This year’s Premier League dark horse didn’t disappoint against a title contender, proving that rebuilding a team deserves time

A team that was literally hanging over the precipice. That’s what Newcastle looked like in October 2021. Second to last in the table, change of ownership, manager sacked. After a new owner, many were terrified of spending a fortune for the prospect of quick results. But that didn’t happen and this season we are seeing the results of a patient rebuild.

I referred to Newcastle as a dark horse in the title of this article and I don’t think that description fits any team better this season. Newcastle are a regular in the Premier League, but the results in recent years have not been dazzling. Yet they are now fighting for the top rungs.

The club changed hands in 2021 and became a Saudi Arabian investment fund. The petrodollars were widely feared to kick-start a buying spree. Rather, the new owners have carefully selected a coach and given him one main task for the first season. That was to save the top flight.

The new coach, Eddie Howe, had already been given a free hand to save the team. In the first transfer period during January 2022, which was purely in his control, he cleverly added Trippier (£12m), Wood (£25m) and Guimares (£40m) to the squad. I rate these transfer sums as almost too modest given the financial capabilities of the club’s owner.

Along with a few other players like Willock, Wilson and Almirón, Coach Howe has created the skeleton of a team that not only saved the Premier League for the Magpies, but these and other players managed to achieve a solid 11th place finish in the 2021/2022 season.

The summer transfer period was followed by further strengthening with players such as Isak, Pope, Murphy, Botman and Target. After such reinforcements, no one could have doubted that the Magpies would be a dangerous opponent this year.

This is proven by their 3rd place in the table so far this year, the best defence in the whole league and only one defeat. Newcastle’s great form was confirmed in their last game against Arsenal, who have not lost a point at home so far this season.

However, the beautiful match was marred by refereeing mistakes, as twice they controversially failed to whistle a penalty against Newcastle. However, the Magpies stole one point from the Emirates and they are to be reckoned with in the rest of the season as well, as Howe has set Champions League participation as one of his goals.

This year’s great performances by the Magpies prove that rebuilding a team takes time, patience and most importantly a clear vision. Howe has that and so far he is sticking to it, which is bearing fruit in the form of great performances.

Sources