BBC Sport main man compares reality with his August 2024 Newcastle United prediction | OneFootball

Phil McNulty is the chief football writer at BBC Sport and back on 14 August 2024 he gave his considered opinion on the 20 clubs contesting this upcoming campaign.

This was just ahead of Newcastle United and the other 19 Premier League clubs kicking off their season.

Before a ball was kicked in anger, the BBC Sport man making his big predictions.

Nine and a half months on, the 2024/25 Premier League season has now concluded.

Phil McNulty has been comparing what he said back in August 2024 with what has proved the reality.

This was how nine and a half months ago the BBC Sport chief football writer’s predicted the 2024/25 final table would end up and specifically the reasoning on Newcastle United from Phil McNulty – 14 August 2024:

Man City

Arsenal

Liverpool

Villa

Man U

Tottenham

Chelsea

West Ham

Newcastle United

Palace

Everton

Brighton

Fulham

Bournemouth

Wolves

Forest

Brentford

Southampton

Leicester

Ipswich

‘Newcastle United predicted to finish ninth (in 2024/25 Premier League)

Last season: Seventh

Strange summer at Newcastle United, with churn backstage caused by the departure of Amanda Staveley from the boardroom and the arrival of Paul Mitchell as sporting director following Dan Ashworth’s move to Manchester United.

The European football Newcastle thought they had was taken away by Manchester United’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City, while profit and sustainability rules (PSR) meant the reluctant sales of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton respectively.

And then came the revelation that the departure of last season’s star man and England winger Anthony Gordon to Liverpool had even been discussed to raise funds until other players left.

Throw in the speculation linking manager Eddie Howe with England and it has hardly been plain sailing on Tyneside.

However, if Newcastle can get a deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, arguably England’s best player at Euro 2024, over the line then the club and the Toon Army will feel a lot better about themselves.

Top 10 but still some uncertainty at Newcastle United.’

This has been the reality, the final 2024/25 Premier League table and then what the BBC Sports main man Phil McNulty has said now, nine and a half months later, about Eddie Howe and Newcastle United – 26 May 2025:

Newcastle United: 5th

McNulty’s pre-season prediction: 9th

‘A brilliant season from manager Eddie Howe and his team. The Toon Army celebrated their first domestic trophy for 70 years – and first silverware for 55 years – with the deserved Carabao Cup win against Liverpool at Wembley and now they are back in the Champions League.

St James’ Park was in a cold sweat on the final day as Newcastle lost to Everton, but the party started after Manchester United’s controversial win against Aston Villa.

This will surely mean key duo Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes have no need to eye pastures new and will form the bedrock for further progress next season.’