Five Newcastle United players guaranteed to stay fit the rest of the season? These are my choices | OneFootball

An ideal time in the heart of the festive season to get a snapshot of views from Newcastle United fans on how they think things are going.

So we sent out various questions to a small number of regular/irregular contributors to The Mag.

Asking these Newcastle United fans some of the important questions of the day.

As well as some with a seasonal twist.

Here we have Simon Ritter giving his answers:

If you could guarantee five NUFC players to be fit for the rest of the season (including all those currently unavailable), who would you choose and in what order?

1 Isak, 2 Tonali, 3 Gordon, 4 Botman, 5 Willock.

What would be a perfect Newcastle United Christmas present to unwrap?

The return of Sven Botman to the heart of our defence.

Dan Burn and Fabian Schar have done a good job in the Dutchman’s absence but a fully fit Botman (he never was last season) would be an upgrade.

In 2024, what have been your three best Newcastle United moments?

The massacre of the mackems in mackemland on January 6 “has to be up there”, as footballers love to say. Especially after the pre-match calling card we left in the Black Cats bar and my generous invitation to mackem friend Les Mann to watch the match with me in glorious hi-def on my 55in Samsung. I supplied the surround sound, obviously . . .

The 4-3 comeback win against West Ham, when, with 15 minutes to play, Harvey Barnes produced a super-sub performance after we looked as stuffed as a Bernard Matthews.

And a contentious one that didn’t directly involve United but had big implications: the FA Cup final. Having thought we had secured a slot in a Uefa competition, we were jocked off when Man City lost at Wembley. While initially disappointed, I now reckon Ten Hag’s mob did us a favour, because a revived Chelsea have a much heavier workload this season and we need to finish above them.

In 2024, what have been your three worst Newcastle United moments?

The 2-0 defeat by West Ham at St James’ Park last month was a sickener. They were struggling near the foot of the table and we seemed to have the perfect start until a linesman’s flag denied Alexander Isak the first goal. Watching Jarrod Bowen put on yet another man-of-the-match performance against us rubbed salt into the wounds. All the momentum we had gained from the three wins against Chelsea, Arsenal and Forest disappeared as quickly as a gull chased by a you-know-what.

Not one moment, but a series of injury setbacks, that has wrecked Callum Wilson’s 2024 and probably ended what has been an important and influential career in black-and-white. Wilson is a wholehearted, combative striker who has not deserved such rotten luck.

My third choice is personal: being banned by Fulham FC after buying an unwanted and overpriced ticket in a home section of their second-rate stadium. I first encountered a “this section is for home supporters only” sign at White Hart Lane in the mid-90s and thought then it was a sad reflection on football and society. As Declan Patrick MacManus asks in his cover of Nick Lowe’s song: “What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?”

Once we get Christmas out of the way, the Newcastle United hierarchy have promised an update early in the New Year, regarding what their plans are for delivering a significantly bigger/better stadium. What do you hope they say? (Not just whether staying at SJP or new site but also capacity, timescale, progress they might have made on the quiet regarding their plans, whatever)

I hope the board announce plans for an 80,000-capacity stadium, with plenty of safe standing, close to the city centre. One of the great aspects of Newcastle upon Tyne is its walkability.

My nearest Premier League stadium down here in Sussex is the Amex, stuck halfway between Brighton and Lewes, just off the A27. It’s a ground devoid of connection to its history and community.

The 2025/26 season will be the tenth since Newcastle United last had a Premier League derby match. Have you any seasonal black and white goodwill for our Mackem friends finally making it back to the top tier, from what looks the most appalling quality second tier for many years. Or even just because the amusing FA Cup stroll on Wearside last season whetted your appetite for the return of the derbies?

Not much, though because my bowling mate Les (see earlier answer) has probably suffered more than I have as a lifelong supporter, I do have some empathy for all proper football fans.

If you could invite three current Newcastle United players to yours for a social gathering at Christmas, who would you invite and why?

Isak, to ask him what was going through his head when he laid on that goal at Goodison Park with footwork, speed and bravery in a dribble as good as anything Maradona produced.

Jacob Murphy, to explain how he kept going earlier in his career when manager after manager decided he wasn’t worth a long run in the team.

Nick Pope, to give me tips on saving penalties. If reincarnation is a thing, I will need all the help I can get.

A knock on your door on Christmas Day, your place beautifully Xmas decorated, roaring fire, table laden with more food and drink than anybody could eat and drink. You open the door and freezing cold, snow bleaching down, which three cold and starving Newcastle United connected characters (past or present) would you still turn away?

I will not name names but there are at least three former players whom I have cursed long and loud for failing to try. Everybody makes mistakes but the biggest crime is giving up.

Assuming you don’t think that position has been reached already… what would it take for you to think Newcastle United needed to consider replacing Eddie Howe?

Old age (his, not mine). Howe has so much credit in my book, he can stay until he’s a pensioner.

If you were granted three New Year’s wishes (apart from the obvious of winning something!) to come true in 2024…

1 For one of the so-called big six to be relegated. 2 For two of the so-called big six to be relegated. 3 For three of the big six to be relegated.

Your New Year’s resolution that is Newcastle United related…?

To watch more matches from the Toon section of stadiums.

Win the FA Cup or League Cup sometime in the next five years AND finish between 8th and 10th in each of these five seasons, or win nothing AND finish between 2nd and 4th in every one of these five seasons?

Because I continue to believe the overblown and almost ridiculous Champions League is where it’s at, man, finishing in the top four is my choice.

What are your worst ever past Newcastle United Christmas time moments / memories. Could be any kind of memories – matches, presents, whatever?

One Christmas spent with my wonderful family down in Dorset, within spitting distance of ‘Arry Redknapp’s former gaff at Sandbanks, was ruined by a ridiculous defeat at Wigan, which is primarily a rugby league town and always will be. Did it finish 4-3? I try not to be a football snob but, honestly, listening to the radio coverage of that shocker was a proper WTF moment.

In your lifetime, the five people associated with Newcastle United (anybody, on or of the pitch, inside or outside the club) who you would like to say thank you to and why?

Malcolm Macdonald, for the greatest goal I have seen scored at St James’ Park (the piledriver against Leicester City).

Paul Brown, for tolerating my often absurd comments ever since we first stood together on the terraces in the Seventies (he missed the Macdonald goal, as I keep reminding him) and for later supplying tickets.

Kevin Keegan, for dragging the club clear of the doldrums in the eighties, then returning to rescue us from oblivion in the nineties and take us on a barely credible odyssey.

Sir Bobby Robson, for the first half against Inter Milan in the San Siro in 2003, when we made them look like a pub team.