An ideal time in the middle of the festive period to get a snapshot of what Newcastle United fans think about how they think things are going.
So we sent several questions to a small number of regular/infrequent contributors to The Mag.
I ask these Newcastle United fans some of the important questions of the day.
And some with a seasonal slant.
Here we have David Punton giving his answers:
What would have been a perfect Christmas present for Newcastle United to unwrap?
I’m writing this in the aftermath of the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United, so I have to say I’d like to see our fluency return. The energy and the high press.
I remain firmly convinced that this team is a lot better than it shows and will click again at some point
I really have to, because I’m really starting to get a little nervous about our manager.
Hoping that 2026 will start climbing the rankings.
What were your five best moments at Newcastle United in 2025?
1 – Winning the League Cup. A first domestic trophy in 70 years. Historical. We beat Liverpool in a nail-biting final, but one we deserved to win. The feeling at full time was such pure elation.
The semi-final also deserves mention. It seemed like we had a mountain to climb, but we still destroyed Arsenal over two legs. I was in disbelief that we got through that tie.
2 – The League Cup trophy lift. Tears. When we saw our players go to the Cup after so many years of false dawns and those Mike Ashley years, it was something we can cherish. It should never be taken for granted. As time goes by, we will realize more and more what they have achieved.
3 – The League Cup Parade. About 300,000 people in the city center. A sea of black and white. It was a day where you had to pinch yourself. You really had to be present at one of them.
4 – Champions League football. Not to be sniffed at. Winning a cup, followed by sneaking into the most important European tournament again. We will miss it if we don’t have it.
5 – Beat Benfica. Some payback for the Europa League games of 2013. We played so well against them, it was a brilliant night against Jose Mourinho’s men.
What were your five worst moments at Newcastle United in 2025?
1 – Isak saga. Terrible behavior from Isak. Hero to zero. All he had to do was work until compensation was agreed.
Instead he goes AWOL. Totally unprofessional from a player who was hailed as a hero. So much for all that ‘alreet wor kid’ on the Stadsmoor.
In my humble opinion, Virgil Van Dyk has tagged him onto the Wembley pitch at full-time. Although I can’t prove it, it was whispered in his ear.
2 – Losing along the way. What a pathetic way to lose on Wearside. An own goal from our centre-forward. It was a bizarre moment, but we played terribly and couldn’t get going.
3 – Out shape. A big concern. Once such a good attacking team on the road, now afraid of its own shadow. It needs to be resolved.
4- Summer transfer window. The entire window, without a sporting director, felt a heavy blow. Will we ever be able to get a transfer done quickly? Hopefully this new DoF, Ross Wilson, can address that.
5 – Lack of clear progress on new stadium/training ground. It seems the new CEO has kicked the new ground into the long grass, something Howe himself regretted. Don’t expect news anytime soon. As the host venue for Euro 2028, the water seems to have been muddied.
One of the first acts of Newcastle United’s new CEO, David Hopkinson, was to come out and announce that the club is a long way from deciding what will happen regarding a new stadium or the expanded St James’ Park, let alone going ahead and getting it built. This is despite the NUFC hierarchy having repeatedly indicated in the past that an announcement was imminent. Your thoughts?
Huge disappointment. If you look at what other clubs have achieved, the most recent examples are Spurs and Everton.
It’s only when you see these new stadiums that you realize we probably need new facilities.
Like I said above, it’s going to take a while for us. There may be an indication that the redevelopment of the current St. James’ Park is being considered again.
That’s an idea I previously supported, before I saw Everton’s position.
If you’re a St. James’ Park purist, staying and adding another level to the Gallowgate is music to your ears. It would look lovely, but the rest of the current site would in my opinion need a complete redesign to modernize it, i.e. bars, toilets, food stalls and even new seating.
The answer we are looking for is still far away.
Building on Leazes Park, mark my words, will face enormous local opposition.
If you could guarantee that five NUFC players would be fit for the rest of the season (including all players currently unavailable), who would you pick and in what order?
Bruno. Thiaw. He warned. Joelinton. Tonally.
If you could invite three current Newcastle United players to a social gathering at Christmas, who would you invite and why?
Dan Burn, because he’s the local legend, a great guy and you can tell he’s extremely funny to talk to. I want him to guide me through that cup goal.
Kieron Trippier. I’d have to say Tripps because he’s a great kid and a football guy I’d love to talk to.
