Ambitionless, rudderless, and seemingly setting sail for the Championship, change was certainly needed at Newcastle United at the tail end of September. And thankfully for long-suffering toon fans that change came on 7th October 2021 – a date etched into the memories of the St. James’ Park faithful.
There was however plenty of work still to be done; work which began in earnest with the appointment of a certain Edward John Frank Howe – Eddie to most, or the second coming to Newcastle fans. Hapless pundits and the envious may dismiss Howe as simply having bought his way out of trouble, but that misses the point in dismissing not only the huge tactical shift enacted, but also the work Howe and his team accomplished with the existing players – with the following five men embodying that sea change in performance and mentality.
5. Ryan Fraser
Joining the club as a free agent prior to the 2020/21 campaign, Fraser looked a potentially shrewd piece of business. However, partially due to injury, the Scottish international managed a total of only nine starts and nine substitute appearances in his first campaign, cutting a peripheral figure at best.
It was however under Eddie Howe at Bournemouth that Fraser really made his name, and the signs are good that the pair may be able to rekindle their productive partnership in the northeast. Looking notably fitter, the “wee man” made 18 starts in 2021/22, chipping in with three assists, and crucial strikes in wins over Everton and Brighton. Injury saw the 28-year-old miss six of the last seven match day squads, but he will no doubt be keen to carry on where he left off next season.
4. Jonjo Shelvey
Always blessed with a range of pass which would be the envy of many players, Shelvey was seemingly becoming lost in an increasingly dysfunctional midfield – being ill-suited to the type of scrappy, backs against the wall affairs which epitomised large swathes of the Bruce regime.
Enter Eddie Howe and his high pressing approach, and Jonjo appeared a player granted a new lease of life – taking advantage of the larger, more advanced pockets of space to really impact the game. Newcastle simply looked a better side with Shelvey helping set the tempo in the centre of the park, which is a fine compliment considering the excellent form the Mags have been in since the turn of the year.
3. Sean Longstaff
Having burst onto the scene during the 2018/19 season, Sean’s star had been steadily on the wain almost ever since. A tougher than expected comeback following a knee ligament injury was at least partially to blame, but even when back to full fitness his displays were lacking. Looking short of both confidence and guidance, an abject display in the embarrassing FA Cup defeat to Cambridge United emphasised just how much work needed to be done.
Whatever Howe has been doing on the training ground certainly seems to be rubbing off on the Geordie native, with Longstaff emerging as a player reborn in the closing stages of the season. Dovetailing nicely with Bruno in the centre of the park, a barnstorming display in the home win over Arsenal suggests that Sean is right back to his best.
2. Fabian Schär
A man out of favour during the final stages of the Bruce era, Swiss international Schär appeared increasingly disillusioned with life at St. James Park – and with his contract running down it would have been no great surprise had he sought pastures new.
Enter Eddie Howe. A stated fan of the player, it wasn’t long until Fabian had been elevated into Eddies eleven and, barring injury, in that starting eleven is where he stayed. Forming an excellent partnership with the contrasting Dan Burn, classy operator Shär looked notably happier in being able to display his exquisite distribution under the more expansive Howe system. Happily, Schär will now be remaining on Tyneside, having signed a new deal to keep him at the club until June 2024.
1. Joelinton
And of course, the top spot can belong to one man and one man only – “Big Joe”. Even the most optimistic of traders – be that on the stock market or the best trading platforms for forex – would likely have taken some persuading to buy the Brazilian’s stock at the start of the season. But little were we to know that the ex-Hoffenheim man wasn’t really a striker at all, but rather a midfield colossus!
Sensational when forced into a more central role following the dismissal of Ciaran Clark in the Norwich City home game, Howe quickly sensed the opportunity to repurpose the 25-year-old as a dominant force in the engine room. Defensively astute, athletic, and powerful, Joelinton defended for his life and drove Newcastle up the pitch time and time again – even chipping in with four goals on his way to being crowned the club’s player of the year. Take a bow Joe, take a bow!