In a comedy club on Tyneside last week, a question was posed to a panel of journalists that could end up defining Newcastle United’s Champions League campaign.
This was a sold-out fan event organised by popular fanzine True Faith and i sport was in attendance. They used to arrive at these things to debate the best way to unseat Mike Ashley, now they are more concerned about how to find a seat at St James’ Park.
But if a question about what has stuck with us the most from Newcastle’s return to Europe’s elite competition was supposed to produce warm words, a colleague wasn’t in the mood. The desperate atmosphere for the home game against Borussia Dortmund was his answer. He had a point.
In a rollercoaster campaign that goes to the wire on Wednesday, the curious lack of fizz for Dortmund’s visit might end up being a turning point. The visitors from the Ruhr arrived expecting the St James’ Park roar but it ended up being a damp squib. In driving rain, Newcastle’s European dream came off the tracks. The whole place just felt flat.
Alex Hurst, True Faith‘s editor, believes it can partly be explained by expectation. Newcastle had beaten Paris Saint-Germain in their return to the Champions League. Many arrived thinking it would be the same story.
“They were supposedly the whipping boys of the group but the ability Borussia Dortmund had to control that game probably showed you they were the strongest team in the group as it turned out,” he says.
“The weather didn’t help. If you were in large parts of that stadium we were absolutely soaking wet and while rain doesn’t mean you can’t create an atmosphere, it certainly didn’t help. It was a combination of things and for whatever reason people weren’t able to recreate what happened against Paris Saint-Germain.”
It will surely not be an issue on Wednesday, with so much at stake. If Newcastle better PSG’s result at Dortmund they will qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League; simply avoiding defeat guarantees Europa League football.
But with the team seemingly running on fumes, the importance of a partisan home crowd has never been felt as keenly.
“The supporters have been the extra man for us this season. We’re going to need every voice, every person can make a difference for us,” Eddie Howe said on Tuesday afternoon.
Once again, the club’s tifo group Wor Flags are leading from the front. There will be a new full ground banner on display and fans are being encouraged to bring a black and white scarf.
A spokesman for the group told i that fans arriving at the ground earlier made a difference against PSG. They want fans in seats an hour or so before the game to help the atmosphere build. This time, given recent form, expectation of a straightforward win will not be a problem.
“It is assumed there will be this natural atmosphere but if you look at the away games we’ve played in the Champions League – at Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain – they have to work hard to create an atmosphere,” Hurst says.
“In this country we maybe take that for granted. We have a safe standing section of around 1,500 at St James’ Park and it’s no coincidence that is where most of the atmosphere comes from.
“It is no surprise that the stadium with the biggest standing section is Old Trafford and they probably have the biggest number of tourists at the ground and therefore need to work that bit harder to create the atmosphere. It can’t be taken for granted. There have been some brilliant atmospheres at home this season, though, and Wednesday will be one of those with everything that’s going on.”
The atmosphere issue strikes at the heart of a club that is changing on and off the field, with many supporters bruised by what they perceive as Newcastle’s hierarchy placing a premium on corporate tickets and attracting more casual supporters.
A new membership scheme has been introduced for non-season ticket holders, priced at £37. That gets you entry into a ballot for one of the limited number of seats made available on a game by game basis, with no preference for previous purchase history or loyalty to the cause. The club have sold almost 50,000, though, raising roughly £1.5m.
The situation is even worse for away supporters as a new ticketing policy threatens to lock out some of the hardcore fans. The number of tickets going to sponsors is another major bone of contention.
From the club’s point of view they are faced with a dilemma: Financial Fair Play means they need to drive up revenues to supply Howe with a budget to build a world class team. Corporate clients and building the club’s fanbase beyond a local, loyal hardcore is essential.
All the while the issue of expanding St James’ Park – or even building a new stadium – is bubbling away in the background.
“None of this will ever go away until the club has a bigger stadium,” Hurst admits.
Karius in line for shock start against Milan
Loris Karius is on standby to make his first Champions League appearance since his Liverpool final nightmare in 2018 – as Eddie Howe called for Newcastle’s players and supporters to create a “magical night” at St James’ Park.
Newcastle must win and rely on Paris Saint-Germain slipping up at Borussia Dortmund to emerge from the so-called “Group of Death”, although avoiding defeat to AC Milan will guarantee the consolation of a Europa League place.
They may have to do it without Martin Dubravka, who missed a portion of training on Tuesday morning and is – Howe admitted – a doubt for the game.
If Dubravka, himself deputising for long-term injury victim Nick Pope, misses out, it will be Karius who steps in for the crucial game meeting with last season’s semi-finalists.
That would be some return to Europe’s elite club competition for Karius, whose last game in the Champions League was the infamous final against Real Madrid when his two errors ended his Liverpool career. A doctor later diagnosed him with concussion.
He has since relaunched his career in England and started – playing well – in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester United in February. But that is his only appearance for Newcastle and Karius’s only start for three years.
Despite the latest injury worries for Newcastle and back-to-back away defeats, Howe cut an upbeat figure ahead of a game that has gripped Tyneside. Tickets sold out months ago and with so much to play for, there is a sense of history within the team’s grasp.
Newcastle have found the demands of the Champions League taxing but Howe said there was hunger to remain in the competition.
“We are as hungry as you can be,” he said. “We are fiercely determined to try and go through.
“We want Champions League first and foremost and we want to keep a positive feeling and positive momentum with our season. So every fibre and part of us wants to do that. We are looking forward to this test.”
Howe is contemplating changes – Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson returned to the squad at Tottenham and could start against Milan – but will not be resting Kieran Trippier, despite two below-par displays. He was responsible for two of Everton’s three goals at Goodison Park, rare mistakes for a player who has been otherwise peerless since joining Newcastle.
“He’s been outstanding for us on such a consistent basis, both in and out of possession,” Howe said when asked about his vice-captain.
“When he plays well our team tends to play much, much better. He is a key part of what we do in every way so of course I back him. He’s an outstanding individual.”
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