Newcastle…confidence in decision-makers motivates fans for a better future
If it feels, at times, that everything at Newcastle United has been uncertain this season, the fans have certainly remained motivatingly consistent. Despite two painful cup exits, a mid-table Premier League side, a lack of January transfer activity, Financial Fair Play issues and an unrelenting injury crisis, fans have remained stoic and kept perspective.
It was always going to be difficult to repeat last season’s fourth-place finish under Eddie Howe, and while there have been some painful failures this season, there have also been some impressive achievements in the Champions League, Premier League and FA.
Nearly two and a half years since the takeover, and even during a challenging campaign on and off the field, the ‘fans’ generally seem to retain faith in the club’s decision-makers.
The Athletic Network conducted a supporter poll to gauge opinions on all things Newcastle. Here are the results: To provide context, each Newcastle fan participant was asked how long they had been a fan. Interestingly, 93.1 per cent have followed the club for 11 years or more, while 79.7 per cent described themselves as Newcastle fans for more than 21 years.
Despite recent on-field success and attempts to grow the fan base in the United States and Saudi Arabia, including through the Amazon Prime documentary series, “We Are Newcastle United,” only 3.7 percent of respondents said they had been supporters of the team for between zero and And five years. Of the fans surveyed, 16.7 percent are season ticket holders or attend every game, with another 7.9 percent watching “often” in person and 20.2 percent going “sometimes.” More than 50 percent “rarely” or “never” go to matches, which can partly be explained, as BK commented, by The Athletic’s large international audience. “I’ve been a fan for about 30 years but I “I live in the United States, so attending the match is not an option.”
Furthermore, Nick H, who has been a season ticket holder for 15 years, says he rarely goes to games now “because I never won the ballot (for tickets)”, a problem David H also faced. Andrew Tee expressed his view that it would be “useful to explore how important it would be to increase the capacity of St James’ Park” to give non-season ticket holders a better opportunity to attend matches.
Access to match tickets remains a major issue for fans, especially those who cannot attend as many matches as they would like due to demand significantly exceeding supply. There is understandable frustration with Newcastle’s current situation and aspects of this season, but fans still feel connected to the club.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents described their relationship with Newcastle as having “stayed the same” throughout the season so far, while 23.5 per cent said it had “strengthened”. However, Richard D was one of the four per cent who said their relationship had “weakened”, saying: “I haven’t been able to attend as many home matches as I did in the past, and for me, supporting NUFC means going to… Match,” he was among other participants who highlighted season ticket applications and waiting lists as a serious concern. A hypothetical question, given the amount of absentees over the course of the season, and also admittedly limiting, given that participants had to select players in Howe’s preferred 4-3-3 formation and there was a lack of positional flexibility.
Bruno Guimarães is the fans’ first choice in midfield (AFP)
For example, some said they would select Joelinton as a left-forward so they could put Joe Willock behind him, but the poll did not allow for this, and others suggested they would take a “horses versus courses approach” to selection and their XI might vary depending on the opposition.
Regardless, the results were pretty emphatic, with eight of the candidates chosen by more than 90% of participants. Fabien Schar was the top pick of all players, with 99.2 per cent choosing the Swiss international, only narrowly ahead of fellow defenders Kieran Trippier (99.1 per cent) and Sven Botman (99 per cent). Tino Livramento (78.4 per cent) completed the most chosen back four, presumably as a left-back rather than his preferred position of right-back, while Nick Pope was the overwhelming choice in goal (97.9 per cent). Dan Byrne was the next most popular choice among the defenders, even though he did not make the squad.
In midfield, Bruno Guimarães (98.8 per cent) and Joelinton (91.1 per cent) are almost always present, while Sandro Tonali, who is serving a 10-month ban for betting offenses and has therefore not played since October 25, was in the mix. Third among the most chosen midfielders (66.9%), Willock was the second most popular player, ahead of Sean Longstaff and Lewis Mailey, who are currently playing, and Elliot Anderson.
Alexander Isak was the clear choice as number 9 (98.2 per cent) ahead of Callum Wilson, while Anthony Gordon’s scintillating form saw 98.4 per cent of supporters pick him. Apparently, Gordon will need to shift to the right to accommodate Harvey Barnes (69.5 percent), who was favored over starter Miguel Almiron. It was difficult for fans to choose what they thought was the strongest line-up, given the lack of football from some key players this season. As James E. says Of the players selected, up to five could be unavailable for Newcastle’s next match, away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The verdict on Newcastle’s transfer dealings points to how supporters appear to have framed their views of 2023-24 as a whole in a wider context. Rather than expressing widespread dissatisfaction, the majority were “very satisfied,” “satisfied,” or “unsatisfied or dissatisfied” with both windows.
There is a greater degree of dissatisfaction with the just-ended winter transfer window – when no signings arrived – with 29.9 per cent saying: ‘dissatisfied’ and 12.7 per cent: ‘very dissatisfied’, although some warned of responses Their actions by pointing to the profitability of the Premier League and the profitability of the Premier League.
