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10 Premier League Predictions for 2026!
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No previews. No ratings. Fewer rants... maybe
In this Winter Wildcard episode of DailyNewcastle, Michael Grahamslaw ditches the usual format and makes ten bold predictions for the second half of the Premier League season — some grounded, some outrageous, and at least one destined to come back and haunt him.
From a breakout Newcastle youngster and a painful decision looming at St James’ Park, to surprise slides, title inevitability, and a managerial call that could shake the league, this episode is about cutting through the noise and putting opinions on the line.
These aren’t hopes.
They’re not wishes.
They’re predictions.
Listen now — then argue about it until May.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Predictions Overview
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome back to the Daily Newcastle. I'm Michael Grimeslaw and today we're doing something a little bit different. This is a bit of a Winter Wildcard episode. There's no match previews, no post-match ratings or reviews, no refereeing rants.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well... Can't promise anything there, actually. And instead, I am making 10 bold predictions for the second half of the Premier League season. Some of them will feel sensible. Some will feel maybe a little outrageous.
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at least one of them will come back to haunt me in May. But that's the fun of it. Football should be fun. And with a sheer number of VAR controversies and last-minute goals we've conceded over the last few weeks and months, I'm bringing fun back. So let's cut through the noise. These aren't hopes. These aren't wishes.
Youth Impact: Lewis Miley's Rise
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're predictions. So let's begin with prediction number one and maybe one of the boldest of the lot. Lewis Miley will be nominated for young player of the year in the premier league.
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, young player of the season, should I say that? I want to start a bit close to home. There's three Newcastle predictions and about six or seven that probably do impact Newcastle in some way or have a bit of ah a toony side plot.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, But the first is that Lewis Miley will be nominated for Young Player of the Season in the Premier League and it won't be a little token inclusion. What is remarkable ah about Lewis Miley isn't his age, it's the composure, the understanding of space and the refusal to play like someone who is just happy to be there. um you know It's not a case of you'll never look at Lewis Miley and go, well at least he works hard.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's one of those where every single game he has quality on the ball, he's reliable, and it doesn't matter where he plays, he puts in a brilliant shift. And that is what Eddie Howe absolutely loves in players at Newcastle United and the fact that they're reliable.
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
is just an extra extra bonus i don't think joe linton work walks back into this team anymore i don't think ramsey or willick displace lewis miley and i think he stays there for the foreseeable future he doesn't hide he doesn't rush and he doesn't treat the ball like a hot potato he is one of those players that wants the ball and he wants to influence the game as much as he can And for a Newcastle side with so many games to play this season, Lewis Miley has already been a little bit of a standout player with less game time. He isn't just going to fill a gap. He's going to reshape expectations. and He's playing with rhythm, connects phases, and most importantly, he belongs in that midfield.
00:03:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Second half of the season is going to bring more starts, more responsibility, and probably more scrutiny. But he'll handle it so, so well. And let's to be honest, he probably won't win the award. It'll probably go to Morgan Rodgers, I would imagine.
00:03:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not the point. You can count that as a prediction, by the way, but it's not in the 10. But the point is, you'll get the recognition. And it's a signal that Newcastle United aren't just building for the future. We're already living in it.
Aston Villa's Promising Season
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then prediction number two, it's probably apt that I mentioned Morgan Rodgers because it is focusing a bit on Aston Villa. um Prediction number two is that Aston Villa will finish third, but they won't be in the title race by the end of March. and a lot of people compare Newcastle and Aston Villa.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
For now, I'm not going to do a lot of those comparisons. and but Unai Emery deserves enormous credit. You can see why he was the number one choice for the Saudis when they took over at Newcastle. He's been tactically...
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excellent, emotionally resilient and so, so ruthless at home. For large parts of the first half of the season, they've looked like they might end up being ah genuinely in that title conversation.
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But after the first three or four games, they were looking like surprise relegation candidates. ah Morgan Rodgers was being booed. Emery out was trending on X. And it's it's one of those where he's managed to turn it around with an excellent, excellent run of form.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But here's the thing about title racers. They don't really care about good stories. And by March, Aston Villa will still be an excellent, excellent team. Still dangerous, still well coached, but there won't be they anymore.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
They'll be there. um Which, for those listening on a Spotify or our podcast, slightly lower down, but not quite at the pinnacle of football. And the score depth will tell. They've got decent depth, not brilliant, but they're not playing in the league phase of the Europa League. um yeah ad cool come February, March. They're going to be playing knockout football and those fine margins that separate third from champions is going to tell.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um They were absolutely ah excellent against Arsenal and they were they've been pretty excellent in a lot of games this season. There's somewhere the luck has gone their way and finishing third would still be an extraordinary achievement.
