Newcastle United makes my head hurt so I’ve tried to put into words the current situation as I see it!
As a 35-year-old Newcastle United season ticket holder, it is difficult at the moment to put into words what this current period feels like, and also how to rationalize it.
And it is a period of instability, but it is important to say that it is not a total failure as we have seen under previous regimes, such as Steve Bruce, Joe Kinnear, Steve McClaren and others.
Expectations have undoubtedly risen since the takeover, and especially since Eddie Howe and his coaching staff ended a seventy-year wait for domestic honors in 2025.
That Newcastle United team played football that was easy on the eyes and was backed by a visible determination to work relentlessly for each other.
The support from the stands matched that energy and created a united front built on faith and resistance.
Before I set out my concerns about Newcastle United, I want to be clear: I am very much Eddie Howe and I genuinely believe that there is no better manager for our club at the moment.
1. The impact of the Alexander Isak saga
It seems increasingly clear that the situation surrounding Isak has confused parts of the selection. Anthony Gordon in particular seems to be going through the motions in competitive matches and has shown more steps backwards than forwards creatively. The way Isak left has left a sour taste and has not improved morale within the team.
2. Support from the stands
This may be controversial, but I think support has waned this season.
I think there are three reasons for that.
Firstly, the football itself wasn’t good enough. Game quality and atmosphere often go hand in hand.
Secondly, the increase in the number of ‘day trip tourists’. Many are not there to support the team through thick and thin, but to entertain. The result is long periods of silence in large areas of the ground. Is it really worth the club squeezing out a relatively small increase in turnover at the expense of what we are known for, which is making noise?
Thirdly, there is the aftermath of the cup win and a lack of clarity for supporters about what comes next. What does seem clear is that hardcore fans will become increasingly expensive in the long run.
3. PSR
PSR undoubtedly played a major role.
The loss of Anderson and Minteh, the signing of a goalkeeper who has never played and the possible overpayment of fees for players like Elanga all point to distorted decision-making due to financial constraints.
Yes, the sale of Isak may have created a summer war chest, but our competitiveness is still determined by PSR and soon also by SCR. Until now, the club’s revenue strategy has been two-fold: commercial deals (where there is certainly more to explore) and higher costs passed on to supporters.
4. On the field
The high-intensity press that defined us is largely gone.
That may be partly inevitable, given the Champions League alongside the domestic competitions, but it now feels like that is completely over. Players like Elanga, who may have thrived in the old system, now look like a fish out of water.
The new signings have not provided the spark many were hoping for. Woltemade looks raw and has not yet set the world on fire next to Wissa. Finding their right role within the current system would be a sensible starting point. We lack intuition and creativity, and it’s not all on the dugout, but we are crying out for a real number 10 with strong decision-making skills.
Trippier has been an excellent signing but doesn’t have the legs for a long run of games at the moment. Targett and Lascelles may also have played a role this season. The lack of consistent training time due to match crowds must be a factor, although the question remains: how do other teams handle this better?
Add to this the uncertainty surrounding a new stadium, a revolving door of senior football managers and the absence of a clear figurehead since the departure of Amanda Staveley, and it is clear that we are in a real period of transition.
There is no need to press the panic button yet.
Newcastle United are performing below expectations, albeit expectations are now at different levels, but the focus should be on providing the support needed to secure the club’s long-term future, rather than reacting impulsively in the short term.
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