The Newcastle United takeover was just the beginning | OneFootball

Ahead of Liverpool v Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final, we are looking to gauge the thoughts of Newcastle United fans ahead of that 4.30pm kick-off at Wembley on Sunday.

So we have asked a number of regular and irregular contributors to The Mag a range of questions.

How they think things are looking ahead of this massive match.

Whether or not they have a ticket for this Carabao Cup Final and what they expect to see happen when Newcastle United meet Liverpool.

Next up we have Billy Miller:

Ticketed or ticketless for Sunday?

Ticketless.

I tried everything I could think of to get a ticket but came up short. I was writing to clubs in the lower echelons of the football league offering sponsorship (you’d be amazed how cheap this is in league two), donations to charity, or free professional services if they could spare one or five of their club allocation of cup final tickets. I entered every competition going but nothing panned out.

What are your plans around the match this weekend?

I will be watching with the family at home or in a pub.

The old favourite, would you rather win this Cup Final on Sunday or qualify for the Champions League via the Premier League (Obviously bearing in mind the PSR/money side of things as well)?

Win this without a doubt. In all honesty, I wouldn’t be devasted if we qualified for one of the lesser European competitions next season. We’d have a good chance of getting deep into the Europa League.

Maybe a bit more difficult, would you rather win on Sunday but have no Champions League qualification these next five seasons, or lose on Sunday and have Champions League qualification guaranteed for each of the next five seasons. (Obviously bearing in mind the PSR/money side of things as well)?

That’s a different prospect.

The cold, logical part of me says that not qualifying for the Champions League for the next five years running would be catastrophic for this current team. I can’t imagine our star names would still be here if we weren’t qualifying for at least the odd campaign in the next few years. Financially it would be a huge setback for our ambitions.

Of course I want to see us win a trophy but for our growth and stature, five years of qualification would be huge. The question only asks if I would sacrifice this one final to ensure we achieve Champions League five years running too.

Considering the financial benefits of achieving top four consistently, I reckon we will have picked up a bauble or two over that half decade.

What would be your starting eleven in the Carabao Cup Final?

I’d stick with the West Ham team. If Botman had been fit, a repeat of the Arsenal tactics would have been interesting. I think it’s a big ask to chuck Krafth into the starting line-up when he hasn’t featured recently.

What would have been your starting eleven if everybody had been available?

Pope Trippier Schar Botman Hall Murphy Bruno Tonali Joelinton Gordon Isak

What chance do Newcastle United have of lifting the trophy (rating it between 0 and 10)?

I would say 5.

Liverpool are obvious favourites, have won this competition more than anyone else, and are the only Premier League team (that has been in the division for more than one campaign) that Eddie Howe hasn’t beaten since arriving at Newcastle.

We haven’t scored in any of our four cup finals since we beat Man City in ’55. Liverpool are the form team in the league this season. It’s all shaping up for a potential sensational upset… or a run of the mill defeat.

How important was the West Ham match to our chances in the final? Has defeating the Hammers gave us a better (or worse?!!) chance, compared to if NUFC had lost on Monday?

I think winning was important but has little bearing on this match.

Similarly, what impact do you think it will have on Newcastle’s chances, what happened at Anfield on Tuesday night against PSG?

Although they will be mentally and physically hurt and exhausted, I think that disappointment could fuel them to want to ensure that they aren’t shown up again.

Who do you think are the three most important players on Sunday and in what order and why?

Isak has to be number one. He always turns up against Liverpool and seems to be the only striker in the Premier League that Van Dijk can’t handle. All the midfield three will be vital but Joelinton being at his boisterous, bullying best is a must. Whoever is in goal will need to be on point too.

Looking back at your time supporting Newcastle United, which are the times when you thought NUFC were potentially going to win something?

Every time we’ve been in a cup final I’ve been confident. The back-to-back FA Cups (1998 and 1999) I was ten and eleven and just assumed this was Newcastle’s place in the world. I thought the finals would continue to arrive forever more. Against Man U a couple of years ago, I was sure we’d win. This is the least confident I’ve been for a final.

Do you think Eddie Howe and his team have got enough recognition for even getting to the final, considering the fact that in this cup run Newcastle have defeated current top four sides Chelsea, Forest and Arsenal (twice!) just to get to Wembley?

Possibly not. It’s not something I’ve heard much about from the football media. The fact Newcastle have won more games than any other team in this competition in the three campaigns under Howe hasn’t been commented on either, as far as I’ve seen or heard. In that time, we’ve also added Man City and Man Utd to our list of defeated opponents and, of course, a previous final.

Would this automatically be the highlight of your time supporting NUFC if they beat Liverpool on Sunday?

I think it has to be. The Newcastle United takeover was such a special moment too…but that was just the beginning, the first chapter in a potential story of success. Winning a trophy will mark the end of the first act and the start of a (hopefully) exciting, victorious and lengthy second act.

Anything special planned if/when we win this Cup Final?

I’ve promised the kids we’ll spray a bottle of champagne (prosecco!) around the garden.

Do you think if Newcastle United win this trophy it will live up to what you ever hoped it feel like, or do you think maybe a bit of an anti-climax, as in…is that it?

I am going to feel top tier envy towards those experiencing it at Wembley but it will still be an incredible moment and being able to share it with the kids will be magical.