00:05:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think anyone but Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal would snap your hand off for third at the start of the season. um And it'll feel like real, real progress for them. and Not disappointment, despite where they are at the moment. But the title race, it's going to narrow before we get to the the end of the season, realistically. They've got a really tough run of fixtures in January March. They'll need to hope my Arsenal and Manchester City have poor runs. And let's be honest, second half of the season,
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal usually falter a little bit, but Chelsea, Chelsea, well, they're not even in the conversation. Manchester City, that's where they normally shine. And let's be honest, this season, nobody is going to get 100 points.
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably not even 90. Villa will end up with 70 plus points, though, in my opinion, by the end of the season. But when this 10 game winning run ends... you do imagine they're going come crashing down to earth a little bit.
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when fixtures get a little bit harder, they'll still be getting good draws. but draws don't win your titles.
The Elite Quartet: Top Four Distinction
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unless you're the invincibles, should i say. um But that's pretty much it for Villa. They've been incredible. And you do just have to hold your hands up and say fair play to Aston Villa this season. They've been incredible since that poor start.
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But and when your manager calls you calls you lazy in the opening games of the season, you've kind of got something to prove and that's exactly what they've done. Top three.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kind of relates to point two, but the top four will distance them distance themselves considerably from the rest by April. um Let's be honest, this season has flirted with the idea of chaos.
00:07:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Neutral fans will be looking at the likes of Sunderland up there and thinking, ooh, we could see a shock. Newcastle fans have been seeing Sunderland up there and going, why won't you just lose?
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then watching ourselves lose in the last minute of some games. um But let's be honest, In the opening stages, mid-table teams have been able to beat anyone on that day. Injuries are flattening the Giants. And the table's been so compressed and unpredictable.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
That isn't going to last. It never does. um The odd exception, Leicester winning the league, etc. But by the time you reach out April, the top four will have created clear daylight.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not saying 20 points, but it'll be enough to make the race for top, well, third and first feel exclusive. There will be a gap between the top two, I think, as well. And the reason for that is because elite squads adapt.
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
They rotate. They grind out 1-0s when their legs are gone. Newcastle aren't quite there. where We've kind of just brought in the depth. We're not really adapted to everything just yet. We're still getting the rotations in, but we're not grinding out the wins, just like Aston Villa did against Manchester United most recently. It's an ugly, ugly win, but it was one that looked so beautiful because of that Morgan Rodgers goal and the fact it's a win against a decent Man United side.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
They win ugly. these top teams and it'll be January and March when these teams are winning ugly um where they pull away a little bit from Aston Villa but Villa stay in the hunt and stay considerably higher than 5th, 6th etc and this season I think it people say the table doesn't lie the table always lies before I want to say January, but yeah, the table always lies before February, in my opinion. You can never really tell how a team is going to do until after January, until the 19 games. And even then teams that are playing twice, some teams are playing Arsenal, Manchester City, et cetera, twice. Some are playing Burnley by February, March. You usually have an idea of how the shit table is going to, going to line up.
00:09:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, The truth always tells, should we say, come the end of the season. This season will be no different. The top four is going to be Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool. I do think Liverpool will significantly improve in the next six months.
00:09:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Villa are there on merit, um obviously. And then Arsenal and Manchester City are the no-brainers. Top four will move away in fifth... Well, fifth is going to be a different story entirely. And it'll be a big battle for it.
