Hope is football’s sweetest and cruellest gift. Just ask Newcastle United supporters.

When Rafa Benítez arrived in 2016, inheriting a side on the brink of relegation, he tore away the fog of mediocrity. Here was a Champions League winner who recognised Newcastle’s stature and potential. Fans remembered who they were — and roared again.

But three years later, Benítez was worn down. His vision for “doing things right” was not matched by Mike Ashley’s ownership. Ambition was throttled. The season after his departure, 10,000 season-ticket holders walked away.

When you’ve touched the sky, the fall back to earth feels even harder. That’s why hope, for all its poetry, can be treacherous.

Each summer, we ask one simple question: Are you optimistic or pessimistic about your club this season? It’s not about xG, heat maps or tactical charts — just pure sentiment.

This year, club reporters were tasked with providing 50 words on their team’s mood (some more disciplined than others). We’ve compiled the results into a league table of optimism, from the most confident to the most wary.

Fresh from winning 14 of their last 16 matches and lifting two trophies, Chelsea fans are 98% optimistic — their highest pre-season mood since 2020. “Nothing boosts belief like becoming world champions,” came the verdict.

An untimely injury to Levi Colwill soon after the survey is a reminder that hope can turn sharply. But for now, the Stamford Bridge mood is electric.

Liverpool head into 2025-26 brimming with confidence despite the search for one more striker. Togetherness, forged through recent adversity, fuels belief that another title challenge is coming. They narrowly miss out on first place in the optimism rankings, edged by Chelsea’s trophy-fuelled buzz.

Selling João Pedro to Chelsea yet still aiming for Champions League football? That’s Brighton. Last season’s injuries have been addressed, with a reinforced defence and Kaoru Mitoma still wreaking havoc. No matter how many key figures depart, Brighton have a knack for bouncing back — like Weebles that never fall down.

Promotion has filled Sunderland supporters with unfiltered joy. The arrival of Granit Xhaka hints at a survival plan, even if staying up will be a challenge. History suggests early optimism for promoted sides can fade fast, but for now, the buzz around Wearside is real.

After a grim 15th-place finish, Manchester United have rebuilt their attack with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško. Add the charm of Rúben Amorim, and fans are daring to dream again. The only threat to this optimism? Another wave of upheaval in the boardroom.

Even serial winners can wobble. A turbulent season and pending Premier League charges have left 15% of Manchester City fans unsure. Still, with Pep Guardiola retooling the squad, most believe last year’s stumbles were just a blip in their era of dominance.

Three consecutive second-place finishes test even the most loyal. But Arsenal’s stability, plus the arrivals of Viktor Gyökeres and Martín Zubimendi, sustain belief. Whether that optimism survives another silver medal finish is another matter.

After years of relegation battles, points deductions and financial fear, Everton finally have reasons to smile. David Moyes returns under new ownership, bringing stability and ambition. A few more signings could cement that optimism — but supporters know how quickly boom can turn to bust.

Last year’s bold optimism proved justified as Forest flirted with Europe before finishing seventh. This time, expectations are more restrained. Supporters hope measured ambition won’t dull the competitive edge.

Unai Emery is the heartbeat of Villa’s belief. Even with departures weakening the squad on paper, his tactical nous inspires confidence. Few are willing to bet against the Spaniard.

Europa League glory broke a decades-long trophy drought for Spurs, unleashing joy. But with the manager and captain gone, the question is whether that emotional high can be bottled for the battles ahead.

Usually the league’s pessimists, Palace fans are unusually upbeat this summer. Whether that optimism holds once the season begins is another story entirely.

Leeds stormed the Championship with 100 points, big-money signings and stadium plans. But the Premier League is an unforgiving step up. Supporters are aware that survival is the first priority.

Stung by their last top-flight campaign, Burnley fans remain cautious despite smart new signings. Lessons have been learned, but optimism is deliberately tempered.

Departures of Thomas Frank, Christian Nørgaard and Bryan Mbeumo have unsettled Brentford. New boss Keith Andrews faces scepticism, though the squad still has quality.

A record 56 points last year lifted hopes, but losing much of their defensive core — including Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez — has cooled expectations.

No big signings and constant managerial speculation leave Fulham fans unmoved. The best news? A slick new away kit to wear through the uncertainty.

Mads Hermansen and Kyle Walker-Peters are tidy additions, but there’s little else to spark excitement at West Ham. The mood remains flat.

Six straight wins late last season gave Wolves a lift, but selling their two best players has drained much of that optimism before a ball is kicked.

Only 19% of Newcastle fans remain optimistic after another destabilising summer. Transfer rejections, key staff departures and uncertainty over their star striker have taken a toll. Last season’s trophy triumph already feels like a distant memory — the black-and-white misery cloak is back.

From Chelsea’s title dreams to Newcastle’s foreboding, the 2025-26 Hope-O-Meter shows that belief is fragile. In football, optimism can be the spark that lights a season — or the match that burns it down.