Anthony Gordon has got a huge point to prove and he will come good | OneFootball

Newcastle United fans have just seen the 2024/25 Premier League season come to its end.

A season that has proved to be quite magnificent.

As one season ends though, thoughts immediately turn to what comes next, only 11 weeks to go until the 2025/26 Premier League kicks off.

An ideal time to get a snapshot of views from Newcastle United fans on their thoughts, both on the season that has just ended AND what is to now follow.

So we sent out questions to a number of regular/irregular contributors to The Mag.

Next up answering the questions we have David Punton:

Predict the top six in the Premier League (in order) and which three clubs will be relegated.

Liverpool. Arsenal. Man City. Chelsea. NUFC, Spurs.

Relegated: Sunderland. Burnley. Fulham.

Name a Newcastle player who you think could be a massive surprise success this coming season, doing far better than most fans expect.

Anthony Gordon. He’s got a huge point to prove and he will come good.

Three words to describe how you currently feel as a Newcastle fan?

Elated. Hopeful. Calm.

Three words to describe Newcastle United now?

Transformed. Buzzing. Proper.

Does 2024/25 now rank as your favourite ever Newcastle United season?

Yes. A one million percent yes. A season where the club finally won its first domestic trophy in 70 years has to go down as my favourite, though potless campaigns are still memorable. Can they top it?

Which are your three favourite previous NUFC seasons (before 2024/25) and why?

The 1992/93 season remains etched into the memory. Keegan’s team took the First Division by storm to secure promotion. I loved that team and that season, aged 16 at the time it just felt amazing supporting the club that year. Games on ITV every week too.

Next up 1995/95. The first half of that Premier League season was sublime. It was my first year at uni and NUFC were on fire. At one stage we were 12 points clear. Man Utd then reeled us in after we staggered to the finish line. It was gutting but so memorable.

Finally, 2001/2002. The season when everything clicked under Bobby Robson. We attacked with pace and power. Top four was secured and Shearer couldn’t stop scoring with Bellamy doing all the running for him.

In order, which eight players have been most influential across the 2024/25 season?

Isak. Murphy. Joelinton. Bruno. Burn, Tonali. Schar. Pope.

Have you at any point during his time at Newcastle United, thought that Eddie Howe’s position should be under question?

Yes. I ruefully admit I had a slight concern early in the season just gone when I foolishly allowed myself to think that maybe he’d run out of ideas, although I didn’t ever join the minority on social media saying he should go. He then turned it all around and won us silverware.

I was also slightly concerned in 2021/22 just after we lost at home to Cambridge in the FA Cup, but, again, he turned it round.

Your favourite three moments in NUFC Premier League matches this past season?

Isak’s stunning strike against Liverpool at St James Park in the league game was amazing. He nearly took the net off its moorings.

Harvey Barnes late winner at Wolves – bedlam.

Gordon in the home against Villa after two mins, silenced our Brummy mates up in Level 7.

What are your thoughts on Newcastle United Sporting Director Paul Mitchell leaving?

Not ideal. It’s the type of role that requires that person to be in post for a few years to really build something and he’s lasted 12 months.

Based on what I’ve read he possibly rubbed people up the wrong way and didn’t handle the politics well, not least his relationship with the manager.

He hasn’t been there long enough to achieve anything tangible.

Claims were printed in a national newspaper that the players didn’t particularly like him and that he was rarely seen.

Sunderland are now back in the same division as NUFC, your thoughts?

The derby games are back but they come with pressure as well.

Their return to the top flight after eight years is a surprise and they may find it tough, especially when injuries and suspension kick in.

I’m not one of those in the camp that ‘likes to see them back’. They would never say that about us, so why should we say that about them?

What would represent success in the 2025/26 season for Newcastle United? Another European spot. A push to try and reach the last 16 of the Champions League. Another cup run.

What do you see as the minimum to achieve this coming season?

Surely we have to get another European place, albeit the Prem is such a tough league. I’d love to get far in the FA Cup and see what happens.

Who do you see as the six most important current Newcastle players (in order) for next (2025/26) season?

1 – Isak. 2 Joelinton. 3- Bruno. 4 – Burn. 5 – Tonali. 6 – Murphy.

With NUFC now having won a trophy…Next three seasons, would you rather finish top four all three seasons BUT win nothing, or finish mid-table all three seasons AND win the League Cup in one of the three?

Having had a taste of a cup win, I’d actually be happy to take mid-table to see another trophy go into the cabinet.

What do you think was the key moment in the 2024/25 season, the turning point maybe, which then set us eventually on track to success?

The cup win sparked a tidal wave of confidence. It was the platform that got the Champions League qualifying push back on track in my view.

If Newcastle United had ended up outside the Champions League places on the final day, would this last season have had a bit of failure attached to it?

No. Regardless of a Champions League place or not, any season where a major trophy is held aloft has to go down as an enormous success.

Which players do you think would be ideal (and realistic) signings this summer (don’t feel limited to only players who have been linked to Newcastle United in the media)?

There are so many who would improve us. I like Bakayoko at PSV a lot. I think he’d be a great purchase.

Trafford is clearly a top target but we may have to wait.

It might be unrealistic but I like Vlahovic at centre forward.

Any Newcastle players you would be ok with leaving, that might surprise other NUFC fans (Including any where you think the money received for them and the extra PSR flexibility it would give, could then lead to an overall better team/squad)

I think we’d be able to rebuild hugely with money for Tino, who reportedly has admirers at Man City. I think he’s the one we might have to fend off a bid for and they will offer him bigger wages.

If I was really playing devil’s advocate I’d suggest Miley could be cashed in, as a homegrown player he’d go down on PSR as 100% profit.

Can I flip this question – I’d like to see Sean Longstaff stay. He’s a great lad, I like him.