And about the Sustainability Rules (PSR), which hindered Newcastle. ‘Dissatisfied with transfer business but only in the context of Financial Fair Play’, says Robert M. Eric B and Nick H cite the lack of value in the January market as justification for why Newcastle were right not to act. The visualization of last summer is interesting. Tonali (suspension) and Barnes (injury) were high-profile signings but rarely played, while Livramento impressed but has yet to be an automatic selection, and Lewis Hall has not started since being substituted at half-time at Bournemouth on 11 November.
“I think the summer business has been really good, just with the injuries and suspensions it looks bad,” says S. However, Nick H is concerned that Newcastle have targeted buying players “based on their availability and potential, not what we need.” It suggests that Barnes and Livramento were not a priority in signing Howe (despite the head coach suggesting otherwise).
Overall, there appears to be an acceptance of the logic behind Newcastle’s transfer strategy and an appreciation for how restrictive PCR is. Alan Shearer will wholeheartedly support the majority opinion, given that 59.3 per cent of his fellow Newcastle fans believe the striker should be a priority in the next window. “A first-class striker who is not prone to injury” is what Godek wants.
Fans prefer Harvey Barnes over Miguel Almiron (Reuters)
Meanwhile, a quarter of respondents feel that the midfield, which Howe tried to strengthen in January, should be the primary focus. Andrew wanted to choose both positions because they were “equally important.” Apparently, most do not feel a wholesale change is required, with 68.5 per cent of players wanting to add three to four players, which would have matched last summer (when four players arrived).
A further 22.5 per cent are hoping for signings of five to six – early indications are that Newcastle will look to bring in that number, although it will depend on the signings – with just 1.3 per cent opting for seven or more players.
Some fans are more interested in sticking with core players than bringing in a host of new players. Ben R says: “I have signed three to four players, but realistically I would be happy with two, provided we do not lose any key players.”
“The hardest question to answer was about the summer window,” says Jake O. “It depends on the expenses and whether we are in Europe.” Meanwhile, James E says: “We need to update the squad more than the starting XI, to have real options on the bench, as it is difficult to improve the starting XI at this stage of our development.”
Newcastle, which is in ninth place, is closer to Bournemouth in 12th place than to Tottenham Hotspur, which is in fifth place, but the majority are optimistic that Howe’s team will end the season in a higher position than its current position. It is understood that only 0.5 per cent expect to repeat or improve on last season’s fourth place finish – Aston Villa, who are currently fourth, are 13 points ahead – but 18.2 per cent expect to qualify for Europe by finishing fifth or sixth. The majority (72.1 percent) expects Newcastle to jump to seventh or eighth place, while only 0.6 percent fear falling to the bottom half. With only the FA Cup realistically left to be won, it is perhaps not surprising that there is a divide when it comes to the importance fans place on lifting silverware this season. While more than half feel it is “not important” or “very unimportant”, 40.8% think it is “important” or “very important” for Newcastle to end their up-and-down campaign by winning the cup at Wembley on May 25.
However, only 2.9 per cent expect Newcastle to end their 55-year trophy drought on that day. 15.2% expect that next season will be the season in which the team will finally win titles, while nearly two-thirds of them expect glory to arrive within two to three years. However, a group of 2.9 percent fear the drought could extend into the 2030s.
Fans believe that there is global support for Newcastle coach Eddie Howe (Reuters)
Even in light of the team’s miserable winter – and seven defeats in 12 games – Newcastle fans remain very happy with Howe’s work. The head coach holds enormous credit for his first season and the next half season in charge, while there is sympathy for the challenges he faces this season.
With 86.8 per cent of survey respondents “very satisfied” and “satisfied” and 8.5 per cent “unsatisfied or very dissatisfied”, it is clear that Newcastle’s supporters, like the club’s hierarchy, retain confidence that Howe is the best person for this position. “This season was always going to be a transition,” says one fan. “Patience is ultimately what will help us move forward.”
David cites, for example, “mild concerns about Howe’s unwavering loyalty to some players,” something Jude Key also raises, “because senior coaches have a really ruthless streak.” Ron Seay feels that “Howe has achieved almost a miracle since his arrival but I hope he learns the lessons of this season.”
Regardless, there remains almost universal support for Howe. Similar sentiments are expressed when evaluating the collective performance of the owners: Amanda Staveley, the Robbins family, and the 80 percent majority shareholder, the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Although 90.3 percent of respondents are “very satisfied” or “satisfied” and 7 percent are “unsatisfied or very dissatisfied,” only a small minority disapprove of the current trend of travel.
“I think the concerns are a reflection of a short-term view rather than a long-term one,” says Jonathan H. The club is better day and night than it was before the Public Investment Fund acquired it.” “Obviously the season was disappointing in terms of pure results, but it was a skeleton club three years ago,” agrees Judd.
However, there are some issues that supporters want the monarchy to be more aware of. Tom L, for example, “hopes the owners will walk around the stadium between 2.30pm and 3pm on match day to see the nightmare the new digital ticketing system has created.”
2024-02-08 15:20:50
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