What could realistically be done to fix the Newcastle United fixture congestion problem?
Apart from the obvious answers of finishing lower in the table and bowing out of cups earlier…
Here’s a breakdown of Newcastle’s fixtures in the 2025-26 season, assuming they were to lose to both Man City and Barcelona. I pray this doesn’t happen, but for the sake of this exercise:
Premier League: 38
Champions League: 12
League Cup: 5
FA Cup: 3
Total: 58
The culprits here are the Champions League and the League Cup.
UEFA has grossly overstepped by increasing the first phase to eight fixtures and adding another knockout round. That’s four extra games for any club who finishes 9th to 24th, two extra for everyone else.
Playing in Europe and sustaining success domestically was already challenging in the old format. It’s absurd that UEFA decided to add extra games AND advance more teams to knockouts.
As for the League Cup, I propose that any club playing in Europe be disqualified from the competition altogether.
I hate to say it because I was so proud of Newcastle United for winning the trophy last year, especially having to overcome the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool. But let’s face it, we could have really benefited from not playing those two legs against Man City. It would still be an exciting competition, especially knowing that a club currently not in Europe will book a spot in the Conference League.
With these two changes, here is the breakdown of fixtures.
Premier League: 38
Champions League: 8 (6 in the Group Stage + 2 in the Round of 16)
FA Cup: 3
Total: 49
Going from 58 to 49 makes a massive impact. There are 37 weekends (excluding international breaks) between Aug 15th and May 24th. So 58 to 49 fixtures means going from 21 midweek games to 12 midweek games. In other words, 57% of weeks include two games this season. Doesn’t it sound nice for only 32% of weeks to include two games? Playing every three or four days should not be the norm like it has been this season.
I say all this knowing there is too much money at stake for UEFA and the rest to ever consider making a change that results in a less valuable TV product.
As a Newcastle United supporter, I feel the injustice of forcing a club handcuffed by PSR to play two games a week every week. We couldn’t possibly build the depth needed to succeed in all four competitions under these spending restraints. Until something changes, it feels as though we are limited to earning Champions League every other year.