Newcastle United fans – A question of trust | OneFootball

Always tricky to know exactly what Newcastle United are collectively thinking.

How do you measure it?

Do you go by just what you think? That would be just a ‘little’ bit arrogant!

Do you gauge it by the circle of Newcastle United fans you personally know?

Do you judge it by what you read and hear via Newcastle United fans on social media and online generally.

Do you trust the ‘proper’ media to tell you what Newcastle United fans are ‘all’ saying/thinking.

How about matchdays at St James’ Park, does that give you the best idea of what the fanbase are thinking, the mood and reaction of the near 50,000 at home games.

How about the Newcastle United fans who travel away, are they the best way to get an idea of the general direction of travel/thought?

My thoughts?

Well, I would put a line straight through ‘proper’ media and Newcastle United fans on social media.

A total waste of time. Especially most of these numpties desperately trying to get your attention and make a few quid as ‘professional’ NUFC youtubers.

If you just go by what you think, or even your mates, I don’t think that really takes you too far in judging the overall mood of Newcastle United fans.

So that leaves us with, appropriately, the people who actually go to matches.

Not saying that those who don’t/can’t go to matches can’t have a valid opinion, it is just more difficult to sift through them, whereas if you pay your money then you definitely have a right to an opinion, though not to think you are in some way superior compared to those who might just not be able to get tickets so easily.

What has prompted this particular article, is the discussion around Eddie Howe.

If you simply went by social media and ‘proper’ media, you could well think there is a massive split amongst Newcastle United fans, when it comes to Eddie Howe, his management, indeed this group of players he manages.

Yet my experience at actual matches is very different.

We all have our moans and groans, especially when performances and/or results aren’t perfect. However, that is very different to wanting Eddie Howe out, players aren’t trying, this team is going backwards, or any other similar nonsense.

At the home matches I have heard the odd idiot going on ridiculous, at the Man City match somebody I had never seen before in our section was just behind me. He didn’t have one positive thing to say the entire match about Newcastle United and every single time Man City got into our half, he kept saying ‘this is it, this is it..’, basically blaming NUFC for losing possession and predicting (hoping?) that Man City were going to score. Well, he was proved right once in 90+ minutes!

However, these one-offs are exactly that at St James’ Park, my feeling is that the Newcastle United fans are massively behind Eddie Howe as he now comes up to three years in the job.

I feel this even more so at the away matches I have been to this season, the real hardcore of Newcastle United fans.

Well, you aren’t going to spend fortunes and have away matches dictate your life, unless you are one of the hardcore dedicated to the black and white cause, are you?

I saw the poll results on The Mag this Sunday morning, having asked Newcastle United fans where they think the team will finish this season.

Well worth a look (see HERE) if you haven’t already.

Basically, the most popular predictions of the Newcastle United fans voting were

4th – 15%

5th – 27%

6th – 26%

7th – 14%

That is 82% of the Newcastle United fans voting, believing we will finish somewhere between fourth and seventh.

Which fits in very well with how I see it and indeed vast majority of people I personally know.

With every chance of fifth place also delivering Champions League qualification this season, for me we are in there fighting with a number of other teams, to finish up in that top four or five.

So much bad luck went against NUFC last season, it was unbelievable.

The Tonali thing AND the worst ever season in Newcastle United’s entire history, when it came to injuries and how many matches the players were collectively unavailable for.

With even average luck, especially on injuries, I think we are in there fighting for top five this season AND hopefully a real good go in at least one of the cups.

I am more than happy with that, I trust Eddie Howe to deliver. After all, why wouldn’t I, as he has earned that trust these past three years with some outstanding work and results.