Newcastle's European Ambitions
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it does lead into my fourth prediction that Newcastle United will qualify for Europe. Yeah, that's a bit of a big one. and When you look at the table especially, Newcastle United, I think, will get European football next season. And that's not because everything has gone smoothly this season, because it hasn't.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's not because injuries will suddenly disappear, because they won't. But Newcastle United always get better in the second part of the season. And ought to be honest, as long as we're still in the hunt,
00:10:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
at this stage of the season, I'm pretty confident that Eddie Howe can turn it around. And that is because we have so we still have the structure, we still have the belief, and crucially, we still have St James' Park. And the quote that I'm seeing so often on social media is, we've still got to play Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea away. There's no way we're getting European football.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And while that is true, It also means that if the top teams are coming to us and that's who we're playing the home games against, we're also playing our away games where we've always been pretty dire against those mid-teams like your Brightons, like your Bournemouths, who you do expect to beat at home, but then away from home you're always going, ah, it's a tough game that.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... We're travelling to that so-called middle class, lower class of teams. And when you look at the teams who still have to come to St. James's Park, Crystal Palace, we usually beat them. Leeds United, newly promoted. We tend to do well. Let's not talk about them last week. Aston Villa, usually do well against them at home. Away were terrible.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brentford, Everton, Manchester United, Sunderland, Bournemouth, Brighton and West Ham. Now there's some teams in there who will give you a bit of PTSD. Brighton and Danny Welbeck for one. West Ham in the 2-0 last season.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bournemouth can always throw up a surprise. Same with Everton. But you're looking at those games and going every single one of them, you would be disappointed on the day if Newcastle United didn't win. All 10 of those games are winnable.
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, will we win them all? Absolutely not. That's new that's not the Newcastle United way. But you win seven, draw one, lose two. That's still 22 points, which puts you on 55. 60 tends to be enough for European football.
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
We also have to travel to Burnley, Wolves, Fulham, Nottingham Forest. Four of the bottom six currently. So yes, do things have to improve? Absolutely.
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have we shown signs of improvement over the last month? Yeah, I would say it to a degree. You take the derby out and it's actually been an an okay month results-wise. But if we're still at panic stations this time next month, I'll be very, very surprised. Because you look at the fixtures lined up.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Old Trafford, Man United away. Always a tough game, but they're missing so many players. It's one of those where you look into it. Newcastle, we might not be favourites, but you'd expect a draw.
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Burnley away. You've got to be expecting wins. And then you've got four... Home games in a row. What in the FA Cup, League Cup, semi-finals? We're not expecting anything really in the League Cup semis, but a home to Bournemouth, round three of the FA Cup. You'll see there what Eddie Howe's plan is.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do we play a rotated side and go, you know what, we need to focus on the league. But before that, Crystal Palace and Leeds United, at two home games in a week. We do tend to grind out these wins at home.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We do tend to do very well against Crystal Palace. And then the away game after that. Wolves away. And you've got to be expecting three points from the team that pick up two. However, I'm a Newcastle United fan and I do remember Derby and Kenny Miller.
00:13:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So maybe I shouldn't be saying all this. But... I am very, very confident that this time next month, and it'll be the day after we've played PSV in the UEFA Champions League league stage, we'll be so much more confident about Newcastle United's season.
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And if we're not, then I'll start to worry a little bit. But as it stands, it's going to go down to the wire. But Newcastle United will be back in Europe next season. Whether it's Europa League or the Conference League,
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know, but it'll matter so much more than people realise. Even getting in the Conference League, where you're playing teams from Finland on a Wednesday or something like that, that will still be massive for our fan base and we'll still love it.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sure, it's not going to compare to the Parc des Prants, the new camp people have done before. you know We've played at the San Siro recently. Gantt of Helsinki ain't really the same, but it would be so, so good for the
Wolves' Survival Battle
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
fans.
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then prediction five, I mentioned Wolves, I mentioned Derby in the last one. So it'll give you an idea of what's coming. But in the meantime, I'm going to go to a quick ad from Bionique.
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright, this one's going to raise a few eyebrows, but stay with me. Prediction number five is that Wolves will beat Derby's record of 11 points. um And some of you will be sitting there and going, yeah, it sounds about right. And some of you who have watched Wolves maybe a bit more of this season will go, I've got no idea where they're getting points from because they've already played a lot of the WOSA teams at home and lost.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Wolves will finish with more points than Derby County's infamous 11-point season. And I'm saying it explicitly because superstition demands clarity. Wolves are not good.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're not average. Probably a word that I shouldn't be saying, but they're not that bad. At least under Rob Edwards. And he will know exactly what they need in January 2021.
