Newcastle United

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I always find it difficult to write when Newcastle United have not played football at the weekend, and this week is no exception, because Newcastle United did not play football this weekend and so there is nothing for me to think or worry about!

Of course, the more I try to 'Men In Black' Sunday away, the more it comes screaming back at me.

Actually, I have been trying to forget the entire past week from a Newcastle United perspective. To enter into dialogue with it is to have to analyse where we are in relation to where we want to be - and the gulf between the two is widening.

Hosting Sunderland, after losing in December, was big. We needed to right the wrongs of the away fixture and other results at the weekend meant it was also an opportunity to challenge for the Champions League. We lost.

I am not going to spend my words here arguing for or against Eddie Howe. The problems we have at Newcastle are not only at his feet. Instead, I am going to verbally perambulate around the topic of what is going on with our players.

We used to laud our players for 'getting it', for understanding the region, the fixtures and what a cup win meant to us. On Sunday, it felt like they might have got it for about 15 minutes of the game and then they forgot it.

Why does it all unclick mid-game? This is not all on the management. It is possible that fatigue plays a part - they have played an extraordinary amount of football this season. To me, it looks closer to burnout.

A refresh is vital. There is anger after the past couple of fixtures. Thank goodness we have three weeks before our next game. It almost feels like the fans need it as much as the team.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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The biggest game of the weekend was Newcastle v Sunderland - well, it was in the north east, anyway.

For all the passion, and there was plenty on show, as well as the usual late drama, in the end it was Sunderland winning to go 11th leaving their neighbours down in 12th.

‌For Sunderland it is still a fine season as a promoted side, but for Newcastle this is disappointing mid-table mediocrity following defeat in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup against Manchester City and in the Champions League against Barcelona.

‌The calls for Eddie Howe's head will grow, but I still think he should be given at least another season.

One without European football would look very different and probably more successful for his overstretched squad.

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Manchester City and Manchester United want Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, although the former AC Milan player would prefer a return to his homeland. (Talksport), external

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Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

There is no doubt that Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) have put the brakes on Newcastle.

It is why the Magpies support their replacement, Squad Cost Ratio (SCR), which comes in on 1 July. But will it reinforce the position of the elite?

The problem for the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has always been that it was too late to the party.

Whereas Chelsea and Manchester City were able to spend freely to build their empire, governing bodies now have the shackles on.

PSR was put in place in 2013, well before the Saudi takeover.

Though Manchester City do face 115 charges over alleged spending breaches between 2009 and 2018, which they deny.

PIF spent £404.7m in the first three years after buying the club in 2021.

But by bringing in only £50.4m from sales, the stark reality of PSR hit home in 2024.

Newcastle had to sell Elliot Anderson (£35m) to Nottingham Forest to help stave off a points deduction.

They lost a high-quality academy product, a lad from Whitley Bay who came through Wallsend Boys Club.

The 23-year-old is now an England regular and very likely to go to this summer's World Cup.

BBC Sport understands that Forest would want £80m should he be sold this year.

PSR focuses on limiting losses, but SCR is about income. In short, the more you generate, the more you can spend.

In the Premier League that will be 85%, though it is possible to spend as much as 115% in the first year and pay what is in effect a luxury tax.

On the surface, this sounds great. After all, Newcastle have recorded record revenues in each season under PIF.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says that for the Magpies it made total sense.

"The pluses outweigh the minuses," Maguire told BBC Sport. "With having a bigger stadium, hoping to either expand the stadium or move, they see the longer-term benefits of SCR."

But once you look under the hood, you see that SCR might reinforce the financial dominance of the Premier League's established order.

Read more here

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Former England captain Wayne Rooney, speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show about Newcastle's derby loss to Sunderland and Magpies boss Eddie Howe: "I've heard it a few times now where they're booing and people questioning Howe. Howe is one of the best managers in the Premier League.

"You let emotions take over and you lose a game against Sunderland - I know they haven't been great in the league this season, they've had injuries and they've struggled to replace Alexander Isak's goals from last season - but just be careful what you wish for because, honestly, there's no doubt that he's a top manager."

On last summer's recruitment: "They [Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa] looked like panic buys, because they went for Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.

"The ones they've brought in have not performed well. That's a lot of money and a lot of goals taken out of the team from last season.

"He's playing Anthony Gordon up front so they're missing him where he's dangerous from the left, although Harvey Barnes has done well.

"He seems to be putting players in different positions because he has to, rather than because he wants to.

"He's a top manager. I just hope the Newcastle fans don't let their emotions get the better of them and put the board in a position where it makes a decision, because it would be very difficult to replace him."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Newcastle's executive team still have faith in under-pressure manager Eddie Howe, while a high turnover of players is expected at St James' Park this summer. (Mail + - subscription required), external

Manchester United want Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, with reports in his homeland Brazil suggesting the midfielder might be sold for £60m. (Sports Illustrated), external

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Newcastle have said defender Sven Botman has had "successful surgery" on a facial fracture he sustained in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Sunderland in the Premier League.

