Newcastle United

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Recently, Liverpool and the Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said former players-turned-pundits have a responsibility when discussing the performances of the current generation of footballers.

He believes they can stray into "clickbait" and have a possible impact on players' mental health.

On Thursday's episode of the More than the Score podcast, former Scotland international Pat Nevin and chief sports editor for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Marcel van der Kraan join John Bennett to discuss and analyse the modern world of punditry and the impact it can have on players and managers alike.

"As a player you do tend to take it to heart, especially when it feels a little personal," said Nevin.

"Generally, it isn't personal and the pundit is just having their opinion and we all kind of know where the lines are. But, the lines have been jumped over more often in recent years and I think Van Dijk is right about that.

"Because of the clickbait, it is so much easier to get more likes, views and work if you're a little bit more extreme. Ex-players aren't stupid and they know that. If you are too sensible and sit on the fence you won't get the big gigs.

"You have a dichotomy. Most ex-players would like to be balanced but they know if they are too balanced and sensible they won't be there next week.

"My criticism would always be constructive criticism which is explained. One-dimensional labeling of players should never happen. Sometimes if a big name says something enough it becomes accepted wisdom."

Van der Kraan added: "There are two different kinds of pundits; those who need to be on every week and those who are genuinely focused on what is right and what players should do.

"For Van Dijk, after so many years enough is enough.

"It all started after he came into the Netherlands team and became a big player at Liverpool. The first ex-player to really criticise him was Marco van Basten, saying he was not a leader. Van Dijk was biting his lip after every match because it became a bit of a stigma.

"Eventually it filtered to England and every time he had a bad game it became an open nerve."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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It was 10 November 2002 when 16-year-old James Milner made his first Premier League appearance for Leeds United.

Milner came off the bench to replace Jason Wilcox in a 4-3 win at West Ham.

What else was going on in the world in November 2002?

Number one singles in the UK around that time included "Heaven" by DJ Sammy and Yanou featuring Do and "Unbreakable" by Westlife.

On television, ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals was approaching its conclusion (whatever happened to One True Voice?) while series two of The Office had just ended - would a tearful David Brent avoid being made redundant from his job at Wernham Hogg?

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Die Another Day" were released in UK cinemas.

Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford was a month old, while former US Open tennis champion Emma Raducanu was born three days after Milner's senior debut.

James Milner now holds the all-time record for the most Premier League appearances.

The former England international, 40, made his 654th Premier League outing in Wednesday's defeat at former club Aston Villa - which took him past the previous mark set by Gareth Barry.

Milner made his debut for Leeds in November 2002 as a 16-year-old and became the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer before the end of that year.

He featured regularly at first-team level from then on, but his time at Elland Road came to an end when Leeds, in deep financial trouble at the time, were relegated from the top flight in 2004.

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Milner was contracted to Newcastle for four years, although he spent the 2005-06 campaign on loan at Aston Villa and nearly joined them full-time in the summer of 2006.

That move to Villa Park would eventually happen in 2008.

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Milner was a key part of a Villa side that narrowly missed out on silverware and Champions League qualification under Martin O'Neill.

He scored the opening goal in Villa's 2010 League Cup final loss to Manchester United.

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Milner moved to Manchester City in the early weeks of the 2010-11 season and won numerous honours during his five seasons with the club, including two Premier League titles and one FA Cup.

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Milner swapped City for Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2015 and spent eight seasons with the Reds.

While at Anfield, he won all three major domestic trophies and the Champions League in 2019.

Milner played more Premier League games for Liverpool (230) than any of the other top-flight clubs he has represented.

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Milner has been with Brighton since 2023, appearing in the Seagulls' first-ever European campaign in 2023-24.

He recently joined a select band of outfield players to have made a Premier League appearance after their 40th birthday and is more than seven years older than his current boss Fabian Hurzeler.

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Newcastle United are likely to target Roma's Italy midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini, 29, as they look set to lose 25-year-old Italy international Sandro Tonali in the summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday's and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

We asked for your views on Newcastle after their 2-1 away win in over Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Johnny: A lot of our fans are catastrophising. They're looking for someone to blame. Why? It's a process, and processes sometimes hit setbacks. We're not going down. We're in transition. We're building a squad who can handle this many games a season. Eddie mixed it up and the pace and quick thinking of our front three, as well as the energy and determination of our middle three, created something potent that Spurs couldn't deal with.