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And for me, one of the things they need is experience. You look at that Wolves lineup, very, very young, very, very inexperienced. And when things kind of hit the fan, they don't really know what to do. You bring in those experienced players,
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
like they've had in the past with Craig Dawson, etc. They can help you grind out those results. But under Edwards, that's what they've exactly been trying to do. They've been trying to grind out results they nearly did against Arsenal, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're a lot more organised and they do tend to frustrate teams, which... Probably isn't great with Newcastle coming to town soon, but with more experience in that team, they'll be capable of drawing more matches and gradually building up their confidence and getting more points.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Something Derby simply couldn't do, but it's something that Southampton had just enough of to avoid the same total last season. Um...
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've also got Strand Larsson, someone Newcastle fans are very, very familiar with. 14 league goals last season, just one this year. It's quite obvious his head was turned in the summer.
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'd say we'd apologise to Wolves fans for that, but they'd probably still be getting relegated even if he was on form. and But I do think their home game against West Ham, January 3rd, think that is, will be their first win and they'll end up...
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
They won't end up with over 20 points, but they'll have a small run of form and they'll end up with around 15, 16. The comparison between Wolves and Derby will linger in the headlines. And with Aston Villa doing so well, Birmingham potentially getting promoted as well, it's going to be one that stings for Wolves fans.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think they'll they'll clear the they'll clear the bar to an extent where it'll stop being funny. um Although it might not save Rob Edwards from losing his job, which to be honest...
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
after leaving Middlesbrough and the way that he did, it's funny on the Middlesbrough side of things. Thankfully, they were, thankfully for them, should I say, um they've started doing pretty well under a new owner manager as well. and But the way Rob Edwards left, I wasn't particularly fond of it. And it's almost karma.
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Karma's something I'll get to actually in a bit. But not in this prediction.
Tottenham's Struggles
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Prediction number six, Tottenham Hotspur will once again finish closer to 17th than to Europe.
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, it's it's not one that we haven't spoken about before, but everyone thought that Spurs would be significantly better under Thomas Frank. And although it might have started that way, it certainly won't finish that way.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's not about chaos or collapse like it has been in previous years. It's this exposure that people didn't really identify under Ange Postacoglu because of said chaos.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I actually quite liked Big Ange. Football was brave, admirable, entertaining, and it won them time and gave them a European trophy win. Now, would I take him at Newcastle United? Absolutely not.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... Thomas Frank hasn't performed better than Big Ange did. And that is the reality that football is poor and the team is quite simply cowardly.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that isn't the the biggest point in my opinion. The Premier League is very unforgiving and it punishes teams like Tottenham who have, unfortunately, a squad of very, very injury-prone players.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um... no injuries hurt a team. Even if it's one injury, it can impact a team. and Their squad depth was stretched last year. It was stretched this year. and It doesn't seem like they've learned.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Opponents have already learned how to pull how to beat Spurs under Thomas Frank. Unfortunately, Newcastle also know how to concede twice to a defender against them. But most teams have learned when to sit, when to counter and when to let Spurs have the ball without fear because they simply won't be able to break you down.
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's be honest, Spurs ain't getting relegated. The quality in the league's too poor for that. But come May, they'll be able to look down a lot more than they'll be able to look up. Um...
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Should be the reverse of that, actually. But they'll be looking down a lot more than they'll be looking up because they're so much closer to that relegation zone. And that early season optimism... will certainly feel like a different lifetime.
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Prediction number seven, probably the most sensible one um of the lot. Manchester City will win the Premier League. Some predictions don't need fireworks.
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
City are going to win the league. It's because they always do it when it matters. They recover from wobbles. The turn draws into wins. And I'll be honest, the second half of the season always belongs to Manchester City. Others will fade. Others will blink.
Manchester City's Premier League Triumph
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
City won't.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Pep Guardiola is so, so good in a title race. It's not going to be pretty. It's not going to be historic. But it will be inevitable. Arsenal are going to drop off.
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone speaks about defensive injuries over the last month and how well they've done without Gabriel and Saliba playing. But unfortunately for them, or maybe fortunately for them, actually. The fixtures in that time haven't really been that difficult. And in April, I think we'll see a number of points that open the door for City to overtake them. you know They've got some really, really tough fixtures in that time.
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
City, second half of the season, different beast. And unless Erling Haaland gets injured, I mean, City are the top goal scorers in the league for a reason. He is going to be the top goal scorer in the league for a reason. And he's going to carry them on his back to that next title.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then prediction number eight.
