Newcastle ahead of the new season: No lessons learned from last season and an assault on the Champions League

Newcastle United experienced a sort of return to reality after a dream season in 2022/23. A narrow squad didn’t make it through a busy autumn and just barely got the Magpies to at least 7th place. So Eddie Howe wants to return to the Champions League with his squad again, but it will be extremely difficult in the league. Unlike their rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, they have not been as active in the North East of England market.

• Newcastle want to return to the Champions League again after a year
• Unlike Chelsea or United, the team from St James’ Park have not been as active in the transfer market
• A narrow midfield could cause embarrassment for the whole club

The executive team

Eddie Howe keeps his own circle of people in the team. The coaching staff and the people in charge haven’t changed much since being bought by the Arab Sheikhs. The English coach is under contract until 2027 and the management has no reason to remove him yet. The only change that is known for the upcoming season is Paul Mitchell in the role of sporting director. The Englishman joins from Monaco, where he last worked.

Defence

The defence was the alpha and omega of last season. As long as all its members were healthy, it worked as it should. But when the injuries started to add up, it suddenly stopped working. That’s why the management focused on expanding it. In comes 19-year-old Lewis Hall from Chelsea for 33 million euros and Lloyd Kelly from Bournemouth for free. In the transfer market, Newcastle are also interested in Marco Guehi.

So Howe has 2 more options at once. The senior players in the squad are Fabian Schär, Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier, without them the Magpies defence is unimaginable. The English strategist will have a tough task to decide who will play and who will just sit on the bench.

Backup

The Brazilian duo of Joelinton – Bruno Guimaraes dominated the midfield last season and that shouldn’t change this time around. The 18-year-old Lewis Miley has already played 33 games for the A-team, scoring a goal and 3 assists. He could give the back line a proper refreshment.

However, apart from the above mentioned players, the coaching staff has no one else and that could prove fatal for the team. With Guimaraes injured, there is no adequate replacement in the team. In the fight for the Champions League, it is impossible for 2 of the 3 midfield members to be youth players. So this is the area the management should focus on in the rest of the transfer window.

Attack

At the tip of the attack is undoubtedly the number 1 Swedish cannonballer Alexander Isak. His competition last season was Callum Wilson, who will be joined by 21-year-old William Osula from Sheffield United. However, the fact that he has not made a single appearance in his 21 Premier League starts plays against the Danish striker.

The wing spaces belong to Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy. The transfer of the former was much criticised, but the Englishman showed everyone that he was worth €46 million. So far he has scored 13 goals and 11 assists in the stripes. Murphy, on the other hand, displaced Miguel Almiron, who became a mere substitute. The Magpies are interested in Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, who would be another alternative on the wings.

Newcastle’s ideal line-up:

Pope
Trippier – Schar – Burn – Livramento
Longstaff – Guimareas – Joelinton
Murphy – Isak – Gordon

Prediction: 7th place

Source: Transfermarkt