A club statement said: "Sven is not expected to be sidelined for an extended period and hopes to be available again during the closing weeks of the season."

The Magpies do not play again until 12 April, when they visit Crystal Palace, which is the first of seven remaining Premier League fixtures for Eddie Howe's side.

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Former Newcastle defender John Anderson spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle after Sunday's defeat against Sunderland: "We can have no qualms about the result because Sunderland were the better team in the second half by a long way.

"They carried more threat and showed more desire. I thought Newcastle played OK first half, but over the course of the 90 minutes, the better team won.

"At the moment, half-time seems to be the worst thing for us - whatever is said or done in the dressing room, it's not working. Second half, we came out a totally different team. The same thing happened midweek [against Barcelona].

"Sunderland are missing a lot of players, and this is tough to take."

Listen to the full clip here or by pressing play below

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Former Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby loss to Sunderland: "This is where you need calm heads but I totally understand why the fans will be disappointed to say the least - and rightly so. That second-half performance was nowhere near good enough for the Newcastle shirt.

"I do think Eddie Howe is still the right man. He's earned the right to rebuild that group, he's done amazing. The perception of the city, not just the club - he's changed that with performances in the past few years.

"I do believe Eddie is the right man for the job but there has to be some changes over the summer.

"New players coming in last summer haven't performed as well as we thought they would. They spent quite a lot of money on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. I haven't seen Wissa performing yet and if you compare him with Igor Thiago at Brentford, who has scored 20-plus goals already, there's a big difference there. Woltemade has ended up in midfield, even though everybody thought he was a number nine.

"They've played 50-plus games already [this season] and they haven't got the squad to deal with that, compared with Arsenal and Manchester City."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Newcastle's training ground was a "sombre place" after Howe's side lost the Wear-Tyne derby in December.

It will feel like a morgue following this defeat.

It is one thing conceding seven goals against Barcelona at the Nou Camp - quite another for Newcastle to lose to their bitter rivals at St James' Park just a few days later.

But such extreme setbacks are in keeping with Newcastle's wild season.

Just when Howe's men appeared to be generating a little momentum - defeating Chelsea and Manchester United in back-to-back league games - they have been brought crashing down to earth.

But you never know what you are going to get with this team, which has been a recurring theme throughout a rollercoaster campaign.

On one hand, Newcastle reached the last 16 of the Champions League for only the second time, as well as the Carabao Cup semi-finals for a third time in four seasons.

On the other, they have suffered a whopping 13 league defeats.

A side who looked primed to kick on after qualifying for the Champions League and ending a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy have never truly got going with a sustained run this season.

However, there was a recognition internally that there would be choppy waters to navigate after Newcastle lost star striker Alexander Isak, missed out on a host of top transfer targets and made four of their five permanent additions in the final fortnight of the summer window.

It has taken the overwhelming majority of Newcastle's signings time to make an impact.

Newcastle spent £124m on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa yet the pair did not even get on the field at the Nou Camp this week.

Woltemade made an impressive start at Newcastle, but has found himself being trialled as a midfielder of late, while Wissa has struggled to make any sort of lasting impression.

It has got to the stage where winger Gordon is Newcastle's best option through the middle despite last summer's huge outlay.

Yet Howe's most pressing issue is at the back.

Remarkably, this leaky side have conceded 45 goals in all competitions in 2026.

Howe has had little time to address these matters on the training pitches during a draining campaign in which Newcastle have played more games than any other team in Europe's top five leagues.

That will now change as the schedule eases, but this has been a damaging week for the head coach.

Read more analysis and reaction on Newcastle

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Sunderland.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Geoff: Short and sweet - bunch of losers. Yet again we were in the lead only to give it away. It's bad enough losing to Sunderland! We're the laughing stock of the North East. Season over with nothing to look forward to for next year.

Jonathon: This all stems from a terrible overspend in the summer window on players not fit for purpose. Malick Thiaw is the only bright spark. We need a new backbone to the team and a big window shifting dead weight that's only in the starting line-up because of injuries.

John: Simply not good enough. Barcelona was bad, but at least that was against one of the best teams in Europe, if not the world. This was against a mediocre Sunderland! I believe that Eddie Howe is the best manager for Newcastle and he'll be putting himself under significant pressure to improve.

Lee: All season it's felt as though Eddie had taken us as far as he can - can't work out Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa and is obsessed with playing Anthony Gordon at all costs even though his goalscoring record is bang average. Legend for winning us the cup, but his time is up now.