Nick Woltemade. Love that crazy German. He would laugh, and it would be an opportunity to say don’t dwell on that Sunderland game and what happened. Keep moving forward and improving.
A knock on your door on Christmas Day, your house beautifully decorated for Christmas, a roaring fire, a table laden with more food and drink than anyone could possibly eat and drink. You open the door and it’s freezing, the snow pales, which three cold and starving Newcastle United associated characters (past or present) would you still reject?
Mike Ashley. He destroyed the football club. It was a nightmare for 14 years. Two relegations and what seemed like asset stripping. Just a club with the pilot light on.
Steve Bruce. Recent statements about how hard he has done at NUFC are as astonishing as they are untrue.
Alexander Isaac. I just can’t forgive him for the way he left. A hero from the League Cup final and now his scoring moment is forever tainted.
A bonus fourth…Kenny Dalglish. A legend at Liverpool, but as NUFC manager he got it terribly wrong. This is the man who single-handedly dismantled the best Newcastle attacking team I have ever seen. What King Kenny tried was mind-bogglingly bad. He also alienated flair players. His tactics were strict. He was the wrong size. Okay, he got the win over Barca, but that’s as good as it gets. The 1998 FA Cup run was decent, but the way he put us in the final was terrible. There didn’t seem to be a game plan that day.
Assuming you don’t think that position has been reached yet… what would it take to think Newcastle United should consider replacing Eddie Howe?
Unless the board does something drastic, I think the club needs to be in the bottom three to make the change happen.
However, their resolve could be tested in the coming weeks.
I’d say be careful what you wish for.
If you were to grant three New Year’s wishes in 2026…
Go to the League Cup final again.
Win the home derby.
Make sure you have a decent summer transfer window.
A poll on The Mag recently asked Newcastle United fans whether it would be a success or a failure if this 2025/26 season ended with United in the middle of the Premier League, BUT after they had won the Carabao Cup again and reached the last sixteen knockout stages of the Champions League. The vote saw 60% of fans see that as a success and 40% as a failure. Your thoughts?
Success. After tasting trophy success in March 2025, my immediate thought was: can we do this again?
It is very difficult to get into the top four. The Premier League is so tough. We were going to have a season where we couldn’t reach the same heights.
The thought of a Champions League knockout match would also be very exciting.
What are your best ever Christmas moments/memories at Newcastle United? Could it be all kinds of memories – matches, presents, whatever?
Christmas season 2001/02. Bobby Robson made us spin. Wins at Arsenal and Leeds Utd sent us top of the pile. That period always stands out in my mind because it was the moment when the side Robson built really started to click.
Another celebratory memory that got a few giggles was Mark Hughes losing his cool on a technicality and throwing his jacket in the air. Lol.
What are your worst ever Christmas moments/memories at Newcastle United? Could it be all kinds of memories – matches, presents, whatever?
It was just before Christmas 2014. Sunderland at home. That really hurt.
Obviously it takes a ‘bit’ of imagination, but if there was a scenario where on the last day of a Premier League season… a Sunderland win (against anyone) would mean Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League instead of the Europa League, BUT this also meant the Mackems won the Premier League. What would you like to happen?
I’d like to bring one for the team here. The answer is exactly the answer they would give if it were the other way around. I just wouldn’t want them to win the title.
The five people associated with Newcastle United in your lifetime (anyone, on or off the pitch, inside or outside the club) who you would like to say thank you to and why?
Kevin Keegan And Bobby Robson. Both managers are rightly revered on Tyneside. They have created something special, lifting the club to where it belongs during their respective tenures.
Eddie Howe. He must be on the list. The lad from Bournemouth who won us a trophy, something that overshadows the achievements of KK and SBR. I’m always cautious when managers get statues, but if I met him I would say a huge thank you to Eddie Howe. Maybe he really deserves one.
Amanda Staveley. Still upset, she left the club. This is the woman who never gave up and made sure we finally got rid of Mike Ashley before laying the foundation for what ultimately led to a Cup win. If she could come back in some capacity, I’d take it. She’s been a big miss. Great communicator and she got things done.
Rafa Benitez. Rafa’s three-plus years at United brought some cheer amid deep gloom. Some of the football was flat at times, but he was given very little resources to work with. I would like to thank Rafa for staying when we went down and promoting us straight away. It’s not easy to bounce back and he managed it when many said it would take a few years to get everything sorted out and he might not adapt to the second-tier style. He then kept us afloat and did his best to hold on for the takeover that never happened.
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