Q&A: Newcastle United favourite ‘absolutely gone’ in 2027 after new deal & Man Utd links - on one condition
Newcastle United Q&A: Our Newcastle United writing team have answered your questions on transfers, St James’ Park and tactics.
NUFC Press Box have been answering Newcastle United supporter questions during the international break.
From Matthias Jaissle’s tactics, Premier League predictions, St James’ Park plans and transfer discussions, plenty of questions have been submitted by Shields Gazette readers and NUFC Press Box viewers.
And our Newcastle United writing team, Dominic Scurr, Jordan Cronin and Charlie Bennett have answered them all.
Watch the full video here and read the answers below.
What's the latest on Newcastle United's stadium plans?
Charlie: “Well, this is one that's rumbled on since day one of the takeover, really, isn't it? Every time we speak to David Hopkinson, he gets asked the question, and he says the same thing. There's no definitive answer on the stadium, but they're working on it every day.
“I think a big sign was obviously the training ground announcement, because a lot of fans were concerned about the ambition of PIF. The training ground getting announced was a big marker in the sand, and I would expect the stadium announcement to follow at some point. But right now, there's no definitive answer.
Jordan: “It's one of those things that, as you say, has rumbled on for a very long time. I think the noises I've always heard are that they've favoured a new stadium. Now, where that actually becomes possible remains to be seen. We'll never know until they've got spades in the ground, so to speak.
“I think that would be the ultimate ambition of the football club, and it probably needs to happen. If they want to get to where they want to be and become this European and world force, I think a new stadium has to come with that.
“But it's also hard to talk about that when they're currently 12th in the Premier League. In the bigger picture, I think a new stadium is absolutely needed, but it's difficult to focus on that when the ambitions of the last five years are still there, yet the progress on the pitch has faded over the last 12 months or so.
“Improvements need to be made on the pitch first before we start thinking about a new stadium again.”
Dominic: “Absolutely. Five years into the takeover, we would have wanted to see some sort of spades in the ground.
“We've put the wheels in motion regarding the training ground, but the stadium is still a bit up in the air. There's been £30 million invested in club infrastructure over the summer, so there's still a desire to improve what they currently have as well.
Should Matthias Jaissle changes things up and play five at the back against Arsenal?
Jordan: “Historically, Newcastle at St James' Park against big opposition, playing on the counterattack or going full throttle, has usually worked in their favour.
“It did against Liverpool. Even though the quality of the squad has been taken out, they still managed to do that against Liverpool. Having said that, it was a game in isolation, wasn't it, with the Keegan tribute and everything around it? Can Newcastle United still do that against top opposition here?
“I would still roll the dice and go at Arsenal. I'd maintain the same approach of trying to catch them on the counterattack.
“If it doesn't work, then I would go for five at the back the next time they play big opposition, to see whether that bubble has burst in terms of Newcastle being able to compete with top teams at St James' Park.”
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How many points will Newcastle have in the next three games before the Sunderland derby?
Dominic: Newcastle have 12 points in the Premier League at the moment. Next up is Arsenal, then Brighton, then Manchester United at home.
“I haven’t got much faith. I think whoever wins that derby will be higher in the Premier League. I think Sunderland, who are four points adrift of Newcastle at the moment, will be within touching distance of Newcastle by the time they go into that game.”
Charlie: “I think they'll get beaten by Arsenal, although I think it'll be a valiant performance. I can't see them getting anything at Brighton. I'm going to say they're going to beat Manchester United. They've got a good home record against Man United.
“Obviously, United have got the new-manager bounce. If there's ever a time you didn't want to play Manchester United at any stage of the season, it's now.
“But I think Newcastle will beat Manchester United, and then why can't they beat Sunderland?”
Jordan: “I'll try to be optimistic and say three points, beating Manchester United, like you said.
“I don't think Pochettino will get it right straight away at Manchester United. I think that might take a little bit longer. If that carries into the Newcastle game, they can get a result there.
“I don't think they've got a hope in hell against Arsenal or Brighton. It's one of those seasons where you write them off and they could surprise you, but they've never really got results at Brighton.