Sunderland fans

Merv: Till The End. It just sums up Sunderland's mentality and determination. Another positive outcome from such a spirited squad. Regis Le Bris deserves the manager of the year award because of the way he has got the team working for each other and believing in each other.

Lee: Totally deserved! Should have won by more. Kings of the North!

Martin: Absolutely perfect performance after a disastrous first half. I was worried when Dan Ballard was out, and it showed when Luke O'Nien gifted the Toon a goal. Second-half showing was much better as the lads turned up - even O'Nien, who never let his head drop. After the recent drop in form, this was great to see.

Ronnie: Sunderland were immense in the second half of that game. Chemsdine Talbi came alive and Brian Brobbey was an absolute nightmare for the Newcastle backline. Newcastle fans were talking about 'six easy points' pre-season. Didn't quite work out that way in the end!

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 28, tops Manchester United's list of potential replacements for fellow Brazilian Casemiro, 34, and the club have already held talks with the player's representatives. (UOL - in Portuguese), external

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Pundits Danny Murphy and Joe Hart join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

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Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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No team in the Premier League this season has let slip more points from winning positions than Newcastle's 22.

Club legend Alan Shearer was scathing when he wrote on X that the side's performance was a "pathetic, weak, lazy, limp second half from Newcastle again".

Play fantasy football for a second and add 22 points to Newcastle's tally - they would be second on 64, six behind leaders Arsenal and in the title race.

However, reality has them 12th on 42 points, four adrift of eighth-placed Everton, who, depending on who wins the FA Cup, could be in a qualifying position for the third-tier Conference League.

From Champions League football in two of the past three campaigns, Newcastle face the real prospect of no continental competition in 2026-27.

Anthony Gordon said his side's inability to keep a lead was becoming a real problem.

"In the past few years, once we scored one at home we are looking for two, three, four where we go on and dominate. We haven't been that team this year," said the Magpies winger.

"The stadium gets a bit shaky when we are ahead. Repeatedly, this year, the second half has been a problem. I spoke about that in the changing room before we went out and still we were poor.

"We let them in the game and let them get comfortable. This has been a problem and we haven't fixed it. I don't think it's a physical thing - mentally we let them in."

Read more Newcastle analysis

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports after their 2-1 defeat by Sunderland: "Painful, tough afternoon for us. Positive start, I thought when we scored we would go on and dominate but we never capitalised on that momentum. The first half fizzed out and second half we were second best. I didn't like our performance. Technically we were poor. The defeat is harsh on us but we didn't play well enough."

On if the fixture pile-up played a part: 'I'm reluctant to use that as an excuse. Logic would tell you yes, but we have to do better. We have to really look at ourselves and make sure we learn from all the mistakes we have made and we made a few today. This has happened before, it isn't a one off."

On Thiaw's disallowed goal: "These are big momentum swingers for us. We wanted a second goal, we couldn't find it. Sunderland grew into the game. We needed to defend with our lives and defend better than we did."

On his message to players: "We have some massive games to come. Week to week we are able to train and get that freshness back. We have had to learn a lot. It's going to need a lot of character to respond. We never give up, we always go for what we can."

On the match being paused for alleged racist abuse from the crowd: "We don't condone any form of racism and it's something the club will investigate."

You can listen to more from Howe on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Newcastle have dropped 22 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, the most of any side.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Before the game, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe had spoken of looking for a quick return to Europe. That came on the back of a humiliating Champions League elimination on Wednesday when they conceded four second-half goals to lose 7-2 at Barcelona and 8-3 on aggregate in their last-16 tie.

Depending on who wins the FA Cup, eighth in the Premier League may be enough to secure European football next season, and at half-time Newcastle were heading ninth and would have been only one point behind eighth-placed Everton with seven league games to go.

But, in a turnaround that had not looked likely, Sunderland responded superbly after the break and were much the better team.

In the end, the away supporters, situated high behind the goal where their team had scored twice, were the ones left cheering as they followed their 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light with another success.

After Noah Sadiki's shot was saved by Aaron Ramsdale when it was 1-1, Newcastle thought they had regained the lead with substitute Malick Thiaw heading into the net from Lewis Hall's corner.

However, the home cheers soon turned to grumbles when the goal was ruled out with Jacob Murphy impeding goalkeeper Melker Ellborg while also standing in an offside position.

Newcastle drop to 12th, one place below Sunderland, with this result a big blow to Howe's hopes of an instant return to continental action.

The atmosphere at the end was in marked contrast earlier when thousands of black, white and gold flags had been placed on chairs for the home supporters to wave.

That, along with a spectacular tifo that ran along the side of one of the stands, produced a stunning visual display as the players came out.

The home supporters also held up banners, mocking Sunderland's absence from the top flight with one saying 'Welcome to the region's capital, you've been gone for so long'.

But, in the end, the visitors were the ones who had the last laugh.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Sunderland's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies