Five takeaways from Newcastle 2-1 Spurs - Unsung heroes, Saudi visit and £146m trio

Newcastle United continued their excellent recent record against Spurs at St James’ Park by securing a 2-1 victory. That makes it three wins from four in all competitions this season with the lads definitely having many more gears to shift through as it progresses.

Harvey Barnes, restored to the starting line up alongside Gordon and Isak in a front three many fans have called for, cushioned home a half volley to give Newcastle the lead in the 37^th minute of a tight first 45. An unfortunate Dan Burn o.g. levelled the game in the 56^th minute as Spurs passed the ball well and probed for a winner. But it was Isak who won all three points with a tap-in from a Murphy cut back in the 78^th minute to maintain United’s unbeaten start to the season.

Here are our five key takeaways from the game:

1. Front Three Must be Given an Extended Run

Harvey Barnes scores goals. The former Leicester winger endured a turbulent first season on Tyneside because of injury, but he still chipped in with goals and assists. Barnes has already notched a goal and an assist in just 113 minutes of Premier League football so far this season and has looked dangerous even when he is on the periphery of games.

Gordon was much improved against Spurs but still has plenty to go to reach last season’s heights, but he played well on the righthand side before switching back to the left once Barnes had departed for Jacob Murphy in the second half. Combining with Isak, the two wingers looked lively and gave the Spurs defenders plenty to think about.

This front three - which cost us a combined £146m - must now be given an extended run in the team to show what they can do. Afterall, United’s squad simply isn’t strong enough to have a £38m footballer sat on the bench.

           2. Unsung Heroes

Eddie Howe admitted after the game: “We're finding a way to win but in the long term we need to improve our performances. We can move forward with positive momentum, and it was difficult, but we managed to grind out a win.”

The Unsung Heroes helped United grind out the positive result with Dan Burn and Emil Krafth defending well, whether on the turn, chasing down attackers or winning vital tackles, strong blocks and headers.

Sean Longstaff covered a lot of ground and retained possession well whilst showing good decision making. Lloyd Kelly picked up his first assist and in spite of the backs to the wall nature of the win – the lads stood up and secured the three points.

Special mention must go to Joelinton too who often dropped into left back in the 5-4-1 to cover for Barnes roaming forward, as Kelly shifted across as the lads had to fight tooth and nail to contain Spurs' attacking play.

The start to the season must now be considered a good one with seven points from nine in the league and progression in the League Cup (and a decent draw) all the while being nowhere near the top levels the lads are capable of.

A special mention too to Sandro Tonali on his return to Premier League football after 316 days. He is an excellent player and the Wor Flags display in his honour was deserved as we once again threw our support behind the Italian. He was quiet in his half hour today but he will now go on international duty as he begins to rebuild his career. If he can be the player he was for AC Milan we will be a much better team for it.

3. Yasir Al-Rumayyan on Tyneside

The chairman was in town for the match, and he saw his team pick up all three points even when being largely second best, in what is sure to have been a bruising visit for the Newcastle hierarchy.

There’s no hiding the fact that Darren Eales and Paul Mitchell - two Toon officials he was sat in between - have questions to answer after a disappointing summer transfer window, so hopefully the Chairman got some of those answers and his appearance seemingly reaffirms the PIF’s commitment to the long-term project.

Off the pitch concerns are very much on the back burner for five months, and with any luck those behind the scenes will use the time to analyse where they went wrong in preparation for the January transfer window.

4. Trippier Leads from the Sidelines

A video emerged on social media after the game of Trippier shouting instructions from the touchline despite not getting on the pitch. With certain countries transfer windows still open, rumours continue to swirl around our former team captain that a move away could still materialise.

Newcastle simply cannot afford to lose Kieran Trippier. Having just retired from international football, the 54-times-capped man can focus on his club football and continues to show his immense worth to our young players.

Tino Livramento had a good game at right back and is obviously the heir to the throne in that position, but he still has room to develop. Trippier is an excellent leader and technician on the ball and there is no one better for Livramento to learn from.

Tripper raised our level when he arrived two and half years ago and he will continue to do so even in the twilight of his career.

 

5. Lineman’s Injury Changed the Game?

In one of the stranger instances of an officiating team impacting a game – a lineman’s injury changed the game in Spurs favour. Newcastle had started the game well, passing crisply, and after Isak had hit the bar with a chipped effort in the 4^th minute, Barnes had a great chance to put us in front when he curled the ball just wide of the far post in the 9^th minute.

Then the lineman pulled up injured and Ange Postecoglou used the break in play to give his team some instructions. Once play resumed, Spurs controlled possession and the flow of the game through their incisive passing between the lines to their two floating strikers in Son and Kulusevski.

Newcastle had to dig in and show their resilience often dropping into a 5-4-1. Despite a Pape Sarr drive that was well saved by Nick Pope, the lads defended stoutly for the remainder of the first half, restricting Spurs to half chances and passes around the edge of the area, as Dan Burn and Emil Krafth looked solid and saw United through to the break 1-0 up.

But when you can damage teams so effectively on the transition, as Newcastle did throughout, you are always in with a chance to win games, even when your backs are up against the wall.

Eddie now has a fortnight to work with the lads who aren’t on international duty and get them up to full fitness as we look to cement what would be an excellent start to 2024/25 against Wolves in two weeks’ time.