“Arsenal are the best team in England by some distance, in my opinion. So, optimistically, I would say three points against Manchester United.
“I think that Sunderland game, as you mentioned there, Dom, could determine who goes higher in the table and where both those teams will be.
“If Newcastle were to lose the next three games, I don't think they'd be far away from the relegation zone.”
Will Newcastle make any January signings?
Jordan: It's a tough one. I think the league position probably dictates what they're going to do.
“If they're fighting down at the bottom of the table and things look a bit nervy, I think the pressure will be on them to go and do something.
“If they're coasting along as they are now, a few points above the bottom three, I don't think they'll strengthen.
“When we spoke to David Hopkinson and Ross Wilson after the transfer window closed, we got the feeling they weren't particularly keen on strengthening in January.
“That's not really new in many respects because Eddie Howe was quite open in saying that the club never wanted to strengthen in January.
“You do all your business in the summer, you plan the season, and January is such a difficult market to do business in.
“Ideally, I don't think they'd want to strengthen, but it depends on where they are. If they go into January needing players, they absolutely need a centre-forward and possibly a number 10 as well, if they're going to persist with that position.
“Those would be my two priority positions if they do feel the need to strengthen.”
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Dominic: “I think the biggest clue would be last season, when things looked quite bleak in January.
“They were still in the cup competitions, but they were at the wrong end of the Premier League table, and things were looking like they could transpire in the way they eventually did after a poor summer transfer window.
“The fact that they'd spent a lot of money the previous summer and then didn't strengthen in January is possibly a hint of how things are going to play out this time.
“They've spent a lot of money again. As things stand, it's still early stages, but it's been a poor summer transfer window.
“However, if Newcastle are in a desperate position, I think they might roll the dice, get some players out and bring some players in.
“I think that's the only way they're going to be able to properly spend some money.
“ There was an interesting comment from Jaissle where he said the January window is his first window. He's basically saying that all the business done in the summer wasn't his.”
Charlie: “I asked Matthias a couple of weeks ago whether he was already thinking about January and whether he was going to need to get bodies in.
“He hinted at the fact that he would be pushing for opportunities to improve the squad, as any manager would.
“He certainly strikes me as the type of manager who would be looking to boost the squad in January.”
Which Newcastle players could leave at the end of the season?
Jordan: “I think we'll probably all say the same person. Regardless of how the season plays out, unless Newcastle go and get Champions League football, I think Lewis Hall is absolutely gone next year, unfortunately.
“I think he dropped a bit of a hint in an interview with you, Charlie. He said something along the lines of being really happy here as long as the club continued to match his ambitions.”
Charlie: The ink wasn't even dry on the five-year contract! I asked him, "Is this you committing to Newcastle for the long term, Lewis?"
“And that's what he said. He said, ‘As long as the club match my ambitions,’ which I think is fair.”
Dominic: “Manchester United were interested in the summer, noise from Newcastle, which was proven correct, was that he was going absolutely nowhere. But I think those noises will be different come next summer.”
What were Newcastle thinking signing so many young players?
Dominic: “Touré, Steur and Bamba: this is the first big move of their careers. Speaking to people at Newcastle about what the transfer strategy was previously, it was almost like the players they were signing previously had already made that big move and this was their second big move.
“Sandro Tonali had already been to AC Milan. Alexander Isak had already played for Borussia Dortmund and flourished at Real Sociedad. These were players who already had a bit of experience.
“For Touré, Steur and Bamba, this is their first big move. They've been brought in with the idea of potentially making a big profit on them, which is sort of the Yankuba Minteh strategy.
“The problem is that they've signed them for a lot of money, unlike Minteh, and now they're not playing.
“Jaissle is saying they're probably not ready for Premier League football right now. Where does that leave Newcastle?
“It leaves them with a massive hole in the pocket and a squad that's not quite good enough, or a squad that's deteriorating in quality.
“It's not an ideal situation. Although Steur could be a masterstroke. He's 18 years old, and he's been worth every penny of the £20-odd million.”