Ahead of Newcastle’s visit to Goodison Park back under the lights on Thursday night, we caught up with Ash from NUFC News to get his views on how the Magpies are doing this season, his feelings about Everton and the curious rivalry that has emerged between the two clubs, as well as who the Blues should watch out for if he plays – spoiler alert: it’s a familiar face!
Update ToffeeWeb returned the favour, with our responses to NUFC News’s questions here.
TW: You no doubt came into it with a huge amount of excitement given the incredible achievement of qualifying for the Champions League but how would you sum up Newcastle’s season so far?
Ash: Cursed. Next question? In all seriousness, the fact that we’re still in with a shout of getting out of the ‘group of death’ in the Champions League, we’re in the quarter final of the Carabao Cup and are still in the hunt for a top four Premier League place given all of the injuries we have – we can’t really moan too much, can we?
TW: And what, in your opinion, represents a successful season for Newcastle in 2023/24?
Ash: It might be a strange claim to make before Christmas, but in light of the injury crisis and the Sandro Tonali ban, I’d say we’ve already achieved success this season. Before the season got underway I wasn’t expecting us to repeat last season’s success, I thought that was a fluke and that the Champions League would be too much too soon. Eddie Howe and his lads keep proving me wrong and I’m here for it, so whatever happens now, I’m happy.
TW: There have been murmurs that Newcastle’s ownership might be considering Eddie Howe’s long-term future. From the outside, he looks to be doing a phenomenal job but is there a danger the PIF might start angling for a bigger, more glamourous name?
Ash: Those rumours are made up by bored journalists with nothing to write about, or by pundits who don’t understand what is happening at Newcastle. Eddie Howe has bought himself a ton of goodwill, even in his first half-season in charge when he pulled us out of certain relegation. Then to follow that up by qualifying for the Champions League in the very next season … the man walks on water up here both in the eyes of the fans and the eyes of the owners. He’s going nowhere.
TW: Who has been your best player so far this season and, of the ones likely to play on Thursday, who should Everton particularly watch out for?
Ash: I’m not just saying this to get a rise out of Everton fans, but for me it’s Anthony Gordon. He came back from the summer break a changed man and he just gets better every game. I wasn’t sold on the idea before we signed him but this season he’s been phenomenal. As for players Everton need to watch out for, of course there’s AG, but Alexander Isak is always dangerous and I honestly can’t get enough of watching Lewis Miley lately, he’s such a talent.
TW: Fitness permitting, Anthony Gordon will play his first game back at Goodison Park on Thursday night. What are your opinions of him as a player now that he’s been a Magpie for almost a year. Worth the money?
Ash: As I said, I wasn’t convinced when we signed him for £45million, I wasn’t a fan of his at Everton, I thought he was a bit of a shithouse and didn’t have an end product, and to be honest, that was the case when he arrived too. This season, however, there’s not been a more consistent player in our side, he’s been outstanding and £45million now looks like a bargain.
TW: A bit of a rivalry appears to have formed between Everton and Newcastle fans on social media in terms of big clubs experiencing long trophy droughts. What are your thoughts on the Toffees in terms of the club in general, its fans and the job that Sean Dyche is doing?
Ash: This could get my Magpie Card revoked, but I have no real issue with Everton. I don’t really understand the faux rivalry that’s popped up, other than the Jordan Pickford craic. I did a podcast with an Everton fan so I like to see them do well for him – but not on Thursday, sorry Liam, I know it’s your wedding day and that, but that’s enough happiness for one day, don’t you think?
Sean Dyche has finally got your lot playing like a team, something that had been missing for ages. Now he just needs to teach them how to finish and you’ll fly up the league.
TW: Everton had a pretty good record against the Barcodes in the 2010s but in recent seasons, matches against Newcastle haven’t been the happiest for us Toffees (March last year aside, of course). Last season’s 4-1 defeat at Goodison was a particularly harrowing experience for us. How do you see this one going seeing as you haven’t had the best record on the road so far this season? Got a score prediction?
Ash: We seem to be gaining the upper hand in this fixture now, which is nice. While our away form hasn’t been the best, I still fancy us to bag the win here and I’m going with 0-2, I just don’t think one goal will be enough for Anthony Gordon on the night, he’s going to want to make a point.
TW: Finally, your opinion on VAR? Bin it entirely or keep it but with serious improvements?
Ash: VAR is brilliant when it works, but that’s more rare than hen’s teeth. I think even the most ardent haters of it will agree that we’ve got used to it being around now so to scrap it entirely would be jarring, but it needs major improvements before it will be fully accepted. I mean, why they didn’t bring in that offside system that they used in the World Cup I’ll never know.