Michael: A much-improved performance at both ends. Midfield especially getting a better balance in defensive duties. Highlight was Willock and Ramsey getting better and really contributing to the team. Just need more consistency now.

Mark: Better. Good performance from midfield and good ball retention. Then we predictably dropped off after the hour and conceded. Quick fightback was critical and then again we try to see out an unnecessarily finish.

Steven: Still not good enough as we still are not clicking. Same old going down the wings and slow counter-attacks, and when we did counter quickly down the middle we did at least put the ball in the back of the net, even though it was just offside. Osula should've given a chance from the beginning as he was starting to play well before his last injury and you can see his pace plus hunger now.

Howard: I thought NUFC had by far the better of the first and should have been 3-0 up at half-time. Spurs had a 20-minute rally in second half but we scored a superbly worked goal and then managed the game out. Much-improved performance. Eddie did it again when we desperately needed a good performance we got one. Well done, Newcastle - my family are with you good or bad.

Richard: You can see by the scenes at the end that the vast majority of fans are behind Eddie Howe. Yes, there are problems, but changing manager is just not something anyone wants. Onwards and upwards. Haway the lads.

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Newcastle fully deserved their 2-1 win at Tottenham but it was a concern that they did not win more comfortably, says ex-Magpies defender John Anderson.

Malick Thiaw put Newcastle ahead with Archie Gray equalising before Jacob Ramsey netted the winner.

"They made hard work of it," said BBC Radio Newcastle summariser Anderson at full-time.

"It should have been more comfortable. Against better sides you won't get away with it. We dominated.

"Spurs were so open and so stretched. We didn't take advantage of it and then gave a bad equaliser away. That's a problem, that'll be a concern. For a side who were on top that length of time and Spurs created nothing, they get a goal out of nothing.

"Then we had to go chasing the game again. There will be tougher games to come.

"It was important win. A deserved win."

On seeing boss Eddie Howe come over to celebrate with the away fans at full-time, Irishman Anderson added: "You can see what it means to Eddie Howe.

"He knows how important this was. If we hadn't won then the pressure would have been really on and mounted up. It's a really big win."

Listen to BBC Radio Newcastle's full-time analysis here

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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Eddie Howe will know how opposite number Thomas Frank is feeling.

The Newcastle head coach looked crestfallen after his side were booed off following the bruising 3-2 home defeat by Brentford last week.

But Howe and his players hauled themselves up off the canvas to respond just three days later.

This was a night where Howe made some bold calls.

He opted not to start either of Nick Woltemade or Yoane Wissa just a few months after spending £124m on the forwards.

He recalled Jacob Ramsey, in place of Sandro Tonali, and also handed the lively Anthony Elanga a chance from the off.

Newcastle's summer recruitment has rightly come under scrutiny - but Elanga, Malick Thiaw and Ramsey stepped up when Howe needed them most.

So did the whole team, in truth.

Wobbly Newcastle have thrown away more points from winning positions (19) than any other side in the Premier League this season - but they held firm in the closing stages.

No wonder Howe savoured this win.

He even took the acclaim of the away end at full-time as Kieran Trippier pushed the head coach in front of the buoyant travelling support, who repeatedly sang his name.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I thought the players were all out on the pitch, we were getting cramp at the end. Our schedule has been relentless but I thought the performance was brilliant.

"It was a great finish from JJ. He's getting accustomed to the team. I thought Bruno's performance in the middle of the pitch was really strong.

"We've been waiting for that momentum shift for a long time this season. We just haven't strung it together long enough this season. It's going to be tough for the players but a great result today.

On Willock's disallowed goal: "I really felt for Joe because it was an outstanding finish. He ran himself into the ground for me."

Did you know?

• Newcastle have picked up more points in their last four Premier League away games (7 – W2 D1 L1) than they managed in their first nine on the road this season (6 – W1 D3 L5).

• In his 357th Premier League game, Eddie Howe earned his 136th win (D80 L141), to move level with Roy Hodgson. The only English managers with more wins in the competition's history are Harry Redknapp (236) and Sam Allardyce (178).