Hugo Eketike: Striker Spotlight
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another striker that I think will carry a team to, you well, let's say champion it is Champions League football and that's it. Prediction number eight, Hugo Eketike will be the best of the strikers though the summer striker sign-ins. And this one's pretty personal because it's a case of what might have been for us Newcastle fans.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do think Hugo Eketike will emerge as the best of the summer striker sign-ins. It hasn't been immediate. um He started quite explosively, but he's going to turn into the best, of my opinion, quite steadily because...
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
of the injury to Alexander Izak, who will be out for a large chunk of the season, if not the entirety. Hugo Eketike is now the main man, and to be honest, he should be. Eketike's form dropped when Izak started getting back into the team.
00:23:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Of course, he had that stupid, stupid yellow card against Southampton, which... some miss out at a game through suspension. But Egetique's game is all about movement, time and confidence. And you can really see why Eddie Howe and the team wanted him at Newcastle United.
00:23:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
The first half of the season has been about learning the league, um the physicality, the pace, the scrutiny and establishing himself as that number one striker. And while he hasn't quite done it,
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's certainly performed better than his rival for the position, Alexander Izak, and he'll have that role for the rest of the season. And while the rest of the Liverpool team begins to build up, it's only um going to improve things for Hugo Ekotike. He's going to really express himself, I think, in the second half. Goals will come, performances will lift, and the narrative around him will be very, very different in six months, I think.
00:23:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I will just say, on the the note of Alexander Izak, it's ah It's a bit of a difficult one because i will never celebrate a player getting injured. And it's it is a horrific injury for the Swedish striker.
00:24:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um However, what I am going to say... is karma seems to have a way of coming around and biting players on the arse. And I guarantee Liverpool fans going listen to this and go, well, what about Johan Wisser? It happened to Johan Wisser. He got injured in his first game for Senegal since moving to us, then couldn't play for us. Karma.
00:24:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool fans will say it happened to Trent Alexander-Arnold. By the way, if you're talking about how horrible Newcastle fans have been to Izak, look in a mirror. um And it's happened to Alexander Izak. All three players accused of pretty horrible moves or play horrible antics to get to their moves all got injured.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Karma. Fair enough. And it's happened to alex Alexander Azak. And am I happy that he's stung out the gaff since moving to Liverpool? Absolutely. But realistically, no one should celebrate a potentially career-defying injury.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I do hope he comes back to Liverpool. I do hope the injury isn't too bad. But I also hope that he doesn't score again for them. So... At least I can laugh while he plays rather than you know him Michael Owen in the medical room for a few years. But that's all I'm going to say on Izak.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Prediction number nine. This one, um got two on. The next two are going to be manager ones. and They might end up relating to each other, but I don't think they will. But you never know.
Manchester United's Managerial Change
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Prediction number nine is that Oliver Glasner will be announced Manchester United manager at the end of the season. um it's a It's going to be a managerial merry-go-round towards the end of the season. Let's be honest, it always is.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oliver Glasner is probably the the next big name on the block. um And I think he'll be announced as the next manager of Manchester and United. it's The Ruben Armourham experiment simply hasn't worked.
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Jim Radcliffe will know his stingy, stingy little pockets that he can't get rid of any more staff and that the team actually has to perform better.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they can't go through a complete change in philosophy and tactics once again because they simply don't have the money to do so. So they'll want to experience something similar, but with a bit more structure and discipline at the back and somebody who can impose their identity without the theatrics that we've seen from Ruben Arum.
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Oliver Glasner fits that profile almost scarily. It's not an appointment about vibes or nostalgia. It'll be about control, about rebuilding, and rebuilding that credibility without the chaos.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to be honest, I don't think there's anyone better to do it than a manager who has succeeded almost everywhere that he's gone. He revolutionised Wolfsburg. He won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt.
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And let's be honest, he's been very, very impressive with his success in England or Crystal Palace, winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield and having a very, very decent Premier League season as well. He's a very fine manager who looks incredibly likely to leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season. And honestly, if Newcastle United and Eddie Howe were part ways at the end of the season, Glasner is a name I'd be pretty excited to see take over.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that leads me to prediction number 10.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle Farewell
00:27:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
The final prediction is one that will hurt me and it will hurt a lot of Newcastle United fans.
00:27:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Eddie Howe will leave Newcastle United at the end of the season. Now, obviously, this isn't confirmed. it's that It's not gospel. I don't know how a clip will go out. And I don't think Eddie Howe will be sacked.
