What has happened to Newcastle United? A project dubbed the most exciting in Europe just a few years ago has gone stale and improvements must be made – both on and off the pitch – in a huge few weeks for Eddie Howe and our owners.
But what’s gone wrong? Who is to blame? What happens next?
- We missed out on Europe as Man Utd won FA Cup.
- The Dan Ashworth to Man Utd saga dragged on.
PSR mess meant Minteh and Anderson were sold. - Gordon was in talks to join Liverpool before PSR deadline; a bad look for the club.
Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi’s sudden exit. - Paul Mitchell appointment midway through summer window.
- Eddie Howe to England rumours.
- Reported issues between Howe and Mitchell.
- Marc Guehi saga wasted time.
- No right-winger or centre-back signed.
- Total lack of player trading and failed to move on certain players.
- Went into 2024/25 season with zero momentum
The owners
The manager
Last season, Howe had his ups and downs but arguably did well to finish 7th in the circumstances. This time, however, there’s no longer the excuses of last season (injuries, fatigue, Champions League distraction), yet we are consistently inconsistent, lack a plan B, struggle against low blocks, allow our heads to drop too easily and rarely deliver 90-minute performances.
Yes, Botman is a big miss, we are sorely lacking a quality right-winger, we miss Trippier’s creativity at right-back (a huge part of our attack during 2022/23) and we’ve struggled to find balance in midfield, but this is still a group of players capable of far more than 12th. Howe is also responsible for finding solutions to some of the above and he’s struggling.
Two wins from our last 11 is bottom six form, not top-six and it feels like we’re going from one issue to the next. Post-Palace, goals were an issue. Since then we’ve scored five in two games against Liverpool and Brentford but conceded seven, showing alarming inconsistencies at both ends.
The players
Away from the owners and Howe, the players must also up their game. I do wonder if some of our big guns have become a little disillusioned by the project they were once sold? Either way, they have to question why they were ‘at it’ against the current best side in the world last week, then allowed their heads to drop when things go wrong against ‘lesser’ opposition.
Sometimes it’s on Howe, who always finds a way to set us up correctly against the ‘big six’ at home but often struggles against a low block on the road, but some of the missed chances in games Howe has got it right to begin with (Brighton, West Ham and Liverpool come to mind) have been punished by more individual errors at the other end, with us conceding so many poor goals against West Ham, Liverpool and Brentford.
Coaching and Selecting the best team available is Howe’s responsibility.
Tonali can play a couple of games in quick succession for Italy without any adverse effects and be a star player but apparently not for Newcastle.
Gordon and Tonali were they drained in training after the Liverpool match or were they allowed to fully rest then go again.
Something is not right behind the scenes at Newcastle, and your right Olly, the final games of 2024 are absolutely massive now,
No excuses for an overload of fixtures this season or injuries for that matter.
Joseph(Quote)
The unethical financial restrictions imposed by Masters and Co. being unopposed in the courts have provided the greatest restrictions on the growth of the club.
If the club could do what they wish as the bigger clubs are allowed to do then we could compete.
Having one hand tied behind your back leads to the problems outlined in your article. Problems of that nature will occur whenever restrictions of that nature are in place. Yes, performances could be better working within those restrictions, but they are symptomatic of the problem rather than being the real problem.
PremAndUp(Quote)
The squad has not been allowed to go stale .. it’s the chain that the prem league put on us and our ability to spend .. Howe wanted Kelly and guei .. one an
average player the other over priced and over rated .. Paul Mitchell is a plus .. failed to get rid of willock, Wilson both sick notes .. … the squad was strengthened by Tonali .. bruno has not played well.. Howe is not performing ..
Mike(Quote)
Good article Olly, regarding FFP we all knew it was there and that’s why IMO the trading process should have started after we finished 4th, understand the point of backing Howe but he was the one who wanted to remain loyal fat contracts to Almiron and Jolinton who we should have been looking to upgrade along with Wilson Willock along with others hopefully Howe has realised this and we can start to move forward in January
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Lose the next 3 games. Be sacked. Waste of time with this gutless and clueless manager.
Jack(Quote)
Gutless? Wow. He may be running out of ideas lately and I accept things need to improve, but what a way to describe the best thing that’s happened to NUFC for a long time.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)