Hear more from Howe on BBC Sounds

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

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Newcastle's display?

Come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies

Djed Spence returns as Tottenham Hotspur make three changes for the visit of Newcastle United.

The full-back missed the games against Manchester United and Manchester City with a calf strain but is fit to start in the absence of the injured Destiny Udogie.

Radu Dragusin replaces suspended captain Cristian Romero in the starting line-up after the defender was sent off in the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford last time out while midfielder Yves Bissouma also comes into the side.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Gray, Dragusin, van de Ven, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Gallagher, Odobert, Solanke, Simons

Subs: Kinsky, Palhinha, Tel, Souza, Kolo Muani, Oluesi, Byfield, Williams Barnett, Rowswell

Image source, Premier League

Anthony Gordon looks set to lead the line as Newcastle United make four changes for the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The forward has recovered from a hamstring issue to take his place up front as Newcastle line up without a recognised striker.

Dan Burn, Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga also return to the starting line-up.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Willock, Elanga, Gordon. Barnes

Subs: Ramsdale, Hall, Tonali, Wissa, Osula, J.Murphy, Woltemade, A.Murphy, Shahar

There are four games in the Premier League on Tuesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Chelsea v Leeds

• Everton v Bournemouth

• Tottenham v Newcastle

• West Ham v Manchester United (20:15)

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

And listen to Around The Grounds on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 19:00

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

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The Monday Night Club panel discussed Eddie Howe's future after one listener wrote in to explain he felt he was watching "the beginning of the end" of the head coach's time in charge at Newcastle.

The Observer's Rory Smith said: "I don't think it'll be the case that supporters will force Howe out. From the outside, fans are the people who watch most religiously, but my sense is the way Eddie Howe's Newcastle play at their best is not a thing you can do when you're also in the Champions League.

"When they are in the Champions League they run out of the intensity that makes them special. When you throw in those extra eight to 10 games a season, it's really hard.

"They seem to have hit that wall they hit two years ago again. I think it's a shortcoming of Howe's that he hasn't been able to find a way around that, to make them a bit more sustainable.

"But I think the frustration fans are directing towards Howe is partly results, partly recruitment that wasn't great in the summer and partly the general stagnation around the club, which is not to do with him but the ownership.

"If you look at Saudi investments more broadly, they are starting to remove themselves from certain sporting commitments. It's hard to look at what they have done in Newcastle and think the promise they arrived with has been lived up to.

"The plan for the stadium is still a plan, there's no new training ground, they went into last summer with no sporting director. It looks like an uncertainty and absence of vision at Newcastle and I think Howe is suffering from that.

"That's not to say he hasn't made mistakes - he has - but until you solve that I am not sure there's any point changing the manager."

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given said: "It's a long way from fourth or fifth. Sitting here now, you would think it's a major struggle to get back to Champions League football. To attract payers, with the PSR constraints and stuff, they need to get into the Champions League every season.

"But after some 70 or so years of domestic hurt, he brought a trophy to the North East. During my time at the club, we felt we were jinxed as we couldn't get over the line. And he has Champions League football this season for the second time in three years - so there's lots of positives."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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It is easy to forget that Nick Woltemade is still only 23.

He only became a regular starter at Stuttgart in December 2024, before joining Newcastle a few months later after the club missed out on, among others, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Benjamin Sesko.

He had not played outside his homeland before, and had to quickly adapt to the speed and physicality of the Premier League, as well as a system previously tailored to a rapid striker who led the defensive press from the front and ran in behind, which is not Woltemade's game.

The Bundesliga is fierce in its own right, but it is rather telling that Woltemade has only been awarded four fouls in his past 11 top-flight fixtures.

Premier League analysts and defenders now have had a greater body of work to study in order to try to limit his influence in this Newcastle side compared to earlier in the campaign.

There have been times when Woltemade has not been in the box - lacking those instincts a traditional poacher has - and other occasions where he has looked isolated up front and not had enough runners near him, which is down to the way Newcastle have been set up.

No wonder, then, Woltemade is only averaging 1.9 shots per game in the league this season.

Woltemade failed to even hit the target with a couple of headers from his most recent chances in front of goal, against Wolves last month, but service has also clearly been an issue for a player who thrives off balls to feet.

