnes
Is Eddie Howe still in charge next season the correct decision?
No, although I think he’ll do ok next season and help us get back into Europe, he’s proven twice that fixture congestion is his Achilles Heel. He just has not proven able to adjust his playing style or utilise his squad effectively. (I am still raging that he did not rest players (Trippier?) during the home match v Qarabag!)
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?
Bruno is our lifeblood and I believe he’s more of a Geordie than many born Tyneside. Hall and Livramento will get looks and perhaps offers, but Hall loves the club and Tino’s injuries make him too big of a risk for the price needed. Thiaw seems to be a good fit with the club. Tonali is the one most of risk for leaving I am sad to say. If the right price came in (100m quid?), I think the club would and needs to cash in.
Which players emerge with credit for the 2025/26 season?
Bruno, Thiaw, Hall, Barnes, Ramsey, Burn, Osula, and Woltemade all played their parts and all showed fight for the badge and the skills needed to propel the team forward.
What would represent success in the 2026/27 season for Newcastle United?
A top five finish would represent success for me next season. We’ll have an uncongested schedule whilst virtually every competitor (nine) all have European football to contend with. So, I guess our failures this year will set us up for a better season next.
We also seem to be aligned at the Board and Manager level and seem to be getting work done early, so I believe we should have time to bed new players in – a key area of importance for Eddie Howe.
What do you see as the minimum to achieve this coming season?
Nine clubs are in Europe next year – including teams with fewer resources and (supposedly) thinner squads – and we’ve only the league and the cups to concentrate on. With the talent and resources available, not to get Europe next season would be extremely disappointing. A Cup title match and Europe must be the minimum we, and The Club, find acceptable.
Predict the top six in the Premier League (in order) and which three clubs will be relegated in 2026/27.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa. There will be surprises of course – but I see us being a top five team next season.
Relegation is on the cards for: Coventry, Hull, and Crystal Palace.
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)?
Jarrod Bowen would be my most important target – a proven goal scorer who leaves every ounce of energy on the pitch, Summerville has rare talent and would be deadly on a counter in our system (although, defensively he has room to improve), Restes (Toulouse) is my top choice keeper, and at 21 his best days are ahead, Penders (Strasbourg) is another keeper worth a look. Ben White is likely available and fills a need, as is Aina from Forest. Delap and Chiesa are both strikers that may give us depth and situational help at a minimum.
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?
As I mentioned in the opening, I was giddy when the purchase of the club was made and the new owners didn’t take a step wrong that first 18 months. FFP, PSR, etc. helped to kill the dream, but so did over-confidence and unrealistic expectations from everyone. We’ve all sobered up.
This past season was incredibly disappointing in so many ways, but it was perhaps the wake up call needed to reset the mindset of systemically building the club from the academy, shrewd player signings, and the building upon data driven analytics to scour the world for talent. It also shows the need for speed in decision making, the management team working in unison, and the limitations of players and the management of our limitations and room for improvement.
I am not optimistic we’ll win a league title by 2030, but I am confident that the club will heed the wake up call and we’ll consistently build upon a more solid foundation for lasting success.
How would you rate your optimism for next season at Newcastle United from 0-100?
78% – a nice round number. We have talent, a favourable schedule, and our competition does not. Our failures this year ironically sets us up for success next season.
Will you be taking an active interest in the Newcastle players at the World Cup?
Yes, I am an American but have always followed England and I’ll be interested in how the team, and our local lads and players do.
When Anthony Gordon is playing at the World Cup will you still be thinking of him as one of our own?
Yes, 100%. I think he’s an ambitious bloke who has self-admittedly grown at Newcastle and loves the club, gaffer, and fans. He left the right way and I have no ill feelings towards his at all. Plus, I think he’s a fantastic and exciting player.
What level of interest generally will you have in the World Cup and what is your prediction on who will win it and how far do you think England will get?
Tuchel is playing no favourites and I believe is going to play a solid team of grafters with the talent to push any team they play. I am thinking semi-finals is where they’ll end up as France, Spain, and Argentina all have better talent.