Did anyone think Newcastle United would be back here so quickly?
Not just a Carabao Cup semi-final, the first leg of which they approach with more momentum than any other club in the Premier League, but also back at the point where 2025 feels full of possibility.
Sitting fifth in a season that no club barring Liverpool and arguably Nottingham Forest have stamped their authority on, they are in a position to attack the cups in a week that has the potential to shape the rest of their campaign.
That is playing out against the backdrop of a relatively serene start to the transfer window, where Newcastle are operating quietly in the background to add potential to their squad.
By traversing a Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) tightrope in the summer, they are in a position of strength to repel bids for their biggest stars like Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak.
Insiders have always talked about the Magpies needing to take any opportunity that presents itself to move closer to the established elite.
This feels like that sort of moment.
A new era for transfers
It has been a quiet start to January but it is unlikely to stay that way at St James’ Park, where the first few weeks are about trimming the squad and pruning their PSR status.
Eddie Howe’s predisposition is to embrace the squad he has – and that means retaining the senior men on the fringes of the set-up – but the presence of Paul Mitchell as director of football feels like a circuit-breaker to change that trend.
“The business logic is taking over from the football logic. There may be football decisions you’d like to make [but can’t],” Howe admitted on Monday.
The first one of those is coming down the track with Martin Dubravka’s likely exit to Saudi Arabia. Al-Shabab are in negotiations and the contract on offer – along with the promise of regular first-team football – is tempting.
Howe doesn’t want to lose him but first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope is nearing a return. Whatever reservations he has about Odysseas Vlachodimos, he is an experienced keeper on big money currently kicking his heels. It is a deal that makes sense on the balance sheet.
“Nothing was bigger than the previous summer when we had to lose two highly promising young players,” Howe said.
“We were forced to, we had no choice. That is very much the business taking over from the football and I think we are still in that position.”
Miguel Almiron is another available for sale but sources believe that is more likely towards the end of the transfer window.
A loan with an obligation or option – while not doing much for immediate PSR efforts – may be the most likely exit route.
Incomings, for now, seem more likely to focus on players for the future.
League table
Mitchell is understood to have identified players under the age of 21 from overseas as more likely to join than established veterans, who will have a huge January premium attached to them.
The good news is that in the summer, after the PSR scenario ends in June, Newcastle move to a “new era” where there will be more headroom for them to operate.
Squad cost controls, the new Financial Fair Play regime the Premier League is introducing, won’t be a game-changer for the club but Champions League football and effective player trading would give them a real recruitment shot in the arm.
Much of the work being done now is with a view to bolstering the squad then and if they can secure European football (and potentially a trophy) it gives them real momentum.
For now, Newcastle’s January remains one to watch.
“[Nothing] is cut and dried because the transfer market is unpredictable,” Howe told The i Paper on Monday.
“It might just take one big move somewhere that will set a chain reaction off.
“We’re ready for anything and ready to be flexible.”
Newcastle have their swagger back
Having prompted Unai Emery’s ire on Boxing Day, it was Ange Postecoglou’s turn to moan at the weekend about refereeing decisions and dark arts.
It must be music to Howe’s ears to hear rival managers talking about Newcastle in this way.
“I don’t really care what people say outside of Newcastle,” he said as he repeated his most famous quote that the club are “here to compete, not to be liked”.
It felt timely given that the last time Newcastle played at Arsenal they were accused of gamesmanship by Mikel Arteta as his team were frustrated on their way to a 0-0 draw.
If anything hurt Howe during their disappointing run, it was that Newcastle had become easy to play against.
Being a soft touch is inexcusable under Howe and no-one could accuse Newcastle of that now.
“Outside opinion is almost irrelevant to us,” Howe said.
Expect Arsenal’s noses to be put out of joint again at the Emirates.
A focused and firing Alexander Isak
The best striker in the Premier League wears a black and white shirt.
Club insiders have always said Isak’s ceiling is sky high and now he is starting to show it.
A nice bit of insight from inside the camp: they feel he isn’t even performing at his top level.
Newcastle won’t part with the Swede in January – whatever Arsenal fans might hope – and that means the tantalising prospect of five months with a striker who can do almost everything.
His goals can propel Newcastle back into Champions League contention.
Dressing room unity
Howe prefers talking to throwing tea cups.
He was angry after losing at Brentford last month but his reaction was to set up individual meetings with his players to remind them of their responsibilities rather than ranting and raving.
One source says he is a “players’ manager”, which explains why even those on the edges on the squad remain committed to the cause.
Dubravka and Kieran Trippier have slotted into things seamlessly after periods in exile.
“Whatever the perceptions externally the mood was always positive,” Howe said.
The standards he has set at Newcastle have brought them back to this position.
Eddie Howe’s doubters silenced
Having been performing below par in the depths of autumn Newcastle are overachieving again.
Six successive wins – including back-to-back away victories at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – has brought back memories of the 2023 campaign when Newcastle had momentum.
But they are a different side now and better for it.
The best managers adapt and react to issues and Howe has done that this season, emerging from a bad run of form and an unsettling summer a stronger manager who has proved a lot to those who questioned him.
The unwavering support from the boardroom in darker times tells its own story.
They believe in him – sources suggesting he is “elite” – and have been rewarded.
Howe is right to say Newcastle have come a long way since their last Carabao Cup semi-final in 2023.
“I think our game has evolved – I certainly think we’ve evolved quite a bit tactically since then,” he said.
“The game moves on very quickly in the Premier League. I say it all the time. Probably month by month, it changes slightly and you have to change with it, so I think we have seen quite a consistent changing of certain aspects of what we do.”
Newcastle are lucky to have Howe. He is the right manager at the right time for the club.
The ‘best midfield in the Premier League’
Newcastle will have no Guimaraes on Tuesday, which will disrupt the rhythm of a midfield three that has been hailed as the best in the top flight. Alongside Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, Guimaraes’ performances have lifted a few levels of late.
A new system is required for the Emirates and Sean Longstaff is primed to replace Guimaraes. He can’t do what the Brazil international can – few are able to – but he is underestimated by some in the Newcastle fanbase. Longstaff will not let anyone down.
A wildcard option is Lewis Miley, apparently training superbly and likely to be utilised in a week that ends with an FA Cup clash against League Two Bromley.
He remains a top prospect and Newcastle have already rebuffed interest to take him on loan.
Academy excitement (finally)
Inside the corridors of power at St James’ Park, there was real excitement at signing Georgia winger Vakhtang Salia, who will join the club in the summer.
Irish youngster Kyle Fitzgerald, tracked by Brighton, is also due to join Newcastle soon.
It is understood a competitive budget has been set aside to sign further players in that age group.
Off-the-field additions to the loans department – led by performance director James Bunce and academy manager Steve Harper – are also adding heft to the club’s youth teams.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/gpEyUH4
Post a Comment