Although Newcastle lead the way for crosses in the Premier League (637), only eight top-flight sides have a worse crossing accuracy (21.5%).

Also, rather than being a traditional target man who plays with his back to goal, the technical Woltemade looks most comfortable operating in the spaces between the midfield and the box.

At Stuttgart, it was from these areas he often showcased a unique ability for someone so tall to dribble past defenders and link up with those around him.

Eddie Howe fielded Woltemade in such a role behind Yoane Wissa in a 4-2-3-1 against Bournemouth last month and revisited the experiment as Newcastle attempted to get back into the game in the second half versus Brentford at the weekend (his touch map from that game is pictured below).

But the head coach readily admitted his attack has "not quite functioned fully yet" as he attempts to bed his summer signings "into the team format".

"Nick has done everything with such a great attitude," he said. "That's the biggest thing, for me, that means he will continue to be successful."

Image source, Opta

Read more about why goals have dried up for Woltemade here

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

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It's not often you hear a football manager say he isn't getting it right, but that day came for Eddie Howe on Saturday after a loss at home to Brentford. Howe, looking weary, attended the post-match news conference after a longer period in the dressing room than normal.

I think fans are becoming weary, too. It's tiring and frustrating seeing our players try (sometimes) and fail to get anything. It's weird we keep losing momentum when we're ahead. Even Howe said he doesn't understand why that happens.

The players, for their part, have also come out and said that it's currently not good enough. I suppose the bar really has to be on the floor for me to be grateful that they're not just lying to us and saying it's all rosy, but I am.

The question now is: where do we go from here? Is it time to accept a mediocre season, regroup in the summer, change some of the squad players and hope for the best?

The trouble is, so many of the players we have or want are going to be in North America at the World Cup. Once again, it'll be a stop-start pre-season.

Questions are once again being asked of Howe. This season feels like Groundhog Day in that respect.

For what it's worth, I have an enormous amount of goodwill towards Howe, but it doesn't outweigh the ambition I have for my club.

If this is the best we can do now, it's not good enough. Something might have to change. If it's not, then let's turn it around. There are 13 games left in the Premier League. We have an opportunity to make something happen.

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

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Former Newcastle defender John Anderson is confident Eddie Howe will give the battling response that is needed to the Magpies' recent struggles.

Since taking charge, Howe has saved the team from relegation, taken them to two cup finals and led the club to its first qualification for Champions League football for 20 years.

As such, Newcastle's current form is the first obstacle Howe has had to overcome, according to Anderson.

"Since he's come in, everything has gone very, very well," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle. "This is the first sticky patch he's really had.

"All managers go through it - it's never all going to be sunshine and roses.

"It's how you handle the bad times. At the moment we're having a bad time of it - performances aren't good, results aren't good.

"You've got to battle to get through that, and I'm sure he will."

You can listen to Ando's comments in full on BBC Sounds

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says he doesn't know what is happening to football when Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is coming under pressure from supporters.

On Monday, Howe answered questions about his future in the aftermath of some fans opting to boo the Magpies after the 3-2 home defeat by Brentford on Saturday.

"I can't stand what football is becoming," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"Look at the job he has done. They are 12th now and it's a disaster, some Newcastle fans are saying. What about having a bit of faith in a manager who needs a bit of support and help now?

"Football has got so short term. It's all about instant success and if you can't change it we'll change.

"Newcastle fans need to have patience. They need to understand the squad is stretched this season and cut him a bit of slack."

In making his case, Sutton pointed to Newcastle's Carabao Cup win last season, a first trophy since winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968-69.

"That's amazing in itself," he said.

"I don't know what the world is coming to with how managers are viewed now. The first sign of trouble and it's: 'Get him out and someone else in.'

"What's a new manager going to come in and change now? January is gone."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

This is the most played Premier League fixture never to finish goalless, with the 61 meetings producing 196 goals at an average of 3.2 per game.

True to form, December's reverse fixture ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Tottenham twice coming from behind late on to earn a point thanks to Cristian Romero's 95th-minute overhead kick.

Spurs 'desperate to win games'

Just as Romero eased the mounting pressure on head coach Thomas Frank two months ago by preventing a sixth defeat in eight games for Spurs, he has added to it with his recent words and deeds.

