Newcastle United is hurting my head, so I have tried to put into words the current situation as I see it!
As a Newcastle United season ticket holder of 35 years, it’s difficult right now to put into words both how this current period feels, plus how to rationalise it.
And it is a period of instability, but it is important to say it’s not total failure in the way we’ve seen under previous regimes, such as Steve Bruce, Joe Kinnear, Steve McClaren, and others.
Arguably, expectations have risen since the takeover, and certainly since Eddie Howe and his coaching staff ended a 70 year wait for a domestic honour in 2025.
That Newcastle United side played a brand of football that was easy on the eye and backed up by a visible determination to work relentlessly for each other.
The support from the stands matched that energy, creating a united front built on belief and defiance.
Before breaking down my Newcastle United concerns, I want to be clear: I am very much Eddie Howe in, and I genuinely believe there is no better manager for our club at present.
1. The impact of the Alexander Isak saga
It seems increasingly clear that the situation surrounding Isak has unsettled parts of the squad. Anthony Gordon, in particular, appears to be going through the motions in league games and has shown more backward steps creatively than forward ones. The manner of Isak’s departure has left a sour taste and hasn’t helped morale across the squad.
2. Support from the stands
This may be controversial but I believe the support has dipped this season.
I think there are three reasons for this.
Firstly, the football itself hasn’t been good enough. Quality of play and atmosphere often go hand in hand.
Secondly, the rise in “day trippers”. Many aren’t there to support the team through thick and thin but to be entertained. The result is long spells of silence in large parts of the ground. Is it really worth the club squeezing out a relatively small increase in revenue at the expense of what we’re known for, making noise?
Thirdly, there’s the aftermath of the cup win and a lack of clarity for supporters about what comes next. What does seem clear is that long-term, hardcore fans are increasingly being priced out.
3. PSR
PSR has undoubtedly played a major role.
Losing Anderson and Minteh, signing a goalkeeper who never played, and potentially paying inflated fees for players like Elanga, all point to distorted decision making driven by financial constraints.
Yes, the Isak sale may have created a summer war chest, but our competitiveness is still dictated by PSR and soon SCR. So far, the club’s revenue strategy has been twofold: commercial deals (where there is surely more to explore) and increased costs passed on to supporters.
4. On the pitch
The high intensity press that defined us has largely disappeared.
That may be partly unavoidable, given the Champions League alongside domestic competitions, but it now feels as though it’s gone altogether. Players like Elanga, who may have thrived in the old system, now look like a fish out of water.
The new signings haven’t provided the spark many hoped for. Woltemade looks raw, and alongside Wissa, hasn’t set the world alight. Finding their correct roles within the current system would be a sensible starting point. We lack intuition and creativity, not all of that is down to the dugout, but we are crying out for a true number 10 with strong decision making ability.
Trippier has been an outstanding signing but right now doesn’t have the legs for a sustained run of games. Targett and Lascelles may also have had a role to play this season. The lack of consistent training time due to fixture congestion has to be a factor, although the question remains, how do other teams cope better?
Add to all of this the uncertainty around a new stadium, a revolving door of senior football executives, and the absence of a clear figurehead since Amanda Staveley’s departure, and it’s clear we are in a genuine transition period.
There’s no need to hit the panic button just yet.
Newcastle United are performing below expectations, albeit expectations that now sit at different levels, but the focus should be on providing the support needed to safeguard the club’s long term future, rather than reacting impulsively in the short-term.