I always used to think that the best chance of success was to keep the very best Newcastle United players.
Silly me.
I can’t believe how wrong I have been.
If only I had known that the cunning route to success was to actually sell the best Newcastle United players. As many of them as possible.
The more of the very best Newcastle United players we sell, it gives us more and more chance of success on the pitch. Apparently.
A real Eureka moment.
I am of course exaggerating the current position, but there again, I see plenty of Newcastle United fans desperate for this to happen. Almost like religious zealots in their desperation for Sandro Tonali and others to follow Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon out of the St James’ Park exit door.
It begins to feel to me like the blind faith some Newcastle United fans have regarding Eddie Howe and the thinking that if only he left, then success would be all but guaranteed with whoever replaced the manager.
Speaking of Tottenham…in the last 13 months they have finished fourth bottom of the Premier League in consecutive seasons and have had four managers during that time (not including interim/temporary ones, although there again, it is now difficult to tell which are the permanent appointments at Spurs and which are the temporary ones…).
On Tuesday (16 June 2026) there have been widespread reports that Tottenham could potentially buy Sandro Tonali if they come up with enough money. The news of this has been greeted with ecstasy by many Newcastle United fans, falling over each other to try and claim the loudest how this would be actually great news if it became reality, desperate to outdo each other as well in their claims of how actually the Italy international isn’t even that good.
We had the same with Anthony Gordon just over a couple of weeks ago.
It is funny how these other clubs are all desperate to sign Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, whilst having no interest in the vast majority of other Newcastle United players.
In my humble opinion, if a single one of that trio (Isak, Tonali, Gordon) had been sold in summer 2024, then for sure I don’t think United would have won the Carabao Cup, nor qualified for the Champions League.
It is a team game BUT you need your very best players, as they invariably make the difference when and where it really matters.
This summer 2026 transfer window, the cunning answer to last season’s 12th place in the Premier League is that we need to get rid of most of the very best Newcastle United players and then use that money to buy more players with lower price tags than the ones we sell.
I find it ironic that so many Newcastle fans think that selling our best players is such a brilliant plan that holds few dangers. I see it as the exact opposite. Especially when these exact same NUFC fans who think it will be great if Tonali follows Gordon out of the door, will be the first ones (and the loudest) to complain if their younger cheaper replacements aren’t instant successes when the 2026/27 season kicks off. Even more ironic, they will undoubtedly those who have complained loudest about Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa and written them off, after the Alexander Isak money basically funded their signings.
What I find truly bizarre is that the fans most in favour of selling Newcastle’s best players don’t accept how low the chances are of bringing in new signings who are anywhere near as good as those sold, certainly not in the early days after they arrive at St James’ Park. If there was a general acceptance that this is a long-term plan and we need to give it years before we see if it can work, then maybe it would be a strategy worth pursuing.
I just don’t see that patience in existence out there.
Just look at last season when despite all the very obvious problems (injuries, the Newcastle United owners completely sabotaging summer 2025 preparations for the new season, making a total mess of the Alexander Isak situation, having to play 58 matches etc etc), just look at how many fans were so over the top critical of Eddie Howe. Wanting him sacked despite his outstanding record of success at NUFC previously and the fact that last season was such an overwhelming challenge. No patience, no second chances.
Bringing in younger inexperienced players from abroad who have never played in the Premier League before. Yes it could prove a huge success BUT all clubs are looking to bring in the best young talent, so it isn’t like Newcastle United have been gifted a unique trolley dash to sign up all of the best young talent on the continent with no competition from elsewhere.
I have huge concerns if Sandro Tonali follows Anthony Gordon out of the door, never mind if say a Lewis Hall left as well.
I am amazed at how many fans seem to think that it will be easy to get a midfielder as good as Tonali, an attacking player as good as Gordon.
Just look at how some of these fans react when say Joe Willock is in the team, or Anthony Elanga gets a start. It feels like almost a desperation for them to fail, to feast on their mistakes.
I really really hope that Sandro Tonali doesn’t leave, that he is alongside Bruno Guimaraes to give us one of the best midfield partnerships around.
I really really hope that none of the other better Newcastle United players are traded either.
Anthony Gordon is quite enough for one transfer window, lets keep all of our other best Newcastle United players and add to them, not replace them.