At the end of a week in which Romero publicly took aim at the club's hierarchy for the second time in a month, the team captain incurred a red card and four-match ban on Saturday for his forceful challenge on Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.

Frank, who has repeatedly defended Romero, admitted on Monday that players and staff are "desperate to win games" - Spurs and Burnley are the only sides not to do so in the Premier League this calendar year.

Spurs had 10 players out at the weekend, and Destiny Udogie now faces a month out because of the hamstring injury he sustained at Old Trafford. Nonetheless, the team's form - even preceding Frank - makes for damning reading:

• Tottenham are on a seven-match winless league run for the third time since the start of last season – they hadn't previously gone that long without a victory since 2008.

• They've only managed two wins in 16 top-flight games since the start of November, drawing six and losing eight.

• Spurs have won just four of 26 home league fixtures, suffering 15 defeats.

• In the 14 months since 16 December 2024, Tottenham have won more matches in Europe (12 of 18) than in the Premier League (11 of 47).

Defiant Howe has problems to fix

Like Spurs, Newcastle are a big club at a crossroads in their season. They've suffered three successive league defeats and only won one of their past nine matches, excluding the FA Cup penalty shootout success against Bournemouth.

In the build-up to this game, head coach Eddie Howe said there's "no doubt" in his mind that he's best-placed to restore Newcastle's fortunes. "If I didn't think I was the correct man to take the team forward, and I couldn't give the players what they need, then I would step aside and let someone else do it."

Newcastle's poor away form – two league wins in 15 attempts on the road – is one of several issues for Howe to fix.

Another was highlighted by Romero's last-gasp equaliser for Spurs in December and also when Brentford scored a late winner at St James' Park on Saturday. It means Newcastle have dropped 19 points from winning positions this season, more than any other Premier League side.

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero let his manager down with his red card against Manchester United, and now he is facing a four-game ban.

It's fine for Romero to be a motor mouth on social media, calling the club's recruitment "disgraceful", but he clearly needs to concentrate on his own game because he has been wild in the challenge again.

For a manager like Thomas Frank, who is under pressure, that is the last thing you need.

Poor old Eddie Howe is feeling the heat at Newcastle too, though. We had callers in to 606 at the weekend saying it is time for a change.

I really don't get that thinking at all, and not just because Howe's the guy who ended their long wait for a trophy, less than a year ago.

His squad is stretched now because of the Champions League and their run to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, and he also had everything around Alexander Isak's exit to deal with at the start of the season, when it wasn't his doing.

Howe just hasn't been able to replace Isak, either. Yoane Wissa has taken a while to get up and running and Nick Woltemade is very different to Isak in that he likes to come to the ball all the time.

People are saying a change of voice might help, but what about backing the guy who has given you so much happiness? I don't understand why you'd want him out.

This is a very difficult game to predict for various reasons, but we do know Spurs are poor at home and Newcastle aren't great away.

I still think someone will win it, but I am going to sit in the middle anyway, and go for a draw.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It was hard to recall a time where Eddie Howe looked quite so crestfallen. In public, at least.

The Newcastle United head coach's side had just been booed off following a damaging 3-2 defeat by Brentford at St James' Park on Saturday night.

It was a result which left Newcastle in 12th place.

A downbeat Howe admitted post-match that he was "not doing my job well enough at the moment" following a run of one win in eight games.

But he was defiant at his latest news conference on Monday, and said there was "no doubt" in his mind he was the right man for the job.

"Everyone is looking to you to set the tone," he said on the eve of a crucial away game against Tottenham Hotspur.

"People want to follow - that's human nature - so if you have strength as a leader at these moments, you can drag everybody with you.

"It's the most important time to stand up and show your character and how much it means to you."

Howe retains the backing of Newcastle's hierarchy, having had a transformational impact on the club since his appointment in 2021.

He has experienced sticky spells before, but has previously found a way to come through them.

"I've got to think that I'm the right person for the job and I'm giving value and helping the players and, ultimately, that I'm the right person to get results," Howe added.

"As long as I feel that in my heart and in my spirit, then my desire and my motivation levels are as high as they've ever been.

"That's the key question I always have to ask myself: am I the right person to take the team and the club forward?"