Opinion
An ideal time in the heart of the festive season to get a snapshot of views from Newcastle United fans on how they think things are going.
So we sent out various questions to a small number of regular/irregular contributors to The Mag.
Asking these Newcastle United fans some of the important questions of the day.
As well as some with a seasonal twist.
Here we have Rex N giving his answers:
**What would be a perfect Newcastle United Christmas present to unwrap?**
Tickets for my kids and I to the League Cup final.
**In 2024, what have been your three best Newcastle United moments?**
One that lingers in the memory is the April 4-0 win over Spurs.
It is tempting to pick coming from behind a few weeks earlier against the Hammers, but instead my others come in the current League Cup run, where we avenged Premier League defeats against Chelsea and Brentford.
**In 2024 what have been your three worst Newcastle United moments?**
Not sure if it counts but Man U beating Man City in the FA Cup final, taking away our opportunity to sneak into Europe.
If it doesn’t count, being knocked out at Man City in the quarter-final on one of the days where we could have played better.
Off on a tangent maybe, but the closing of the transfer window when we saw no movement for a central defender, instead the sales of young talent to meet PSR.
With the benefit of hindsight, we don’t know what impact Botman’s injury has had, or what we could have achieved last season without Big Joe’s injury, but one of those two has to be up there.
**Once we get Christmas out of the way, the Newcastle United hierarchy have promised an update early in the New Year, regarding what their plans are for delivering a significantly bigger/better stadium. What do you hope they say? (Not just whether staying at SJP or new site but also capacity, timescale, progress they might have made on the quiet regarding their plans, whatever)**
That the council has approved planning permission to build a new stadium next door to the current stadium, the land being treated as an extension to St James’ Park, the new stadium capacity to be 80,000 capacity and with a closing roof, the existing site also having planning permission for a mega leisure, conference and hotels facility to be owned by NUFC so that all the revenues count towards FFP/PSR and any other rules that might be brought in. As for timescale, I am no construction expert but asap.
**The 2025/26 season will be the tenth since Newcastle United last had a Premier League derby match. Have you any seasonal black and white goodwill for our Mackem friends finally making it back to the top tier, from what looks the most appalling quality second tier for many years. Or even just because the amusing FA Cup stroll on Wearside last season whetted your appetite for the return of the derbies?**
I send them best wishes for a Championship play-off place, winning the semi-final easily and reaching Wembley, only for their fate to be decided by a few dodgy VAR decisions going against them in added time.
**If you could guarantee five NUFC players to be fit for the rest of the season (including all those currently unavailable), who would you choose and in what order?**
Goals win matches so number 1 has to be Isak.
They also have to be created so 2, Gordon.
Hall seems to be gaining consistency, both attacking and defending, so him 3.
We have missed Botman and assuming he is back at his best, him 4.
It’s at this stage you want more choices but out of Bruno, Tonali and Big Joe, we have already seen what we have missed when the beast from Brazil has been unavailable so Big Joe 5.
**If you could invite three current Newcastle United players to yours for a social gathering at Christmas, who would you invite and why?**
Jacob Murphy seems to be quite a lively character, likewise BDB. It would be a chance to remind Bruno that his kids are born Geordies.
**If you could invite three Newcastle United connected people, past or present, around to yours for a social gathering at Christmas, who would you invite and why? Thinking of fans (famous or not), past (not present) players, managers, owners, whoever.**
If we can include those no longer with us, a fan, my father, Sir Bobby and KK which would be such a positive blend and great conversation.
If not, KK, Shola who is also a warm character with a unique perspective for a generation and, having seen his generosity, Saint-Maximin would be guaranteed to bring some spectacular presents for the kids, even if the kids would prefer to go for the amazing Jonas Gutierrez.
**A knock on your door on Christmas Day, your place beautifully Xmas decorated, roaring fire, table laden with more food and drink than anybody could eat and drink. You open the door and freezing cold, snow bleaching down, which three cold and starving Newcastle United connected characters (past or present) would you still turn away?**
At first sight, this is such a cruel question, but there are a few obvious answers.
On the basis that they would eat me out of house and home, Steve Bruce, Sam Allardyce and just pipping Joe Kinnear, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish to the last spot, Mike Ashley.
**Assuming you don’t think that position has been reached already… what would it take for you to think Newcastle United needed to consider replacing Eddie Howe?**
He reaches retirement age.
**If you were granted three New Year’s wishes (apart from the obvious of winning something!) to come true in 2025…**
To be granted a 10% stake in NUFC which qualifies the kids and I to seats at SJP as well as all the insider gossip.
Abolition of PSR.
NUFC to sign the next Supermac in January.
**Your New Year’s resolution that is Newcastle United related…?**
I am terrible at keeping New Year resolutions but one I could maintain is not smoking inside SJP.
**Win the FA Cup or League Cup sometime in the next five years AND finish between 8th and 10th in each of these five seasons, or win nothing AND finish between 2nd and 4th in every one of these five seasons?**
A heart and head question!
Consistent Champions League qualification is the best option for long-term viability and logically, sees us winning in the majority of matches.
I have been waiting for a domestic trophy since I was seven. Those five years mean that I will only have to wait until I am 70.
****
**What are your worst ever past Newcastle United Christmas time moments / memories. Could be any kind of memories – matches, presents, whatever?**
I remember writing an article a while ago about December being historically our worst month.
I believe we hold the record for most Boxing Day defeats (47?) so there is plenty to choose from. Losing 4-0 at Liverpool in 2018 has to be up there but behind the 5-1 home defeat against them 10 years earlier.
Another that comes to mind was dragging a Mackem friend to SJP against Everton in 1986 in the season that they won the league. We lost 4-0.
Instead of the Chris Wood hat-trick last year, as a kid, a well meaning grandmother was aware that my earliest hero was Pop Robson. Unfortunately, by the time she realised that she was able to buy a replica shirt, he was wearing the 10 in claret and blue. On the plus side, it was before he signed for Sunderland.
**Obviously it takes a ‘little’ bit of imagination but if there was a scenario where on the last day of a Premier League season… a Sunderland victory (against whoever) would mean Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League instead of Europa League BUT also meant the Mackems won the Premier League. What would you want to happen?**
Wake up from the nightmare!
If it did actually happen, a Sunderland defeat and 50 point deduction for breach of PSR which would elevate us to a Champions League place.
**In your lifetime, the five people associated with Newcastle United (anybody, on or of the pitch, inside or outside the club) who you would like to say thank you to and why?**
Obvious answers here but KK for memories of the promotion as a player and gave us both entertainment and hope as a manager.
Amanda Staveley for her efforts to put NUFC under new ownership.
Eddie Howe for what he has done and for what he is undoubtedly going to do.