00:28:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he'll be pushed. I think mutually, quietly and respectfully, the cycle will end. The Saudi ownership will acknowledge the fact that Howe has absolutely transformed this football club, lifted expectations and delivered Knights' Hell, days that we will never, ever forget.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But football, especially at this level, rarely allows long goodbyes. And as I mentioned earlier, it doesn't allow for happy endings. The departure won't feel like a failure. I still think Newcastle get Europe, as I mentioned earlier. And it'll feel like a bit more of a transitional move.
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
not just for Newcastle, but for Eddie Howe as well. And Newcastle will undoubtedly be so much stronger than what we were when he arrived. Because let's be honest, we couldn't be much weaker. But...
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
We will face the next chapter with gratitude rather than regret. And let's be honest, Eddie Howe is probably going to move on to a great job. Maybe England, if he's happy, taking a little bit less control over the whole proceeding. Or he might take another job at a top club in England. I hope not, to be honest.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But either way, Eddie Howe will always be a Newcastle United legend. And when that happens, I really hope all sides leave England. with a smile on their face because Howe deserves it.
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But it's it's becoming clear that Newcastle United are becoming a little bit stagnant. And I think it's not good for Newcastle and it's not good for Eddie Howe if the relationship continues, let's say, another three, four years.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I still think Howe's got at least another season in him. um But I but ah think with the way that things have started last season... the way things have started this season turned around last season we're not going to have the trophy this year and I think it's going to be one of those now where how can move on to something bigger and better in England whether he does or not again it probably has to be a a bit of a personality change for him as well and Newcastle can look to the next chapter as well I'll shed a tear when it happens, by the way, without a shadow of a doubt. He's been a huge part of the restoration of Newcastle United's identity.
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'll forever, well, now and forever, he will be war-ready. And he'll always have a place in Newcastle United fans' hearts. He's up there with Kevin Keegan. He's up there with Bobby Robson. Maybe, just maybe, we'll have to revisit that conversation on where he fits in into the top three of the Premier League era, like we had this time last year.
00:30:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But he'll always be a ah fantastic manager. He'll always be one of a well one of ours. um And when it does end, I hope it ends with a smile on everyone's face because I would absolutely hate it if we're halfway through a season, Newcastle are 17th or something like that, Eddie Howe gets sacked and things turn sour.
00:31:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So I think both sides will want to end the relationship while it's you know in a good place. ah So there have it. 10 predictions, 10 risks, 10 future arguments waiting to happen. um I'll quickly go through...
00:31:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
All 10. number one was that lewis miley will be nominated for young player of the season number two but that aston villa will finish third but won't be in the title race top prediction number three was that top four will distance themselves from the rest of the league Prediction number four was that Newcastle United will qualify for Europe. Prediction number five was that Wolves will beat Derby's 11-point record, which means they're getting more than the 11 points. Prediction number six was that Spurs will finish close at the 17th than to Europe.
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Prediction number seven was that Manchester City will win the Premier League. Prediction number eight was that Hugo Eketike will be the best of the summer striker signings. Prediction number nine is that Oliver Glasner will eventually be announced as the next Manchester United manager. And prediction number 10 is that Eddie Howe will leave Newcastle United at the end of the season.
00:32:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there you have it. If half of these come true, I'll call it a win. And I hope it's two out the three for Newcastle United. Lewis Miley, young player of the season, and we qualify for Europe.
00:32:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'd love another season under Eddie Howe. We're maybe in the Conference League. winning something on the European front, tackling for the title, well, hate to say the title, but doing what Aston Villa are doing this season because you're not playing the likes of Barcelona, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen. Instead, playing Helsinki. I don't know why I've targeted them this episode, but it's it's just one in my mind. um I'll call it a win if half these come true. And if all of them do,
00:32:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm putting the lottery on at the end of the season. um But thank you very much, as always, for listening to The Daily Newcastle. If you've enjoyed this a little bit of a different winter wildcard style episode, let us know and maybe it's something we'll look to do a little bit more often. Share these, argue about them, let us know your thoughts, remind me of the ones I've got wrong in May.
00:33:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've been Michael Grahamslaw. Check us out on socials at GSPN Newcastle. Stay warm over the winter, enjoy the football, and I'll speak to you again soon. Ta-ra.